Photograph size shapes how your images are experienced and understood. It's not just about dimensions; it's about how people connect emotionally and physically with your work.
Coming to you from Shoot On Film — by Ari Jaaksi, this insightful video explores how the physical dimensions of your photographs change their meaning and impact. Jaaksi recently spent time at the Copper Lake art residency in Estonia refining his printing methods, both technically and artistically. He emphasizes how printing your images allows control over the viewer's experience, unlike digital platforms, where resolution, size, and presentation vary unpredictably. For instance, your digital images could appear distorted on screens of unknown quality or be manipulated by social media platforms. Jaaksi believes regaining control through printing is crucial if you want your creative vision seen exactly as intended.
Jaaksi also discusses how size directly influences intimacy and engagement with a photograph. He highlights two intriguing considerations: whether the image is handheld or displayed publicly, and if the viewing is personal or shared. Drawing inspiration from Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama, Jaaksi describes presenting images in an exhibition where some photographs were displayed on walls, while others were available for viewers to hold and interact with directly. He illustrates how images displayed publicly communicate powerfully, demanding attention, while handheld images offer a quiet, introspective connection. Jaaksi's insight is practical yet profound—by adjusting image size, you determine the viewer's relationship to your photograph.
The video goes deeper by addressing the complexity of medium-sized prints—specifically those around 30 by 30 centimeters. Jaaksi explains this size presents unique challenges: it's too large for casual handling but can feel insufficiently impactful when hung on a wall. His solution involves thoughtful framing to enhance the perceived significance of the photograph, effectively shifting its role from a personal keepsake to a statement piece meant for communal viewing. Jaaksi admits he struggles with selling unframed prints because framing allows him to preserve his intent, revealing an underlying tension familiar to many artists between personal vision and audience interpretation. He also experiments by placing traditionally handheld photographs in unexpected contexts, like frames meant for display, further proving size’s ability to redefine an image’s narrative. Jaaksi’s careful exploration highlights that choosing print size isn't simply aesthetic—it actively shapes how people interact with and interpret your work. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Jaaksi.
Losing control over the size at which a customer buys a photographic print is to be expected... at least it is if you want someone to buy your photos. Customers are not much interested in my framing preferences, either. Presuming the print goes on a wall, they’ve got a space that the art needs to fit within. Let them have whatever they want.
But for the more personal aspect of printing, I understand his desire to determine the appropriate size... he probably has his own strong opinions about paper too. I found it interesting that he thought 30cm (11.811 inches) was too large for hand-holding a print. Although most of my images are 3:2 aspect ratio, I feel like 10 x 15 printed on 13 x 19 paper, or 12 x 18 on 17 x 22 paper is just right. It's also interesting how several people in our print meeting group (a photography club devoted to prints, no electronic devices) make their prints with small 1/2" margins, or borderless. I prefer a couple inches of white space around the image. It feels like a photo needs breathing room.