Creating The Perfect Wedding Scrapbook

Your wedding is one of life's most cherished events, and that means that saving that memory is one of the most important tasks that anyone can undertake. For some, this can make it almost a nerve racking experience.

That is until now...

Here are some tips that will make it a simple and memorable experience:

First, plan ahead! Don't wait until the event is over and you find you are missing things that could have really made the pages stand out in time. If you take the time to plan the outline of your book in advance, all the critical parts will be easy to list and check off as you collect them.

There are several decisions that when made in advance will save you time, money and worry.

For example, you'll need to decide whether this album will cover your entire wedding - from engagement through the honeymoon - or, will you focus on just the wedding day itself? Unless you are going to create your wedding scrapbook in digital form and have it made into a Realbook hardbound scrapbook, I would recommend planning on 3 or 4 separate smaller books. A hand scrapped wedding scrapbook, especially with lots of dimensional pages can be thicker and larger than will fit into any conventional binder or scrapbook cover.

By breaking your wedding scrapbook up into sections of time or events, it makes for a much more manageable scrapbook project. For instance, you might want to choose a 6x6 or 8x8 album project for the engagement, bridal shower (bachelorette/bachelor party), and other smaller events with fewer photos. Then you can create the 8.5x11 or even 12x12 for the main wedding event with all its photographs and mementos that come with it.

Digital highlight scrapbooks also make great gifts for the parents and in-laws... especially if you have them done as a real hardbound book complete with custom covers and dedication.

Now that you have the big picture all planned out, get it on paper. Get a small notebook or planner for each book and a container for the photos and mementos. Then just run through each of the events in your mind or with the bride if you are doing it for someone else. Jot down notes on special pictures you want taken. Also, don't forget to start listing out the embellishments from the events that you will want to collect to add inside the scrapbook.

Save things like a copy of the invitation, samples of the napkins or other colored papers used to decorate with. Don't forget the shower/party invitations and even the bill from the caterer; anything that might remind you of a special memory 20 years down the road. Some of the flowers from the church pressed and preserved are a definite must have.

Other things to consider are airline (honeymoon) ticket stubs, place cards and even gift lists or guest lists. Fabric patches from dresses are another thought.

Just let your mind wander and write down anything that comes to mind. You can always discard things... it's hard to come up with them after things are cleaned up and thrown out.

I find that color schemes generally take care of themselves with the wedding colors and party schemes used in the actual events. It's also the easiest thing to change based on how the actual event turns out. If you have done your pre-planning for the photos and embellishments that add meaning, you'll find the page colors will easily come together.

Remember that elegance and simplicity tend to go hand in hand. The wedding scrapbooks that stand the test of time are the ones that evoke emotions and memories on every page.

The more detailed your plan is and the more embellishments you collect from the events, the less money you're also likely to spend at the scrapbook store when it comes time to finish the project.

As each event completes, now it's time to go through your photos and memorabilia from those events.

For me, Scrapbooking, especially digital or computer Scrapbooking, is about telling the stories of our lives, so I love to work with the photographs that really tell a story. Sometimes the "Best" photos aren't what are best for the scrapbook.

While professional photographs are great and a necessary part of your wedding scrapbook, it's generally the candid shots and the unplanned moments caught on film that contain the most telling stories.

The flower girl hiding behind the brides dress or the ring bearer with a face full of cake are just a couple of examples that I've seen. Mom crying as she helps get her daughter ready to give away is another photo that couldn't have been planned. Photo's like these, even if slightly out of focus or poorly famed absolutely make the scrapbook wedding album worth having.

So, when choosing your photo images to include in the wedding scrapbook, choose the photographs for the stories they tell and the memories that they capture. Don't discard an important image just because it's not the greatest photo ever taken. Use the images that bring the biggest smiles when remembering this cherished event. And, don't forget to use your journaling to tell the whole story. While an image tells a thousand words... if it's not the whole story, the real memory is lost in time.

It is also a good idea to work with duplicates (copies) of your priceless wedding photos. You may find that you will want to use these photos again in the future, and you're certain to feel a lot more creative if you know that the originals, even the snap shots, are safely tucked away.

As for the memorabilia and embellishments...

Some would say to go easy on memorabilia and embellishments so that the images stand out and get most of the attention. They may also say that it can detract from the real story. I'm in total agreement and total disagreement all at the same time.

