Novelties in the photographic industry seem to move quicker than a shutter of a camera. One day you can produce photographs in your own home with fancy paper and a photo printer, the next day you can find a photo of your face on a mantle-piece clock!
The changes in this field have moved on more than any other commonly used gadget, to keep up with our hunger of doing something ‘new’ with our photographs. We are no longer happy with our 6” x 4” wooden photo frames with the sturdy struts, or the hanging family portrait over the fireplace. The weird and the wonderful are much more in demand now.
And, with the internet spewing new ideas day after day, the list can be endless. This week you can have your photograph printed on a plate; clock; poster; key-ring; glass; mug; cushion; t-shirt; hat; Rubik’s cube; paper weight, jigsaw, note book; story book; magnet; coaster; greetings card, calendar, sticker; invitation; mouse mat; balloon; postcard, tote bag, blanket, pillow case, tie, apron, baby-suit and pencil box…and that makes 30! But whatever can we do with our photographs next?
Recently there has been a wave of parents branding their babies’ bibs with photos of their pets, their favourite toy and even granny and granddad! Apart from being the most expensive bib in the neighbourhood, there can surely be no other pleasure than seeing your own face on a baby’s bib, smeared with bright orange mush, and the obligatory saliva.
Another weird and wonderful discovery was the doting owner of a cocker spaniel, who because his beloved pooch missed him so much when he was at work, had a photograph printed on his doggy blanket so he could feel close to him no matter how long he was away.
The best use of a photograph discovered to date, and by far the most unusual has been – a pair of curtains! Found in what shall remain a nameless WAG’s mansion, were floor to ceiling curtains in a luxurious bedroom. Nothing out of the ordinary you may think. When opened, tied gently with the delicately jewelled tie backs, the beautifully lined cream curtains adorned an unusual, yet interesting abstract pattern, which made you want to check them out a little closer. But when the curtains were drawn (electronically of course!), and were hanging side by side – ta da – a full on 10 x 15ft portrait of the WAG and her football hero hubby!
We needn’t go crazy with photographs to generate something different to look at. By all means chuck out that old 6” x 4” chintz frame, and get something different to look at your photos. But if bibs, doggy blankets or even a pair of curtains seem a little sublime, then loading up your photos into digital photo frames means you needn’t worry about it any longer with an ever-changing display of your most prized photos.
Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
