It really is the icing on the cake!
It seems as if one of the first questions I am asked when talking with a couples about wedding photography is if they get the digital images. And, of course it’s important so you can use your photos in a variety of ways. But a question that also really needs consideration is if your wedding photographer offers a professionally designed and printed album! A beautiful album is the final finishing touch – the icing on the wedding cake, so to speak.
Here are some things to think of when considering a wedding album of your own, and some thoughts from a couple of my recent brides, April and Layne – they know best, after all!
You have something physical and real!
After the day is over, you want to look through the photos and enjoy all those moments over and over. There is just something different about having a physical album to look at, rather than scrolling through digital files on your phone, iPad or computer! USB drives get tucked away in a drawer, while an album will sit on your coffee table or have a prominent place on your book shelf, ready to share and relive the memories.
Think about this… Kindles have been around for a long time now, yet real books still sell like crazy. Maybe because there is something very distinct about the touch and feel of a real book – even the smell! Professional photographers use top notch printing services that produce gorgeous albums with high quality papers and beautiful binding options. Album covers could be photos, leather, vinyl, wood, cloth, or even metal. There are tons of options and you can discuss them with your photographer to create something that fits your style perfectly.
Layne and Cody decided to order their album after their wedding and she says, “We chose to invest in one because we wanted to have an actual album of the all the best moments from our special day. If we were to go back in time we would’ve started with the package that included the album, because now I think every couple should have an album of their special day. “
Albums will stand the test of time!
Remember floppy discs? Maybe not. How about CDs? Computers don’t even come with CD/DVD drives anymore. Who knows how long a memory stick and USB drives will be the standard? Technology is changing so fast that it’s hard to imagine what’s coming next. And that’s a little worrisome if all our most precious photos are stored solely as digital media! Having your wedding memories preserved in an album just makes practical sense, doesn’t it?
Leave a legacy for your family to enjoy through the generations.
April says,” The reason that we chose to get a heirloom album is simple… We wanted to be able to share our wedding photos with our kids and grand kids some day.”
Wedding albums have become heirlooms passed down for years, decades and longer. They tell the stories of your families! Kids love flipping through the pages of their parent’s albums, remarking on their youth and a life before they existed. I have my grandparents’ album and it’s a treasure! I love to find resemblances, compare the fashions, and just remember those whom I loved for a lifetime.
Its your love story!
A wedding album is the story of your day and its unique to the two of you! From getting ready to the first look; walking down the aisle and saying “I Do”; laughing with your friends, hugging your family, and celebrating into the night…it’s all there in the pages!
This is where working with your professional photographer is invaluable. Together you will choose the very best images that tell your story. We work together to make sure each picture is just right and design the pages to flow from moment to moment and memory to memory. Your love story!
I had a great time working with Layne, creating their album. I also loved looking back on their wedding day and hearing about which parts were most special to them. “The design process of making the album was so easy. The hardest part was picking the pictures I wanted in the album, just because I loved all my pictures so much!”, Layne told me.
But I can do it myself, you might be thinking. Of course you can, however it’s also making time to choose your photos, find a high quality printer, learn and use their album creation software and then arranging and rearranging the photos. It’s an intensive process and while you might get started, are you going to finish? LOL.
April is an avid scrapbooker and has scrapbooked her wedding photos but also chose to invest in a Heirloom Album. “I have been scrapbooking for years so photos are one of the most important things to me. I knew I would do my own scrapbooking but I wanted the Heirloom Album because it provides a different high quality feel and the focus is all on the photos; whereas the scrapbooks I create are centered around the stories (as well as the pictures) so it’s a lot about the actual words too.”
The Perfect Way to Share with Friends and Family
When visiting with friends and family, there is just something so fun about sitting together and going through a real album, showing off all your beautiful pictures and sharing the stories of the day! If you have kids, you will reach for a book to share mom and dad’s story, not a thumb drive. Smaller sized albums make perfect gifts for your parents, because they treasure the memories of your wedding day as much as you do!
It thrills me to hear how much Layne and April are loving their albums! “Our wedding album is AMAZING, I have had so many compliments on it!”, exclaims Layne. And April says, “The quality of the heirloom album is like none I have ever seen before. It will truly be around for generations!”
After writing this, I got all nostalgic and pulled out our album…don’t laugh at the sleeves!
If you are planning a wedding, I would love to talk with you about the photography! Find out more about my STYLE or send me a MESSAGE and we can talk about all your wedding ideas! Talk or text: 701-748-5656
