NEW YORK, NY – Motif, a leading provider of high-quality personalized photo books, is pleased to announce the extension of its photo book design options, now allowing users to create stunning 120-page hardcover books. This significant enhancement aims to provide customers with even more flexibility and creative freedom to showcase their cherished memories in beautiful print form.

Motif has been at the forefront of the photo book industry since its inception in 2018, empowering users to transform their digital photos into professionally designed albums. With the introduction of an additional 20 pages, customers can now further personalize their photo books, capturing and preserving even more moments in a single volume. The additional pages are exclusively available for 11 x 8.5” and 13 x 10” hardcover books, ensuring the utmost durability and elegance.

“Our mission at Motif is to enable our users to tell their unique stories through beautifully crafted photo books,” said Jim Simpson, General Manager of Mimeo Photos, which acquired Motif in the beginning of 2023. “Providing our customers with the opportunity to design even larger hardcover books allows them to create timeless reflections of their memories and experiences.”

To access the expanded photo book design options, users can download the user-friendly Motif app, available on the macOS and iOS App Stores. The Motif app offers a seamless and intuitive interface, guiding users through the design process with ease. With its recent expansion to 163 countries and standing as an Apple preferred partner for photo products, Motif has established itself as a global leader in personalized photo book creation.

Motif’s commitment to quality is evident throughout the production process. Each photo book is printed on premium paper and bound with the utmost care to ensure a finished product of exceptional craftsmanship. By providing a wide range of design options and customization features, Motif empowers users to create photo books that truly reflect their unique style and vision.

Motif’s expanded photo book design options, including the introduction of the 120-page hardcover books, reaffirm the company’s dedication to customer satisfaction and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of photo book creation. With this exciting enhancement, Motif continues to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for users worldwide, enabling them to transform their digital memories into tangible works of art.

To start designing your own personalized photo book with the expanded page options, download the Motif app from the macOS and iOS App Stores today.

The post Top Apple Photo Book Printer Motif Expands Page Limit on Large Format Books appeared first on The Motif Blog.

All the photo books, calendars, and cards you love to make with Motif are now available to ship to almost every continent on the globe (Sorry, Antarctica)! 

After hearing from our users and friends all around the world, the Motif app is finally available for download in 163 countries. It is now easier than ever to share your memories with the people you love, no matter where they live. 

Plus, we now support 14 different currencies to make payment simple for everyone.

Send photo memories to your friends and family in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Brazil, and more directly from the Motif app you know and love. Let them know they can start making photo products now, too! 

Share this link to download Motif and start creating your next photo memories.

Here is the full list of countries where Motif is now available for download on the macOS and iOS app stores.

The post 130 More Countries Can Now Design and Ship Photo Products With Motif appeared first on The Motif Blog.

If you’ve recently updated your macOS to version 3.7, you’ll notice a couple differences when you use the Motif app. 

As you may be aware, Motif was recently acquired by Mimeo Photos. That means Motif and Mimeo are working together to integrate our systems, and in doing so we’ve made some enhancements we think you’ll enjoy.

The first is that our checkout process is now even more streamlined than it previously was. Now, it takes far fewer clicks to go from project completion to order confirmation. 

The next improvement is that you can ship to many more countries than you could with the previous version of the Motif macOS app! It’s time to send that far-flung cousin the gorgeous family photo project you put so much love into.

That’s it for now, but if you have questions or comments, we welcome your feedback. Drop us a note by clicking here.

The post What’s New for Motif on macOS Version 3.7 appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Motif is officially a part of the Mimeo family of brands! 

Motif and Mimeo have been global strategic partners with Apple for over a decade, first as the photobook providers behind Apple’s iPhoto printing services and now as the top photobook product apps in the Apple Mac App Store. With this acquisition, we will continue the tradition of producing the highest quality photobooks and other photo products from the same facilities trusted by Apple.

We’ve separated ourselves from competitors and stood out as the top two photo printing apps in the app store for years. Our reputations as user-friendly apps, with powerful feature sets, premium product quality, and top-tier service distinguishes us as leaders in the space, making Motif a natural fit with Mimeo. 

Our values align in our dedication to the Apple customer base and ecosystem. With 90% of Mimeo users coming to us from Apple devices, and 100% of Motif’s, it’s a vital aspect of what we do in Mimeo Photos, and now, together with Motif.

What does this mean for Motif users?

You will continue to be able to design beautiful products on the Motif apps this year, yet every photobook, calendar, and card will be printed and shipped by Mimeo. 

Here are some of the changes you’ll see: as a part of Mimeo, you’ll see how our high quality materials will make a difference in each gift you make. And you’ll now be able to ship even more photo gifts across the globe with us, as one of the first global print on demand platforms.

In addition to the beautiful photobooks, calendars, and cards you’ve been designing, you’ll also be able to choose from Mimeo’s beautiful photo memory products, including wall and tabletop decor. As an added bonus, all of our photobooks come with a premium matte sleeve to ensure not just professional printing, but professional delivery. 

For those that utilize Motif’s image curation and AutoFlow technology, which automatically chooses and lays out the best photos for your photobooks, you will still be able to do so. But now you will also have the option to utilize Mimeo Photos’ advanced layout and design toolset. 