Too much of anything is distracting and takes up space better occupied by the photographs and journaling. On the other hand, much of this great stuff really is a major part of the story and just can't be left out and tucked away in a box somewhere.

The invitation and honeymoon ticket stubs for instance. It's all about how you got there and where it all took place. Small scraps of material from the wedding and bridesmaid dresses and flowers from the church are all about how it looked and felt. Ribbons from gifts and scraps of the gift wrap itself are all about who you shared it with and how they felt. So, while too much is not a good thing... if it has a part of the story to tell, then it absolutely needs to be a part of the wedding scrapbook.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Trust your inner eyes and heart to take the reins and then just let the story unfold as you go.

A few more notes on the journaling...

If you're going to really tell the story for future generations to come, then don't just concentrate on the 5 w's (who, what, where, when, and why) - but, focus more on the 5 senses. What do you and others remember seeing, hearing, thinking, feeling, tasting? If you were the bride, how did you feel as you were standing at the altar? What did you feel as you and your new husband exchanged bites of cake? What was the weather like? What did your father say to you just before he walked you down the isle?

A great tip I was given was to ask the wedding party to contribute their thoughts via e-mail or short notes. Ask them for specific memories..."the most memorable part of the wedding day was..." Don't hesitate to coach your guests and members of your bridal party to close their eyes and to use their five senses to jot down what they remember.

Remember, your goal is to not only collect the memories, but the emotions that made them so memorable.

Tips on Assembling the Scrapbook

Start the album with a dedication page. This is especially great if you are creating the wedding scrapbook for the new couple as your gift to them. Tell why you created the album and a few details of who you are and why this wedding was such an important day in your life.

If you are the bride and groom, then this really is your personal love story. Set the scene by letting the reader know who you are and why we should continue to read on.

Now it's just a matter of starting at the beginning and letting the story unfold as it really happened. Keep each page to a single part of the story. Don't mix the setting up with the ceremony or the party after. As you lay out each page, step back and ask yourself if the whole story or memory of each image is told correctly on the page. Does it make you smile, remember and most of all feel the way you did when it first happened? If it does... then you know your page is complete and your memories preserved in time.

Your wedding scrapbook, whether digital or hand scrapped, whether placed in a commercial binder or made into a Realbook hardbound book, will be one of the most treasured scrapbook albums in your home. Don't forget to enjoy the process of creating it!

Some Beach Wedding Do's, Don'ts, OKs and FYIs

Please note these are just some personal observations based on attending and photographing countless weddings. You might read similar experiences elsewhere, and some are Ocean City and Delaware Beaches specific.

DO - Book in advance. This might seem a given but you might miss out on locations or service providers you wanted based on availability and the summer window of opportunity.

DON'T - Do Not have your wedding at NOON or anywhere around that time if you can help it. It's the worst time for photos as it creates dark shadows under the eyes for example, not to mention its right around the hottest time of day. Instead, aim for the sunset time which is the best, maybe an hour before sunset for the actual ceremony and gives you 40 or so minutes for photos after.

OK - Sunrise or Morning weddings. As these early morning weddings on the east coast beaches are nice, it works well for elopers or very small groups. It's hard to get everyone together and on the beach so early in the morning with coffee. And photos can turn out really good or really bad, if you don't know what you're doing. Try and use the flash when shooting against the sun and for point and shooter camera users get closer to your subject when shooting against the sun and use a flash.

DON'T - Do Not use bubbles, unless you do it right. It seems like such a waste of money if you don't do this right. You might imagine your guests showing up and someone handing them a mini container of bubbles and they go to their seats. What you didn't consider is when you say your "I Dos" and kiss, I now pronounce you husband and wife people are sometimes caught off guard or lost in emotion they forget they have this thing of bubbles. Too late, you just walked back down the aisle and the moment is gone and no bubbles. Tip, get a bubble machine they have them battery operated, and assign someone to turn it on. Or assign some bubble people to get the others started.

DO - Wear sandals or flip flops on the beach. People in heels or nice dress shoes do not walk well in sand. And let your guests know this, to bring a pair of sandals or flip flops and if you're wedding reception venue is somewhere else to bring a back up pair of footwear.

