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12 Ideas for Your First (But Not Last) Photo Book

There are so many reasons to create a photo book. Maybe you’ve just got back from travels overseas, married your best mate, or celebrated a big birthday. Or maybe your camera roll is officially *full* and the time to print this year’s photos is now. There’s no better way to pull your stories together – or better way to spend an afternoon – than creating a photo book. With a wide range of photo book styles to choose from, the only question is – what will yours be about? Here are 12 ideas to inspire you.

BIG HOLIDAYS

After a good few years with our feet firmly planted, we’re back to travelling around the world and clocking-up the air miles. You’ve snapped the white beaches and drank every cocktail in sight; so once you’re back on home turf, it’s time to collate those warm weather photos and create a holiday photo book. Be taken back to your holiday highlights every time you flick through your book (piña colada in hand).

Babies photo book

THE LITTLE ONES

Instead of scribbling dates on the back of printed photos, why not collect the timeline of your little ones in a photo book? You can add captions underneath the photos to remind yourself of the what, where, and when, so you never forget a milestone. A photo book gives the kids something to look back on when they’re old enough to appreciate (and probably be embarrassed by) it too.

LIFE ACHIEVEMENTS

Big life feats are totally subjective. One person’s ‘finally ran a marathon’ is another’s ‘finally perfected a Yorkshire pudding’ – hey, we’re not here to judge. No doubt those big-time achievements were photographed, so make that proud moment last a whole lot longer and create a photo book. If it was a marathon, include a photo of your training schedule, or medal, or the burger you demolished straight after. Go on, give your achievements the attention they deserve.

LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

The real reason you trekked up that mountain to see the sunrise in Bali was for the photograph, wasn’t it? You perfected the panoramic shot and now it’s long-forgotten on your Instagram feed. Well, we created lay flat photo books so that your photos get the double-page spread they deserve. Made to lie flat (the clue’s in the name) and show off your panoramic photos in full, a landscape photo book will take you right back to that incredible morning every time you open it. Without the 4am wake up call.

THE LITTLE (FURRIER) ONES

What about the other mini me’s in your life? Yep, the pets. From newborn puppies, to that hamster phase we know that your phone is bursting with pet pictures. Instead of only posting your pet love to Facebook, create a photo book. It makes for a great activity to do with the kids – especially adding pet-themed stickers to each page. They’ll be taking it to school for show-and-tell sessions in no time.

RECIPES

2020 may have cemented that banana bread recipe in your head, but what about passing it on? A recipe book is the *unexpected* way to create a photo book – fill it with photos of your favourite edible concoctions and add text throughout that lists the step-by-step instructions. From ‘Lockdown sourdough’ to ‘Nonna’s tiramisu’, a recipe book is the perfect gift for a foodie friend or an addition to your own kitchen shelf (ready to be passed down for years to come).

Tags : Occasions

WORK PORTFOLIO

While online portfolios are always handy for sharing, seeing your work printed in full colour – be it illustrations, graphic design, floorplans, or before-and-after photos – will always get our vote. Passing a premium printed book to potential clients offers the opportunity to flick through your talent tangibly, and you can add text throughout to explain the vision behind your work (and share your own story). Plus, it’s something to be proud of whenever you need a confidence boost – no internet required. 

 

FAMILY STORIES

We’ve heard from a number of customers that telling their own family story has been made easier with a photo book. Adoption, divorce, and even grieving are some of the topics our creative customers have covered when finding the right words is proving tough. Add photos, scanned documents, and names of those in the photos to help navigate your story, and finish with pre-designed stickers (illustrations created by our in-house design team), to help to keep the little ones engaged.

 

CITY GUIDE

When inviting guests to your home (be it a short-let on AirBnb or a holiday home), providing an area guide is always a nice touch. But, instead of filling your coffee table with maps and leaflets, or stuffing a plastic folder with various documents, you could create a photo book to show ‘em the sights. Include photos of great spots for relaxing, your go-to cafes and restaurants, and must-see landmarks in your local area. It’s sure to look professional, offer a bit of fun reading for your guests, and guarantee you a 5-star review.

 

SPECIAL ANNIVERSARIES

Paper, pearl, gold – every special anniversary deserves a special gift, and a premium silver halide photo book is the greatest of them all. We think looking back on the good times is the best way to celebrate, whether you’re creating a book together, or as a gift for someone else. Silver halide printing offers truest-to-life colours that are rich and vibrant too, so your photos will look as good as the day they were taken. Oh, and your 1st anniversary is known as ‘Paper’ – now that’s a clever gift.

 

GUEST BOOK

There’s nothing like reading an array of gushy, misspelt, handwritten messages in a guestbook the day after your wedding. But, instead of setting out a generic notebook for your closest friends and family to fill with well-wishes, why not create a photo book and leave empty pages throughout? Choose a book layout with room for guests to write around your photos and stick in their own photo booth pictures too. A ready-made guest book works for all kinds of events, like birthday and anniversary parties.

 

A YEAR IN PHOTOS

If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that we really should make the most of every day. Our advice? Take photos of it all too. Then you can create the ultimate photo book – 365 days in print. A one-shot snippet of each day; the duvet days, holidays, and every family gathering in between. Books like this always feel extra special, because they’re all about moments big and small.

Last modified: 10months ago

TAGS: Occasions

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