The mood-boosting power of print

It's not always possible to spend time with the people we love, and, while email, social media and video calls have revolutionised the way we communicate over long distances, they're not for everyone. Grandparents might struggle with the technology, young children might not have the patience, and everyone else might be too tired of staring at screens to spend their downtime looking at more.

Photographs capture moments in time, and choosing to print those moments makes them more significant. Hanging photographs of friends or family in your home helps you to feel connected, and compiling a collection of prints into a scrapbook or album gives you easy access to happy memories, and also makes a thoughtful gift.

Here are a few suggestions for how to harness the mood-boosting power of print.

Seeing the faces of friends or family in photographs can make you feel happier. Until recently, it was common for people to keep photos of loved ones in their purses or wallets – if they were having a bad day, they could look at the photo to improve their mood. Digital photographs stored on smartphones may be the modern alternative, but it's still easier to feel connected to a printed photograph. Hang photos where you spend lots of time, such as your kitchen or office, to give yourself little mood boosts throughout the day.

The Canon PIXMA TS5350 Series printer is a great choice for everyday printing. Connect directly to your smartphone and print borderless 4x6 photographs in just 36 seconds. And a frame isn't the only option for displaying your image – why not print on Restickable Photo Paper or Magnetic Photo Paper and stick the images to a laptop case or your fridge? Or take your photos with you wherever you go, by printing onto transfer paper and ironing onto cotton clothes or accessories.

Making a scrapbook is a fun project that will keep children entertained for hours. It can also help them stay connected to family members who they might not have seen for a while.

The SELPHY Square QX10 is the perfect printer for scrapbooking. Connect the printer directly to your smartphone via Wi-Fi and the SELPHY Photo Layout app, and let your children add filters, borders and text to images in your photo reel before printing. After printing, you can peel off the back of your prints and stick directly into your scrapbook, without the need for tape or glue. The white border is ideal for penning personalised notes or fun captions.

If you think scrapbooks are just for children, how about rediscovering the joy of creating your own photo albums, or shooting and printing daily photos to accompany journal entries? Cable-free and portable, you can print anywhere with the SELPHY Square QX10, which means you can keep it on your bedside table, or pack it alongside your journal on your next weekend trip.

Living in the moment means more than just making the most of the good times. It means being present and learning to appreciate every day for what it is. Photographs can help elevate the moment and make it feel important, whether you're celebrating a birthday with your closest friends, or doing something as simple as taking your dog for a walk. A digital photograph of your dog might get lost in digital storage on your smartphone or camera, but an instant print adds significance to the moment.

The Canon Zoemini S is an 8MP camera and instant printer. Featuring a selfie mirror and in-built ring light, it helps ensure you look your best when capturing personal moments. You can connect the Canon Zoemini S to your smartphone using Bluetooth and the Canon Mini Print app, which means that even if you forget to take it with you, you can elevate the moment by printing a picture as soon as you get home.

Just because it's possible to share photographs instantly via the internet doesn't mean sending a printed photograph in the post has any less significance. Grandparents may not be active on social media or comfortable with video calling, but might enjoy receiving printed photographs of grandchildren – or even a home-made scrapbook – in the post. And it's not just grandparents. Who wouldn't like to receive pictures of special memories through the letterbox? It beats opening another bill!

Send pictures taken and printed in the moment with the Canon Zoemini S, or print multiple copies of the same photograph – one for you and one for them – on the SELPHY Square QX10. Or if you'd like to send something slightly bigger, load your PIXMA printer with standard photo size (4x6) or A4 Glossy Photo Paper.

Whether you're printing to remind yourself of moments gone by, to help elevate the moment you're in, or to stay connected with friends and family who you might not be able to visit as much as you'd like, there are so many ways that print can have a positive impact on your life.


Written by Matthew Bowen