DO - Get a professional photographer. More and more I see, couples either saving money by having an aunt or uncle or inexperience friend take their wedding photos. Don't let your friend who thinks they are a professional photographer after buying a $600 camera and never been to a wedding before. Reasons why the professional is better - better equipment usually in the $3000 - $10,000 in equipment coming to photography you. More experience - the countless weddings has taught your photographer about lighting to look your best, placement, posing, and to anticipate various wedding situations. And because this is one of the most important days of your lives you want to have something really nice to look back on and show others.

DON'T - Do Not use a wedding aisle runner. They might be nice to look at, but ultimately as waste of money. People walking on them tears them up and often time's trips on them if they get bunched up. And having one at the beach is so wrong. That is what having a beach wedding all is about, having the sand under your feet.

FYI - there will be other people on the beach unless you have access to a private beach. If you don't have a private or secluded beach, be prepared for other people you don't know to be in your photos, unless your professional photographer knows how to hide them or make them disappear. You wouldn't want an awesome photo of you and your new spouse and have some unattractive person lying out on the beach behind you in the photo.

DO - Pick the perfect wedding gown. Some dresses are better for the beach then others. You wouldn't want to pick a dress that as you walk across the beach it collects a lot of sand and becomes really heavy. Think about choosing a dress that will flow with you, that is not too long, and that will be comfortable in the heat of the summer weather.

FYI - Unity Candles or a Sand Ceremony? Candles would be hard to keep lit on the beach, instead consider incorporating a Sand Unity Ceremony in place of lighting the unity candles. And to start the Sand Ceremony off, be sure to collect sand from under your feet on the beach where you are getting married. Then you can combine your colored sand in your unity vase.

DO - Make sure you have your beach permits. Some beaches in Maryland and Delaware require you to have a permit to hold a function such as a wedding ceremony on the beach. Assateague Beach is crazy when it comes to permits and there will be an entrance fee for getting on those beaches. Delaware beaches will require you to have a permit for specific beaches, and getting married around Rehoboth beach parking will be limited and be prepared to keep feeding the meters.

DO - have a Plan B or Location B ready in case of rainy weather. You can always count on Mother Nature as being unpredictable, so you should have an alternate plan in case that beautiful beach wedding doesn't happen as you have dreamed. You will find that a lot of wedding venues located on or near the beach will have enough space to have the ceremony in doors. Just make sure what the cost will be on having it in doors so you can plan to have that in your budget, just in case.

Top 5 Most Expensive Las Vegas Wedding Packages

Known as "The Marriage Capital of the World" for good reason, most people know that tying the knot in Vegas is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to get married. What most people don't know, is that Vegas is where you'll also find some of the most luxurious, extravagant and expensive wedding packages around.

With packages ranging from $39 for a "Desk Wedding" at A Las Vegas Wedding Chapel (the minister literally sits at his desk and marries you!) all the way to the $23,090 Elegant Affair Ceremony package at the Wynn Hotel & Casino, there are literally hundreds of different Vegas wedding packages to choose from.

In case you were wondering what casinos offer the most expensive wedding packages in Vegas, here they are:

1. $23,090 - The Elegant Affair Ceremony at the Wynn Hotel & Casino

When you book the most expensive wedding package in Vegas, you expect to be pampered. The Elegant Affair Ceremony package at the Wynn Hotel & Casino does not disappoint.

After being picked up at the airport by your private chauffeur who will take you to the courthouse to get your marriage license, you'll be checked in to your extraordinary 2,490 sq ft Wynn Fairway Villa (which features a stunning views of the golf course, a private patio and private massage treatment room) where you'll stay for two nights.

Getting ready for the big day includes pampering for both the bride and groom. While the groom is enjoying not one, but two rounds of golf with a private caddy, the bride is treated to a pre-wedding day visit to The Salon for an up-do and make-up application and a Spa manicure and pedicure with a paraffin treatment (the Bride returns the next day to The Salon for her wedding day up-do and make-up application). Lest the groom feel left out, the package also includes a hot lather shave and classic manicure from The Salon's Barbershop for him.

For the actual wedding, couples will enjoy an extravagant floral packages (customized bouquet and boutonniere, as well as eight custom-designed pew arrangements and an aisle runner generously covered in a pathway of delicate rose petals) and two hours in the private bridal salon. An extensive photography and video package rounds out the ceremony highlights.

Other indulgences include a Good Luck Ritual Massage, customized for two in your villa, followed by peppermint foot treatments, moisturizing hand therapies and aromatic scalp treatments.

