Designing a photo book is an exciting process — hours are spent choosing images, refining layouts, and crafting something meaningful. At Studio22, our support team reviews a wide range of photo book orders every week, and while most are beautifully designed, there are a few common layout issues we see come up repeatedly. These are not technical errors — they are design considerations, and understanding them early can help ensure that the book you design is exactly the book you receive. One of the most important (and most misunderstood) concepts in photo book design is the gutter. What is the gutter in a photo book? The gutter refers to the area where two opposing pages meet at the spine of the book — essentially, the binding area. This is…

Creative Ways to Mix Framed and Unframed Prints There’s something special about walking into a room where every wall tells a story—and not just with perfectly matching frames. Mixing framed and unframed pieces can bring texture, contrast, and a little rebellion into your space. And here’s the best part: there’s no one “right” way to do it. You can keep things clean and curated, or break the rules for bold, unexpected style. But like any good mash-up, balance is everything. Let’s Start at Home In our house, Estelle’s the curator. She has a natural eye for how our world comes together on the walls. Right now, we’re in a season where collages dominate—family adventures, milestones, and the chaos that makes life full. We’ve chosen to…

The Transition The transition to printing and framing marked a pivotal moment in our journey. As photographers, capturing beautiful images is just the beginning. The true magic happens when those moments are transformed into tangible keepsakes that can be cherished forever. This realization led us down a path that would eventually shape our career and the family business. A Legacy Rooted in Passion Taking Over and Transforming the Family Business The business we are referring to was originally started by my father as a photography venture. After a few years, I took over the reins and began steering it in a new direction. Initially, it was my early experiences with my father that taught me the importance of not just taking photos but also presenting…

Gallery Wall Layouts for Different Rooms and Moods A gallery wall isn’t just a collection of frames—it’s a curated mood board of your life. A visual story. A window into your travels, your people, your moments. And when done right, it can completely transform a room—from empty to expressive. The trick? Layout. Over the years, I’ve seen every type of gallery wall imaginable—grids, spirals, chaotic clusters that somehow just work. But it’s not about rules. It’s about feeling and flow. 🌀 Organic Flow – My Personal Favourite If I had to choose just one layout to champion, it’d be the organic flow. It’s where photos seem to grow and evolve across a wall—carefully placed, but not stiff. The kind of layout where every photo leads to the next, like turning pages in…

If there’s one printing mistake I see more than anything else—it’s going too small. Clients pick a photo they love, but when it lands on the wall, it just floats there. A beautiful image, lost in a sea of blank space. They try to fill it in with extra frames, candles, art, clocks—you name it—but the moment’s gone. And all it needed was the right size. Let’s fix that. The Golden Rule: Size to the Wall, Not the Photo Your print size shouldn’t depend on how good the photo is. It should depend on where it’s going. A tiny image in a massive lounge can feel underwhelming. But the same photo—blown up big and bold—becomes a focal point that turns heads and sparks stories. Personally,…