Have you ever had this moment — you scroll to the end of your phone album and an old picture suddenly pops up? Maybe it’s your grandma’s smile, a sunset from your first trip, or your pet doing something silly. Your heart softens, then your finger swipes away. The images live in the cloud, but they rarely get a warm, real look anymore.
So why not bring those moments closer? Close enough to feel your heartbeat, to hang near your chest, to become a private kind of company. Turn your favourite snapshot into a one-of-a-kind pendant, creating a personalised locket with photo, and you can do exactly that.
Honestly, it sounds like you’d need a pro, right? But don’t worry — it’s not that hard. The part that trips people up is the first step: how to make a digital image fit just right inside a tiny metal frame, especially for a photo locket. Prints can blur. Sizes can be off. It’s frustrating.
That’s why this post exists — to help you avoid those pitfalls. We’ll skip the fancy theory and walk through the steps. You’ll learn how to pick the right pendant bezel, how to make the image sharp and well-fitted, and some printer tricks to get a professional look at home. This guide covers everything from choosing the right photo for the locket to printing the locket pictures, and then you’ll assemble everything without breaking a sweat.
Contents:
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A Clear Look at All the Materials You’ll Need
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Where & How to Get Photos Printed for a Locket
- Summary
A Clear Look at All the Materials You’ll Need
Before you start, it helps to get your tools ready. Don’t worry — the list is short and simple. And once you choose the right pendant frame and the right paper, half the work is already done. Whether you want a photo locket necklace or a simple pendant with picture, the materials are similar.
1. The Pendant Case
Think about the vibe you want. Do you like something shiny and polished? Or something warm and natural? This choice will define your locket necklace with picture.
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Metal frames are the most common, like sterling silver, gold-plated options, or stainless steel. Silver feels premium, gold-plated frames offer great value, and stainless steel is strong and long-lasting.
- Wood or resin frames have a softer, handmade touch. They fit nature-inspired or vintage-style pendant photos really well.
Now, focus on one key detail: the inner diameter listed in the product description. Inner diameter is the size of the inside space — the circle or square where your photo will sit. This is the space for your photo inside locket.
Because your photo must be trimmed 1–2 mm smaller than that number, this tiny gap makes it easy to place the photo inside without bending, bulging, or getting stuck. So keep that number close. It will guide every cut and adjustment you make.
Next, check how the pendant opens.
Different opening styles affect convenience and protection.
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Front-opening: The cover twists open from the front. It’s super convenient if you plan to switch photos later.
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Back-opening: You open it from the back, which keeps the front sealed. It protects the photo better from dust and moisture.
- Glass-covered: There’s no moving lid. A piece of glass or acrylic sits over the photo. It looks clean, clear, and a bit vintage, but installation is usually permanent.
2. Photo Paper
The paper you choose can change the whole result. Regular copy paper won’t work here. For locket photos, you need special photo paper.
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Glossy photo paper: Bright colors, sharp details, and a crisp finish. Great for portraits, scenery, or anything lively.
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Matte photo paper: Soft texture, no glare, and very fingerprint-friendly. It creates a gentle, timeless look.
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Sticker-backed paper: Perfect for beginners. Just print, peel, and stick — no glue, no mess.
- Transparent film: Great for creative layers, like printing a starry sky and placing a portrait behind it for a floating effect.
Choosing paper for your locket photo printing is important. So, which one should you pick?
- If you want bold and vibrant, go glossy.
- If you prefer something soft and tactile, go matte.
- If you want the easiest workflow, sticker paper is your best friend.
And that’s it — your image is now ready to print. Next, let’s explore where and how you can print a photo that fits your pendant perfectly.
Where & How to Get Photos Printed for a Locket: Locket Photo Printing
1. Local Photo Printing Shops
Many nearby print shops and most big supermarkets—like Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens—have photo centers that can print small pendant photos for you. They use professional machines, so the results are usually sharp and ready within minutes. All you need to do is bring or upload your picture, pick a size, and wait for the printout. These methods can help with printing a locket photo.
How it works:
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Prepare your photo: Make sure you have a high-quality file. Higher resolution means a cleaner print. Save the photo on your phone or a USB drive before heading out. This method is suitable for printing photos for a locket.
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Go to a print shop: Pick a nearby store that offers photo services, such as CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, or a local photo studio. Tell the staff you want to print a photo for a locket.
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Upload your photo: You can upload your file through USB, Bluetooth, or the store’s online kiosk system.
- Adjust the size: Pendant photos are tiny—often around 1" × 1" or even smaller. You can use the store’s self-service machine to resize the picture, or just ask the staff to help. You need to specify that you are printing a photo for a locket.
