Photo Story
Donna Fennessy
Narrowing down your 600-plus proofs to 70 or 80 photos to create the most memorable and personal wedding album isn’t as difficult as you’d think. In fact, there are a few basic guidelines you can follow to ensure that you design the perfect album.
The most important thing to remember is that every couple is unique, and the album should reflect the couple’s style and their day. “Your album should tell the story of your day,” says Tom Kramer, president and co-founder of Bella Pictures based in San Francisco. There are no hard and fast rules about albums, like what shots you should or shouldn’t include. “If you didn’t ride off into the sunset in a limo with a ‘Just Married’ sign, then you can’t have that image in your book,” Kramer says. “But there are many common shots like the first dance or cutting the cake that most couples still use.” Basically, your album is all about what you want and the photos you like. So where do you begin?
First, take time to really look at your photos. Don’t rush into your album. You’ll find that you like the images even more as time passes.
After you’ve had the chance to casually review your photos, setting aside the ones you definitely don’t like, think about telling the story of your day. “It’s as if you’re writing a book. You’ll open with a beginning shot and then start thinking of the middle, which will consist of getting ready, formal shots, the wedding and reception. Finally, you’ll end with a closing shot,” Kramer says.
Now comes the hard part: narrowing down the photos. If you have a 30-page album, which is pretty common, you’ll have your opening page (usually a romantic photo of the bride and groom), a closing page (often a photo of the couple leaving the reception), and all the others in between. (Note: A 20-page album is probably the smallest you should go. Any shorter than that, and it becomes tough to tell your story.) Once you’ve selected your opening and closing shots, you’re left with 28 pages. You should think about your wedding in four separate sections: preparation, formal, wedding and reception, giving each section 7 pages. Ideally, you should go through and pull your favorite 20 images for each part (20 images of the ceremony, 20 images of the reception, etc.). “You’ll probably have a lot, but try to come as close as you can to that 20-image target,” Kramer says.
Once you do that, you’ll find that the story or order of the book naturally flows. Your photographer or album designer (some studios have a separate person who will help you create your album) may have a few suggestions of photos to include—other images that may accent your story. “For example, you might not see the photo of your bouquet and say, ‘I love it,’ but it can be a small subset on a page that serves as a background tone,” Kramer says. “Show your photographer or designer the images you love and tell them the feeling you’re trying to create with your album, but don’t be afraid to let your photographer or designer express his or her creativity, too.”
Vary the sizes and colors of photos. Ideally, you’ll want your album to be 8 X 10 or bigger. That’s because images have more impact at bigger sizes. But you can switch up the sizes of some of your photos. “The more modern albums vary photo sizes because it allows you to tell your story in a richer way,” Kramer says. “For example, you may want to use a big image of the bride walking down the aisle with her father, and then have three or four smaller images off to the side of each of the bridesmaids coming down the aisle. The emphasis is on the bride, but you can also include the bridesmaids.” You should try to stick with no more than three to four photos on a page—any more than that and the images become too small and crammed. Using different color photos, a black and white photo next to a color shot, for example, can also add texture to your album.
Decide on what kind of album you’ll want. There are basically two types of albums. The traditional album is the one where you slide a photo into a frame and it gets bound into an album. In the past few years, a new style of album has developed: what photographers call a coffee table book or flush mounted album. With this style, the entire page is the photo. It allows for more creative freedom because you’re not constrained by size. It’s the most popular choice of newlyweds, Kramer says. “You can really create an album that tells your story in a more romantic and personal way.”
Use special effects carefully. “Special affects can be dangerous,” Kramer says. “Images and emotion should come through in your photos, and if you have too many effects, you end up seeing those more than the images themselves. They can be distracting” But there is a place for special effects. Use them well, and they can enhance your album. If you have a beautiful shot— for example, if you got married on the beach and there’s a giant panoramic shot of the ocean and all your guests, you can use that as a two-page spread with nothing on it. That’s a special effect.
Be creative. One very unique idea for a bride and groom with a big bridal party is to design a few pages in the album to look like pages in a yearbook. Use headshots of each bridesmaid or groomsmen against a black background, and you should be able to run 10 or so photos on a page. “This is an example of a fun special effect that really works,” Kramer says.
After you’ve met with your designer or photographer to layout your album, you should get a chance to weigh in. If you’re not satisfied with it, speak up. “If you don’t love the design, say, you were hoping for something different. Your album is forever, so don’t compromise.”
When your album is complete, there is nothing quite like spending hours looking it over with your husband, family, and friends to re-live those moments forever.