In this episode of The Perceptive Photographer podcast, I dive into a topic that often goes overlooked in our digital world: the significance of print sizes in photography. I think you’ll find that how we choose to print our images can fundamentally change how they’re seen—and felt. If you really want to dig in to this more, I’m also running a workshop on fine art printing, where we’ll explore all of this in much more depth. If you’ve ever wondered how to take your digital files and make beautiful physical prints, this is for you. You don’t have to be a print expert—just curious and ready to learn. That workshop is September 9-12, 2025 details under the workshop link on my website.

We’ve experienced a major shift in photography. Most images are now viewed on screens—phones, tablets, laptops. And while that’s incredibly convenient, it’s also changed how we experience photographs.

Even if you don’t print your work often, I believe understanding print size is essential. It influences how much detail is visible, how a viewer interacts with the image, and how the image communicates.

When I’m behind the camera, I often ask myself questions like:

The answers affect how I compose the photograph. If I know an image will be printed large, I might look for more fine detail or wider depth. If I’m printing small, I focus more on clarity and impact in a tighter frame.

There’s something powerful about seeing your work printed. It changes your relationship with the image. It becomes real in a new way. Here are a couple things I always encourage photographers to try:

I truly believe that thinking about print size—even if you don’t always print—can deepen your photographic practice. It helps you become more intentional and reflective about your work. Size impacts intimacy, detail, and interaction, and by engaging with those ideas, we create more meaningful photographs.