Printing at a local shop is fast, convenient, and you can take your photo home immediately. The only downside is that machine cropping may not be super precise. You may still need to trim the photo by hand later. To avoid surprises, it’s a good idea to crop and resize the picture on your phone first, so you stay in control of the final look.
2. Online Photo Printing Services
If you don’t feel like going out, online printing services are another great option. Popular platforms include Shutterfly, Snapfish, Printique, Mpix, and many others. They all offer high-quality photo prints and are great for print locket photos. Just upload your picture, choose the size and paper type, and wait for the delivery.
How it works:
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Choose a platform: Visit Shutterfly, Snapfish, Printique, Mpix, or any other trusted printing site. Create an account if you’re a new user.
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Upload your photo: Click “Add Photo” and upload your file. Most sites support JPG and PNG.
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Pick your size: Choose the smallest available size or manually enter the exact size you need for your pendant necklace photo. If you already know the pendant’s inner diameter, adjust accordingly.
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Crop and adjust: Use the website’s cropping tool to match the shape and size of your pendant.
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Choose a paper type: These services usually offer several paper options. Glossy or matte photo paper works best because it’s durable and looks clean.
- Place your order: Complete the checkout. They will print a locket photo for you. Your prints will arrive in a few days to a week.
Online printing is easy and perfect for people who prefer staying home. The downside is the wait time and possible shipping costs. Before you confirm the order, double-check that your image is high resolution to avoid blurry results. Also, most platforms let you print multiple sizes at once, which gives you more choices when you start trimming.
3. Print at Home – DIY Style
DIY printing allows you to print a photo for a locket at home. If you have a good photo printer at home—like Canon i-SENSYS, Epson Expression, or HP Color LaserJet Pro—you can print your own pendant photos anytime. This method gives you full control over size, paper, cropping, and quality. Tools like Photoshop, Canva, and GIMP make resizing even easier.
How it works:
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Gather your tools: A printer, photo paper, scissors, tape, and your locket frame.
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Edit your photo: Use Photoshop, GIMP, Canva, or even your phone’s editing app to scale the image to the exact size you need. You can also adjust the resolution to keep the print crisp.
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Check your printer settings: Choose “High Resolution” or “Photo Quality” mode. Select glossy or matte photo paper.
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Print your photo: Double-check everything, then print.
- Cut and attach: Trim the photo carefully according to the inner diameter of your locket. Use double-sided tape or glue to secure it inside.
DIY printing is fun and flexible. You can print anytime and make quick adjustments on the spot. Just keep in mind that you’ll need the right printer and tools. Cutting the tiny circle can also take patience. It’s smart to print a test version first to make sure the size and clarity look right. Now you have a photo in a locket.
Still don't know how? Watch the video below to know more info in detail:
4. Custom Locket Photo Services
If you don’t want to edit or print the photo yourself, so websites handle everything for you. Services like PostSnap, OddPrints, and ASDA Photo, which specialize in locket photo printing and trimming photos specifically for lockets. This is ideal for beginners or busy users who want a guaranteed perfect fit.
How it works:
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Choose a service: Visit a custom locket photo website such as PostSnap, OddPrints, and ASDA Photo.
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Upload your photo: Follow the website’s instructions to upload the picture you want to use.
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Pick your locket shape: Choose the pendant style—heart, round, oval, square, rectangle, etc. Doing so ensures your photos for locket necklace fit perfectly. The system will automatically size your photo to fit your chosen locket.
- Place your order: Confirm the details and pay. They’ll print, trim, and ship the photo directly to your home.
5. Jewelry Stores or Photography Studios
Some jewelry shops and photography studios that sell lockets also offer custom locket photo services. They can create a personalised locket with photo for you. The biggest advantage is convenience—you hand everything to a professional. The downside is that this option is usually more expensive.
How it works:
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Contact the store: Check with your local jewelry shops or photography studios to see if they provide locket photo printing services.
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Take or provide a photo: If the shop offers photography, you can bring your locket and let them take a picture that fits perfectly. If you already have a photo file, just give it to them.
- Printing and fitting: The shop will handle the printing, trimming, and fitting the photo directly into your locket.
Summary: Printing Photos for a Locket
Whether you go to a local print shop, use an online printing service, print at home, or choose a custom professional service, all of these methods can help you easily create the right photo for your locket. Whether it's a pendant for pictures or a photo locket, the process is similar. If you want something quick and hassle-free, online services or custom studios are great options. If you prefer full control, printing at home is a great choice too.
Hopefully, this guide helps you pick the method that fits you best and creates a meaningful, personal photo for your locket. Now you know how to print locket pictures and create a pendant necklace with photo, hurry and have a try!
By the way, if you’re interested in other printing skills and techniques, don’t hesitate to follow ProlineOffice! We’ll post blogs with useful printing knowledge regularly, so don’t miss them!