Mimeo quality products 

Mimeo has been in the printing industry for more than 20 years and our expertise is evident in the quality of our products. There’s a good reason why Apple chose Mimeo to produce their print products a decade ago. 

Anyone can say their products are “premium”, but we can prove it. For example, here is how we make our photo books:

• Book covers are produced with scuff proof Satin Laminate, which also deters marking 
• Matching dust jackets are printed on McCoy 80 Cover Gloss with a Satin UV coating to prevent image distortion. Plus, it offers a high degree of scuff resistance 
• Interior pages are made of Sappi McCot 65# Silk Cover, which has a silky smooth finish and feels luxurious 

Conclusion

Motif’s acquisition by Mimeo Photos will only make a positive impact on your photo product printing experience. You will now have even more options to design and ship stunning, professional-quality pieces to friends, family, clients, and yourself, no matter which device you use. Plus you’ll receive them quicker, no matter where in the world you are. 

We’re so excited to welcome you to Mimeo Photos and show you just how beautiful your memory gifts can be! See what else we have to offer at MimeoPhotos.com. 

The post What Motif’s Acquisition by Mimeo Means For You appeared first on The Motif Blog.

You might be thinking to yourself that it’s too late to be even thinking about making Christmas cards for this year. Well the good people at Motif would like to say you’ve still got time to create  custom holiday cards for friends, family, colleagues, your letter/parcel carrier, or anyone else you’d like to extend holiday wishes to. 

But what is the right Christmas greetings wording for your holiday card? Well, that depends on who you’re sending it to. In this story, you’ll find several suggestions for the various types of cards you could be sending. If one doesn’t quite work for your card you might be inspired by what we included to come up with your own.   

• Types of Christmas card messages
• Religious Christmas card messages
• Funny Christmas card messages
• Christmas greetings for family
• Romantic Christmas card messages
• Christmas wishes to your boss and colleagues
• Create custom Christmas cards with Motif

Types of Christmas card messages

The note you put in a Christmas card depends greatly on the type of card you’re making. The message you put in a holiday card to a friend from school will be completely different than one that’s addressed to a person who belongs to your place of worship. General Christmas card messages are ideal if you’re printing multiple copies of one photo card you’re making. Classic Christmas card messages like, “Happy Holidays from the Soandso family,” also work well for a mass appeal. If you’ve got a lot on your plate, Christmas card messages from 2021 will do in a pinch.

Here’s a few other types of Christmas card messages you might consider for this holiday season.    

Religious Christmas card messages

If your faith is important to you and your family, then sending a religious Christmas card is a great way to share a blessed message. Consider a favorite passage that captures the spirit of Christmas. Here’s a few options to use or modify for your card:     

• May God bless you and let this Christmas season bring comfort and happiness to you and your loved ones. 
• May God’s blessings be yours this Christmas.
• Hosanna and blessings to us all as we remember the birth of our Lord and savior. Happy Holidays.
• Rejoice in the birth of our Lord and Savior. May the blessings of Christ be upon you and your loved ones this season and into the New Year.

Funny Christmas card messages

Should you always look for the humor in every moment of your life, funny Christmas card messages are a perfect option to consider. 

• Knock, knock! Who’s there? Mary. Mary who? Mary Christmas!
• What goes “Oh, oh, oh”? Santa walking backwards
• Get out the stretchy pants! Christmas is here!
• “You know you’re getting old when Santa starts looking younger.” – Robert Paul
• Christmas is a time for remembering family and trying to guess everyone’s sizes! Merry Christmas from our family to yours. 

Also, think about some favorite movie quotes from classics like Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story or Bad Santa. They might fit perfectly in your humorous holiday card. 

Christmas greetings for family

With the handy Motif photo app, making customizable holiday cards for just about everyone is easy. Sure, telling your family members how much you appreciate them during the holidays is easy enough, but taking the time to make a personalized card complete with your photos can really say so much more. It’s something they might even save as a memento or keepsake.  

• Thank you for sharing the holiday season with me and making it more special for me. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, my dear family.
• Merry Christmas to my sister! All the wonderful memories we’ve shared together still fill my heart with happiness.
• There is no greater gift this holiday season than spending time with family around the Christmas tree. 
• What can be better than opening presents, eating food and singing Christmas music? Doing all of them with family like you!

Romantic Christmas card messages

Again, Motif lets you easily create custom Christmas cards to that special someone in your life. The holidays can be stressful and a strategically worded Christmas card delivered right in the middle of it all can certainly bring calm to the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Be sure to track down some mistletoe for the icing on that cake. Here’s a couple ideas to use or give you some inspiration for your own. 

• Merry Christmas my love. Sending all my love to you on this special occasion.
• Your love is the best Christmas gift for me. Merry Christmas, sweetheart.
• You’re still my favorite gift.
• You’re at the top of my Christmas wish list.
• I’m so lucky that I have you to meet under the mistletoe.
• Merry Christmas to the reason I feel merry and bright every day. I love you.
• You’re all the present I need.

Again, mistletoe. 