Additional treats include a lavish "morning tasting" for two served in bed - complete with Italian mimosas, Dinner for two at Alex, plus two glasses of Tete de Cuvee Champagne from Alex's champagne cart, and Fondue for two in your villa paired with a special bottle of dessert wine. During your stay you'll also receive two VIP indulgence package tickets to Le Reve.

The extravagant goodie bag includes one bottle of Veuve Clicquot, "La Grande Dame" Rose Champagne, a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Premier Cru Brut Champagne and a special wedding gift, two glasses of Nicolas Feuillatte Premier Cru Brut Champagne to toast to your life together and two monogrammed spa robes as a memento.

Both the Bride and Groom are exceptionally pampered in the Elegant Affair Ceremony. But if there are guests that want to attend, you'll have to let them know that they're on their own when it comes to festivities and food & drink.

2. $18,500 - Decadence All-Inclusive Ceremony & Reception (up to 50 guests) at Mandalay Bay

This ultimate all-inclusive event is sure to please as you and 50 of your closest friends and family as you enjoy an exceptionally beautiful wedding ceremony and cocktail reception at the Mandalay Bay. You can just sit back and relax as you let your personal wedding planner take care of all of the details for you!

Your package begins with a private chauffeur meeting you at the airport, taking you to the get your wedding license and then bringing you to the Mandalay Bay where you'll check in for three nights in your upscale Honeymoon Suite.

Package amenities include a Wedding Rehearsal, a personalized up-do and make-up application for the Bride at Robert Cromeans Salon on the day of the big event, and a generous floral package with bouquets for the Bride and her Maid-of-Honor as well as boutonnieres for the Groom and his Best Man.

Four hours of photography ensure every precious moment is captured throughout the day. The package also includes 250 photographs, various enlargements of your favorite shots and a DVD of the ceremony as well as private webcasting of the event.

During the ceremony, guests enjoy the beautiful sound of elegant music played by a Pianist while a DJ provides the music for three hours during the reception.

Speaking of the reception, if you choose this all-inclusive package at the Mandalay Bay, you'd better tell your guests to come hungry. The three hour cocktail reception in the private ballroom includes passed hors d'oeuvres and station upon station of delicious food accompanied by a three hour premium brands bar service. A custom wedding cake and champagne toast round out the menu.

Guests will return home with a personalized poker chip favor as a memento of the event.

3. $17,000 - Brasilia Ceremony & Reception Package (100 guests) at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino

Invite your favorite 100 guests to Las Vegas enjoy this exceptional all-inclusive ceremony and reception event at the Rio completely planned for you by your personal wedding coordinator.

Pampering includes a couples massage for two, a spa package including a manicure, pedicure and up-do for the Bride on her wedding day.

Your one-night stay in an upgraded Rio Suite also includes breakfast in bed for two, Dinner for Two in one of the Rio's Owned Restaurants and a Strawberry Kiss Amenity for Two in Suite, and the use of a private Limo for one hour.

Decadent decor and generous flower arrangements turn one of the Rio's elegant ballrooms into a stunning location for your dinner and dancing reception. Guests will enjoy a fully plated dinner consisting of your choice of a starter, followed by an incredible entree (may we recommend the Petit Filet Mignon served with herbed butter and lobster stuffed prawns....), concluding with wedding cake for dessert and a champagne toast.

Four hours of photography (including a generous print package) and a DVD of the event ensure your memories are preserved for a lifetime.

4. $16,500 - Dolce Romanza - Sweet Romance Wedding Package at the Venetian/Palazzo

It doesn't get any more romantic than a wedding packages from the elegant The Venetian/The Palazzo, where your dream Las Vegas Wedding unites with the storybook charm of old world Italy. When you choose this package, your Personal Event Planner will assist you with ceremony details, a reception (not included in this package), and group accommodations.

The package includes a two night stay in the luxurious Prima Suite and up to to 20% off Suite accommodations on additional nights booked should you wish to extend your stay.

Start by choosing one of the many beautiful ceremony locations around the resort: the stunning Venezia Courtyard, the dramatic Palazzo Waterfall, or the elegant Wedding Chapel. Six lavish floral arrangements will be placed around your ceremony site along with fresh floral aisle markers, perfectly coordinating you're your $300 floral allowance for your custom-created bouquet and matching boutonniere.

