Is there a standard print for a portfolio street photos?

[A miller]

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I have been keeping my photos from myMm largely in the same 3:2 aspect ratio as they come out of the camera. So i am thinking that 10x15 or 12x18 might be a good size to make portfolio prints. But when i went to the supply store for the portfolio storage supplies, i was shock to learn that these sizes are not commonly sold.

 

Instead, 11x17 seems to be the standard size.

I'd interested in hearing others' views on this.

Thanks and best, adam

[sanyasi]

My thoughts:

 

I had been using 17 by 22 for 4 or 5 years. Within the last year, I downsized to 13 by 19, which turns out to be a better fit in terms of margins with the Leica file proportions. As I recall, I experimented with 11 by 17, and the proportions were not right.

 

With street photography--whatever that is--I think smaller may be better. It strikes me as more intimate, which is one reason why I think my musician photos work better at 13 by 19 rather than 17 by 22.

 

I wish someone would make square paper, although I suppose I could cut the paper.

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[DigitalHeMan]

Are you talking centimeters or inches? Would be worth mentioning since this is an international forum.... Personally when I print to share in a portfolio setting I like to use at least 20x30cm but prefer 30x45cm.

 

I do agree for street that a smaller, more intimate format might work better.

[sanyasi]

Inches. Apologies. I responded to his measurements. 11 inch by 17 inch is a standard paper size in the U.S.

[A miller]

sorry, Simon. Was referring to inches. Thanks for your post.

And thanks to you as well, Sanyasi.

[Rick]

My thoughts:

 

I wish someone would make square paper...

 

[Rick]

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Adam,

 

11"x17" sheets allow you to print 11"x16.5" (3:4) and have 1/4" border on the side for the printer in the event it is not able to print borderless on the sides, which was common years ago. You can cut those borders off and have a borderless print. 11"x17" also is popular as it can be cut in two if, you want to make two prints. This is probably why printers and paper use this size. But, any size print that fits into a large 14"x17" folio case would work.

 

Generally, I don't want to print borderless prints as described above. I like a nice 2" border. I start with a 17" role of say Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 and print 17"x14". This gives me a 13" print on the long edge and nice 2" borders on the top and sides with a larger border on the bottom. I guess this would be the starting point of all of my prints and might be considered my standard print size. And, at 17"x14" it fits into this standard size folio.

 

Getting away from the folio as a way to display your prints, if I want to matte the print with a matte border I can print all the way up to 17"x16" borderless with a 17" wide role. Or, make a nice 12"x18" print with a 2-1/2" border.

 

On another subject you mention, I don't believe in the dogma of not cropping or staying with 3:2 camera format. I often like odd formats and certainly 16:9 and square have become more of my favorites that 3:2. But, I mainly shoot at or below 35mm and often down to 16mm. My folios have square (like my Santorini Dogs) and every other aspect ratio in them. I don't believe the lack of standardized size is a problem.

 

For my work, I use the folio to collect and look at print examples of the photographs I like. I really enjoy prints of my photographs. Once, I decide what I want to do with one of the prints in the folio, it may involve printing larger for the wall, I get out a 24" role or 44". I like the role paper because I can make a print any size and with any size border. Prints often look good to my eye if they have a large border, especially combined with an even larger matte border.

 

Of course, at these sizes any aspect ratio and exact print size is just another creative choice not dependent on the size standards used for sheet paper. The final print will not be any standard size.

 

Hope these ideas help,

 

Rick