Photographing for wall art vs coffee table album

There’s an ongoing debate among portrait photographers: which is better—fine art wall art or a coffee table album? The truth is, it depends. What works for one client may not be right for another. Both options have their benefits, and in this post, I’ll explain how I approach each during your session.

Wall art is often limited to a single image or a small selection, typically 3 to 5 photos, arranged to create a beautiful collage. The only real limitation is how much wall space you have to hang these images. On the other hand, a coffee table album can feature anywhere from 10 to over 100 images, depending on the size and style of the album. The only constraint is how many pages you’d like to include.

Because a coffee table album can feature so many more images, I capture a wide range of moments. For instance, an action shot of your dog running with her tongue out and ears flying may not be the best fit for a large wall piece, but it’s a perfect, fun moment to include in an album that tells the full story of your pet.

For a single, show-stopping family portrait, more time will be spent of preparation - —selecting  coordinated wardrobes, choosing colors that complement each other, and and ensuring the overall look is cohesive. While wardrobe still matters for an album, you may opt for multiple outfits, adding variety and giving your collection of images more depth.

Details like your dog’s nose or close-up shots of small moments are perfect for an album, but they’re not typically the kind of image you'd enlarge for wall art.

For a family portrait, we usually choose one location that fits the vision, but for an album, two different locations are often ideal to capture a broader range of images, giving the album more depth and variety.

So, which do you prefer: wall art or a coffee table album? If you’re unsure, let’s chat! Reach out for a no-obligation consultation, and we can discuss which option best fits your vision.