In addition to your ceremony which features string trio live music accompaniment, the package also includes a 30-minute rehearsal, Honeymooner's Breakfast in Bed, Tuxedo Chocolate-covered Strawberries, a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne and one hour limousine service to be used as you choose.

You'll also receive the Fortuna Photo Package With Second Camera Upgrade, a DVD of Ceremony in Custom Leather Folio and a Venetian Photo Album.

5. $16,000 - The Cosa Bella Wedding Package at the Bellagio

With this Bellagio wedding package, you'll stay in a luxurious Penthouse Suite for two nights with a Lakeview and High Floor and enjoy additional indulgences such as continental breakfast for two in bed, dinner for two in Picasso or Prime (Beverages, Beverage Tax & Beverage Gratuity Not Included), and a $750.00 Bellagio Gift Certificate to be used in the Salon and/or Spa.

This package includes private Limousine Service from and to McCarran Airport as well as Limousine Service to and from Bellagio to the Marriage License Bureau. Also included is a rehearsal the day before your wedding and a professional harpist will serenade guests during your ceremony.

The floral package includes Bride's Bouquet and Groom's Boutonniere Floral Package, six extravagant pew markers with floral sprays and two mantle arrangements, a walkway of fresh white petals for bride's processional (includes 3 bags) and the use of a custom Bellagio aisle runner.

The generous photography package includes The Cosa Bella Photography Package (see details under Photography Section) one and one half hours of Chapel Time (East or South) inclusive of chapel photography, two additional hours and thirty additional images shot for photography around the resort. You will also receive two DVDs of your wedding ceremony and live broadcast of your wedding ceremony on the internet.

Included as gifts from the Bellagio is One Bottle of Cristal Champagne, Bellagio's Jean Philippe Maury Gourmet Cho colates, Swarovski Champagne Crystalline Flutes, Two Luxurious Bellagio Suite Robes and a Bellagio Custom Made Tote Bag.

During your stay, you will also enjoy two tickets for Cirque du Soleil's 'O' Show (based on show schedule).

Well a girl can dream, can't she?!

Want to find out other Vegas Wedding Packages are available? Access over 827 wedding packages at our website at http://www.planaweddinginvegas.com

Have questions about choosing a Vegas Wedding Package? I'd be happy to help! Please email me at info@planaweddinginvegas.com

Wedding Crafts To Sell At Craft Shows

If you've been wanting to try your hand at some crafts and you have a passion for the wedding industry, if you put the two together, you can launch a home business in wedding crafts and make yourself a nice little income from home!

These are some easy wedding crafts to make and sell at craft shows to help launch your new crafts business in the wedding industry and that you can build on as you start to make some sales.

Project #1: Disposable Wedding Camera Covers
A lot of couples still buy disposable wedding cameras for their guests to take some candid shots during the reception. They usually put one camera on each table and it gets passed around from guest to guest to take photos.

The best part about these cameras is when the newlyweds finally get to these photos and try to guess who took them. And believe me, it's a real treat!

Most of these disposable wedding cameras still have the same covers on them from several years ago. Stock photos really with no real character; the same thing over and over at every store or website you go to.

What if you want something different than what everyone else is having? For instance, if your wedding color theme is black and red, you're not going to find black and red covers on these disposable cameras.

The other consideration is price. You can actually pay more for the disposable cameras just because they're marketed as "wedding" cameras and have covers on them. Take the covers off and you have a plain black camera underneath.

Buy a plain black camera and you save a little chunk of change but then you're left with a plain black camera to put on your guests' tables, which is fine if your wedding colors are black and white or black and red, but they're still kind of bland, not making much of an accent to your wedding theme at all.

If you're crafty though, you can spruce up these plain old outdated camera "skins" yourself, plus print off some extras and sell them at craft shows!

What you'll need:
* Lightweight card stock - heavier than 24 lb. paper, but nothing heavier than around 65 lb.
* A disposable camera with a cover on it.

What you do:
* Take the current cover off and lay it out flat on the card stock.
* Trace the card stock including the places where you need to cut out the holes for the lens
* Scan the cover and edit it in a photo imaging program like Paint.Net, which is free.
* Print out however many you need and recover the camera!

If you're making some camera covers to sell at craft shows, make sure you have the camera you originally used to make the templates so your customers know what type of a camera your unique covers will fit on.

You can do this with any disposable camera that already has a cover on it! Get creative and even offer to do some custom work!

