Your house is on fire. What are the things you would save first? Your family (obviously), your goldfish (probably) and then what? Most people asked this question would have their family photo albums high on the list of things to save.
It’s now become almost standard that wedding photographers supply your precious photos on a DVD or USB key. But what actually do most couples do with their images after they get them? Even though they might have the best intentions to create an album, photobook or a spectacular wall canvas, the truth is that most of the time the DVD is packed away in a drawer along with other precious wedding memories.
As a photographer, I want my work to be seen, enjoyed and shared, and by that I don’t mean simply creating an album on Facebook. I mean real photographs, real tactile images you can hold in your hand. How quickly we’ve become a generation who have lost the thrill of holding a real photograph. You don’t believe me? Go dig out some family photos or even better find an album and you will see what I mean.
Wedding albums have gone through some really big changes over the last few years. Improvements in printing technology have been combined with traditional bookbinding skills. Today’s albums have been transformed from the albums of even a few years ago. Gone are the days of the sticky white corners and pre-manufactured window mounts. The albums I offer are digitally printed, on archive quality paper – and then bound into hand made leather covers. The result is a truly bespoke item for a family to enjoy and treasure.
There definitely seems to be a move back to albums by couples. I put this down to the fact that people are growing increasingly aware that their digital images are easily lost. Have you got a backup of all your photos for the last five years? Even storing your images on DVD isn’t a long term solution as DVDs have a lifespan of about 8 years. It’s no wonder why people are choosing to make a more permanent record in the form of an album.
Remember at your wedding you are paying for a photographer to take photos for you to enjoy and treasure. Get your images printed, big, small, on your wall, in an album or whatever – but get them printed and enjoy them. If you are planning your wedding, budget for an album. After all the confetti has been swept up, cake eaten, suits returned, your album will be there to be enjoyed for years to come by you and future generations. Oh and keep it somewhere safe…just in case.
PS. No goldfish were harmed in the writing of this post.
More information on my range of wedding albums can be found here
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