A Guide To
After Your Session
Table of Contents
Viewing your photos
2 ways to view your photos
1. Photo Moments App
You can download the free Photo Moments app for iOS or Android. I will send you the link to view your photos as well as download and share the files with this app. They'll be a smaller resolution size, perfect for emailing and sharing on social media. While you can order products from these smaller files, for best quality, it's recommended to use the full resolution files from your online gallery.
2. Your Personal Online Photo Gallery
You may access your gallery on any device. This is where you'll access the full resolution files (see next step) for ordering products.
Downloading your photos
Your "digitals" are included in your session package. To access them, open your personal photo gallery and click on download or right click download.
I suggest doing an initial full resolution download of all of the files in your gallery and storing your files in 1-3 reliable locations (see archiving below).
Click on a photo and you'll see download options. Your files may be downloaded as often as you'd like. If your download link expires (they're good for 30 days), just request a new one.
Displaying photos prominently in the home sends the message that our family and those in it are important to one another, and we honor the memories we have experienced.
Printing your photos
Downloading the digital files from your session gives you the freedom to print photos from any lab you choose, but please choose your print lab carefully (not Costco please). Companies that specialize in photo products take much more care with color calibration and print quality.
Note when ordering prints, if there is an "autocorrect" option, please turn it off.
If you are asked for a print release when printing, you can access your personal print release here.
To ensure your prints last a lifetime and beyond, make sure to use archival quality papers and inks. I recommend ordering prints directly through your gallery (gallery orders are filled by Millers Professional Imaging) or the prosumer division of the company, Mpix. Whichever print lab you choose for your printing, make sure it is one that specializes in printing and other photo products. These labs will take much more care in calibrating their equipment and providing accurate color and detail in your prints.
When sending your photos to print, remember that you can crop in on your photo for lots of different options. The images are high resolution and should be fine with cropping in a bit for large prints.
I’ll be happy to help you with printing enlargements, canvas and any other special printing needs. Your files will get some extra retouching and prep so they’ll look their best enlarged on your wall.
Christmas Cards, Announcements & Invitations
Your photos will look beautiful on invitations and announcements! Some of my favorite stationary companies are linked below with affiliate links.
Archiving your photos
Once downloaded, I encourage you to make digital back up copies of your files and store them in several different areas. As with all important data, it’s important to have three copies of your files on different media. These could be internal computer storage, a CD or DVD media storage, an external hard drive storage including multiple drives and storage locations via a raid system, photo hosting sites, electronic storage service such as the cloud, or a USB drive. Simply, the best approach to protecting your digital image files is to always have a number of redundancies at any one time. Also be aware that the different forms of media storage change over time. Make sure that as they change, your data is keeping up with the latest technology.
The best way to preserve your images is to print them out and store them in a cool dry place. Once a file has been corrupted, it can be very difficult to restore it, but a scan can always be made of a high quality print.
Because technology changes so quickly and files can become corrupt, the best way to archive your photos and ensure that they can be viewed years from now, is to print them out and store them in a cool, dry place.
I recommend printing your favorite photos from your session as 8x12's. Photos can be easily reproduced from other photos, but once a file is corrupt, the image cannot be recreated.
Caring for your products
How to best care for your investment and ensure that you'll have memories to last a lifetime and more.
Prints
With proper care and handling, your photography prints will last your lifetime and beyond. Creating and protecting an archival quality print of your photographic print is more important than protecting your digital files. The most sure way of protecting yourself from losing an image is to have a printed copy. The main causes of damage to photography prints are acidic materials, temperature, humidity, light and physical damage. Avoiding these will go a long way to preserving your images. When handling prints, wash your hand and avoid touching the surfaces. Take care not to bend, scratch, dent or write on the back of the photos. When displaying photos, frame them using acid-free mats and backing materials, and keep your images from direct sunlight. When storing photos, lay your photos flat stored in acid free boxes or storage sleeves.
Canvas
Your canvas gallery wraps can easily last over 100+ years if they are properly cared for. Canvas is meant to be hung inside a temperature controlled environment. Keep them away from areas of high humidity, heat, and direct sunlight. Since canvas is made from cotton, is may expand and contract in areas where the temperature fluctuates excessively. Always wash hands before handling your canvas. Never lay your canvas front facing down and keep it from areas that may cause dents. To clean your canvas, you may gently wipe off dust with a clean soft dry cloth. You can also use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment. If needed, you may use a lightly dampened clean cloth with water and gently wipe your canvas.
Retouch
Please let me know about any retouch requests or adjustments you'd like made within 30 days or receiving your gallery if possible.
Your photos will be accessible through your links for at least 1 year from your session date (most likely much longer). Enjoy!