Project #2: Shot Glass Candles for Wedding Favors
Shot glasses are often used for wedding favors but they also make unique candle holders too. If you love wedding crafts and you love making candles, shot glass candles could be just the ticket to making some wedding favors to sell at craft shows.

This is also a great recycled craft idea as well since you'll be reusing some things you may already have around the house or getting them from friends who may otherwise have thrown them out.

So here's what you need:
* Some heavy shot glasses. Doesn't matter if they're used, picked up at auctions or from a bar that closed down. They won't be used to drink out of; they'll be holding candle wax!

* Some candle wax. Use the leftover wax from old candles and add it to some new wax. Melt down some old crayons for some extra color. Reusing the old will save you money because you won't have to buy as much of the new stuff.

* Wicks for the candles. Cut to about ?翹 inch above the height of the shot glass.

What you do next:
* Cut or shave the old candles into pieces and place the shavings and pieces in a container.
* Place the container of wax inside of a separate container of boiling water.
* Melt the wax.
* Add in some dye or some of the crayon shavings for color.
* Set the wicks upright into the center of shot glasses and hold the wick up as you pour in the wax.
* As the wax sets, check the wicks to make sure they're still centered.*

Once the candles are completely set, you can wrap them in tulle and tie a ribbon around them so they make nice accents to the guests' tables.

Having them wrapped in tulle with a ribbon makes them look nice for customers who stop by your craft table too!

Wedding Photo Journalism

Most of the people think that the meaning of a wedding studio photographer is just the same as a wedding photo journalist. Actually they both are distinct in their own ways. Both of them render the use of different skill and creativeness. The creativeness is the main thing that matters and creates the difference in both of the cases. The former one will not do anything to change the moment. The latter one can however make alterations. The former will only be a silent observer. In this way he will be able to capture those emotions and scenes of the family which they would cherish remembering upon later on.

The work of such a man is only to capture an emotion. This should be done with no alterations. It does not at all mean that you do not capture the portraits of the families. You can do them but a great judgment is required in such a job. There are many lights available which can be used such as blending lights or the normal lights can also be used. It is upon you that when do you feel it right to use whichever light.

There are many ways which help you to capture pictures in different ways. Some of them are by staging the moments, etc. also the camera can be rotated sideways. In this way you get a longer view of a smaller place. Also special effects can be added depending upon the situation. Also, by doing so, the flaws in the photo would be avoided and also the families would be happier than before. The moment also looks original when you try and do something like this. It is not that if you do not keep the photo original, the moment does not look good. In some cases, the photo becomes better than the original when you do something creative like this. Also, you should be able to tell stories to people when you see your camera. This is when you are known to be what is called as a good photo journalist.

The elements which are used in the determination of the moment should not be lost. It should be taken care of by a good wedding photo journalist that such locations, elements, places, characters and objects should not be missed upon. Also, by doing so, the blend of the background comes into picture. And by just seeing the surroundings the people should be able to recapitulate what happened when the photo was clicked. After all, a photo is only able to define a specific moment. Also, stage moments should not be missed upon in a wedding. Ethics should be followed if you are a true photo journalist.

Embrace The Latest In State Of the Art Photo Albums

Before photography became almost wholly digital in nature, it was a pastime which was much more limited in nature. In part, this was due to the nature of the way in which the images were actually captured. Since older cameras used physical rolls of film the number of exposures captured on each tended to be limited to either 24 or 36 exposures. Compare this to modern cameras and you'll see instantly just how limiting it was. Rather than simply snapping away in the knowledge that you could then go through the images later and select the best, you had to pick and choose your moments carefully.

Not only were the opportunities for taking photographs limited, but you wouldn't actually be able to see the images you'd captured until you'd gone through the long and somewhat arduous process of having them developed and printed. If it then turned out that the picture didn't work, then there was nothing you could do about it you'd already paid for the film and to have it developed, and couldn't very well travel back to the holiday and have another go.

The contrast with digital photography couldn't be more extreme, not only in terms of the number and quality of photographs you can now take, but also when considering how you set about storing them. Having created a body of images which capture your most precious memories, it's only natural that you should want to store them in a manner which is safe and accessible but which also shows them off to their very best effect. The easiest way of achieving this is to create personalized photo albums, but the albums in question will be a long way from the scrap books type volumes into which photographs used to be stuck.

