Long before we had the option to create a Facebook album and share our holiday snaps with all our friends instantly, we would come home from our trip, send the film off to be developed and wait eagerly to look through them all on their return.
Once we had excitedly flicked through the photos and disregarded those that had our thumbs across the centre, they would be slipped into the sleeves of a photo album and added to the shelf with the others – to reminisce over in years to come.
However, since technology has enabled us to create photo albums on our laptops, desktops and phones – how often do you bother printing them out and creating a traditional photo album? Probably not often. Why would you?
Well this year, let’s go back to basics! Not only creating something physical to hold your precious memories, but something far more creative than the old school albums – that along with the photos they hold, will still be the envy of all your friends.
Firstly, if you aren’t feeling very creative or just don’t have the time – then you can have the hard work done for you! A photobooks are a glossy and stylish way to preserve your special photos. You have the creativity of choosing your favourite book and personalising the design and layout, but after that you can sit back and wait for the finished product to be delivered to your door.
However, if you are excited about the idea of spending an evening cutting, sticking and gluing your way to a unique photo album, then here are a few ideas to get you started.
Decorate the book itself
If you are going to be creative with the inside, then you don’t want the book itself to look boring when it is closed. You can be as creative as you like with this –perhaps use photos and make a collage or choose your favourite one and blow it up to fill the front cover.
Put pen to paper
Alongside your photos you can write a bit of background – where you are, who is in the photo, when it was taken, how you felt at that time, funny stories and so on. You can write as much or as little as you like, to preserve a memory that goes far beyond the photo. You could also cut out letters to spell out the place you are or to head up a page.
Include keepsakes
Photo albums don’t just have to hold photos anymore –in fact the more you can include the more memories you will have. Think tickets, maps, postcards and brochures, alongside your photos.
Don’t just include the ‘perfect’ photos
Consider themes for your albums when you are taking your photos, but instead of one for your summer holiday to Spain and another for your kid’s third birthday party, think outside the box. How about an album of photos that recreates old ones or humorous photos – perhaps the ones where you are not looking quite so photogenic. These will be much more fun to look through, than one where you have obviously been forced to pose and smile.
