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When you see your photos in print and put them into a photo book, it's a really memorable experience. You feel elated, inspired, and revitalized, and you may also get the sense that the photos now serve a greater purpose. Nowadays, it's easy to print your work and dabble in photo book creation thanks to the growth of internet publishing and printing options.
However, it's equally easy to do your effort a disservice with a poorly thought-out photo book that lacks style or coherence.
With that in mind, we've put together a list of some creative dos and don’ts to help you create a photo book that you can truly be proud of.
Do: Plan Out Your Photos Beforehand
Even if you might believe that you know your work well enough to simply toss it into a template and push print, it’s always good to plan it out beforehand.
Your book should ideally have a flow to it and not be too repetitive throughout, as variety will engage your viewers.
If you are able to, print your photos out so you can carry out a "paper edit" at home. Lay the photos out on a table to examine how the arrangement affects the feel of the photo book. It becomes difficult to maintain that "global" view once you begin dropping photos into templates, so getting the flow of the book right in a draft version is crucial.
Do: Maintain a Mostly Consistent Format
You should make sure that your photo book has a consistent format for the best viewing experience. It can appear unprofessional and get bothersome to get through if various pictures change in size and format with each page turn. It's best to select and stick to a "master" image format to use for most of the book.
On some occasions, you can interrupt the flow with a picture that deviates from this convention. This is an excellent way to draw attention to your most powerful images.
Don’t: Go Crazy On the Fonts
Many times, good photo books are ruined by poor choices of typeface and layout. Adding a strange or unprofessional-looking font is likely to make your work appear amateurish. Moreover, placing the images in random spaces all over the pages will come off as unappealing. You’ll want to leave a sizable border around every image to prevent prints from folding and bleeding around the edges, and reduce your font size so that it doesn’t overshadow your photos. Simple black text always works. Thankfully, all this is achievable online as you collate your images and design them into customizable softcover or hardcover photo books.
Don’t: Forget to Let Others View Your Work
It’s easy to miss mistakes or areas for improvement if you’re the only one judging your work. This is why we’d recommend getting a second opinion on your photo book before it gets sent for printing. It could be a family member or a friend. Whoever it is, let them have a look at your vision and provide constructive comments.
Most of all, it’s important to keep your photo book simple without sacrificing aspects that make it uniquely you. And don’t forget to have fun with it!