Having collected your favorite images you can turn them into photo books online as quickly as simply having them printed off. The books in question will be put together to the kind of high standard usually found in books dealing with the lives of celebrities or the work of famous photographers. The paper will be glossy and thick whilst the images will be printed with stunning clarity and depth, with the whole being put together and bound to a highly luxurious standard.

Many people choose this option when putting together a baby album, a volume recording their child's first year of life via all those special moments, whilst others take the chance to create an alternative wedding album. Whilst an official photographer may well capture all of the traditional wedding images, a book which you put together yourself, using images taken by the guests sharing your day, will be one which genuinely captures the flavor and mood of the day.

Once you've selected the theme and subject of your book, and the images which this calls for, then you just have to upload them to the website you're using. The software required to design your book has been built with the total beginner in mind. By making a selection of a series of simple options such as the size and shape of the book, the makeup and look of the cover and the layout of each page, you'll be creating something which is truly unique. The key aspect is flexibility, and by choosing from a huge range of backgrounds, frames and so on, you'll be achieving exactly the look and feel you're aiming for. If you want to share the concept with family and friends then you don't have to print them a book each, since making personalized greeting cards in the UK is just as easy and the results are equally stunning.

How to Create and Bind Your Own Photobook in Minutes

Digital photography has become much more popular than traditional film photography for a number of reasons. For one thing, digital cameras have really come down in price and using them is easy and convenient. Also, it's easy to use your digital photos to create greeting cards, websites, and more. If you long for the days of physical photo albums, you'll be will glad you know that it is possible to create and bind your very own photobooks. All you will need are your pictures, a printer (either your own or someone else's), and some kind of binding machine and supplies. Here is how you can crate your own photobook in minutes:

• The first thing to do is lay out and print your photos.The easiest way to lay out your photos is on your computer. You can do this with a number of software packages including MS Word and Publisher, InDesign, and LumaPix FotoFusion. You can use one of the program's templates or design your own. When you're ready to print your photos, you have a couple of options. First, you can print them on photo paper with your laser or ink-jet printer. (This is your most cost-effective option.) Or you could have a photo lab or warehouse discount store do the job. It's up to you.


• Now it's time to select a binding method. You have several options when it comes to binding your photobook. Here they are:




• Stapling. Stapling your photobook is easy and cheap, plus you don't really need any special equipment. The one downside to stapling the book is that it won't look very professional. This can be helped somewhat by using a long-reach stapler to staple the book in the middle and then folding the pages so it resembles a stapled magazine.


• Comb binding. A lot of people have access to comb binding machines because they are easy to use and they can be inexpensive. If you choose to use a comb binding machine, just punch holes in the pages of your photobook and select a front and back cover for it. (Make sure the covers have holes punched in them.) Place a plastic binding comb on the machine's comb opener, open it, and begin sliding the tines of the comb through the holes in your book. Close the comb when you're done. That's all there is to it.


• Coil binding. Another affordable binding option is coil binding. This is very similar to comb binding except you twirl a coil through the holes and don't use combs. You will need to trim and turn in the ends of the coil with crimping pliers to secure the binding. Using coils is a good idea if you want your photobook to lie flat when it's open. You'll also be able to rotate the pages a full 360 degrees.


• Thermal binding. If you don't mind spending some cash, thermal binding is a great way to go. You will need a thermal binding machine (naturally) and some covers that have adhesive in the spine. You can choose from hardback and paperback covers, and there are even some with windows cut into them. (There are also Unibind Photobook supplies which can make your work look fantastic.) When your book is printed, turn the machine on, and stick the document in in one of the covers, ensuring that the pages come into contact with the adhesive. Place the book in the machine with the spine facing down. Once the machine has bound the book, remove it and let it cool off.


• Once you have printed and bound your photobook, feel free to enjoy it in whatever way you see fit. Keep in mind that photobooks make great gifts and they're perfect for celebrating events like Mother's Day, a graduation, Christmas, a wedding, a big sporting event, and so on.

As you can see, making your own photobook is easy and you will probably be able to do it without needing to get any specialized machines or supplies. Stapling, comb, and coil binding are your best bets if cost is an issue. Thermal binding is a great method to use if you have the budget for it, especially since it will make your work look like it was professionally bound. Whichever binding method you choose, don't forget to have fun while making your photobook, and be sure to share it with your loved ones after it's been bound. You'll find that having a photobook will help you remember all the good times over the years. Good luck and have fun!