Christmas wishes to your boss and colleagues

It’s always a good idea to send a card to your boss and close work colleagues. They’re often the people you spend the most time with throughout the year. If you’re lucky enough to consider colleagues friends, there’s no better reason to wish them a happy holiday season. 

• Our team wouldn’t be the same without you. Merry Christmas!
• Happy holidays to a terrific mentor—looking forward to doing great work together in the New Year.
• I like seeing you at work– you add a bit of happiness to the place. Happy Holidays!
• Our team wouldn’t be the same without you. Merry Christmas!
• I definitely didn’t want this holiday season to pass by without me wishing you a Merry Christmas! P.S. I’m happy we’re on the same team!
• Merry Christmas to my co-worker. May your holiday season be as bright as you make our office.

Create custom Christmas cards with Motif

Now that you have a pretty good list of who you’re sending Christmas cards to, ideas of the messages you’d like to include, and the place you can make them, here’s how:

To create your custom thank you card, open Photos and then select the photo or memory you’d like to use in your card. Right click and choose Create, then Card, then Motif. Choose your card format, a fitting theme, then type your very own Christmas wishes to make it truly personal. Then sit back and reap the rewards of your holiday efforts. 

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

The post What to Write in Christmas Cards in 2022 appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Have you recently received a birthday, Christmas, graduation, wedding, or shower gift? Did you recently have a job interview? Were you a guest at someone’s house? Have your children’s teachers done an exceptional job this school year? Did someone do something really nice for you? Sending thank you cards to all of them would be a really nice thing to do. Sending someone a card doesn’t necessarily need a reason at all. Yet if there was a specific event, the proper timing of sending thank you notes isn’t always clear. This story will keep you in the know about sending thank you notes in a timely manner. 

• Are thank you cards necessary?
• How long is too long to wait to send a thank you note?
• Is it ever too late to send a thank you note?
• When to send wedding thank you cards
• When to send baby shower thank you cards
• Designing custom thank you cards with Motif

Are thank you cards necessary?

Will I get in trouble for not sending thank you cards? No. Will you find yourself getting fewer invitations to gatherings or events? Possibly. Will you see fewer gifts from other people? There’s a chance. But life isn’t always about getting presents and being invited to events. It’s important that we be thankful for what we get to experience and what we have. 

Saying thank you to someone in person, in a text or via a phone call is certainly sufficient, but it’s more personal to take the time to write and mail a note. Receiving something in the mail that isn’t a bill or a marketing piece is quite rare these days. Think about how you felt the last time you received a thank you card from someone.   

How long is too long to wait to send a thank you note?

There is no set rule for sending thank you cards generally speaking, but within a week or two is most expected. Beyond the two week window there’s a better chance of forgetting to send the card altogether. Beyond that point it becomes more of a feeling of guilt that you forgot and that it’s “too late” to send. 

Is it ever too late to send a thank you note?

As you ask yourself, “how long do I have to send thank you cards,” always remember that it’s never too late. We’re all human and forget or procrastinate. That can develop into a weight you may carry around with you. You might even find yourself avoiding those you owe a thank you card. Just know that it’s never too late. Thank you cards are a great way to come clean. Some might even find sending a card therapeutic. 

When to send wedding thank you cards

In regards to wedding gifts, some experts have said you have up to a year to send thank-you notes. However, that rule has been recently modified to one to three months of the wedding or receipt of the wedding gift. Should you receive wedding gifts before the ceremony, it’s good to send a thank you before. This lets the guest know their gift arrived and also lightens your card writing duties somewhat after your wedding. Think more enjoyment on the honeymoon. And if a guest did not bring a gift, send a thank you card anyway for attending. Especially if they had to travel to attend. 

When to send baby shower thank you cards

This guide depends greatly on whether or not the baby has been born yet. If the child is still in bump form, the parents-to-be might have more time to send thank you cards. In this case, send the cards out from a few days to a week after the shower. 

Once the baby has arrived, the new parents will obviously have quite a bit more on their plate. At that point sending thank you notes when you have a spare moment is acceptable. 

Designing custom thank you cards with Motif

So now that the “how long do I have to send thank you cards” question has been answered, we can answer the “where’s the best place to create custom thank you cards” question. Creating thank you notes or cards that say exactly what you want and are adorned with your own photos is super easy with Motif. Download the free Motif app to your Mac. Motif works within Apple Photos where all your photos already reside. 

To create your custom thank you card, open Photos and then select the photo or memory you’d like to use in your card. Right click and choose Create, then Card, then Motif. Choose your card format, a fitting theme, then type the thank you’s or well wishes in your own words to make it truly personal. 

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

The post When to Send Thank You Notes and Cards appeared first on The Motif Blog.

If you’ve ever had the privilege of changing the diaper of a baby boy, you might be confused by the subject of this post. To be clear, we’re not discussing those kinds of baby boy sprinkle mishaps.     

Actually, if this isn’t your first baby, you probably have a nice assortment of clothing and gear from your previous one or two. Maybe you’re picking out all your baby gear needs on your own. And maybe the idea of having a huge party when you’re really pregnant isn’t sitting well with you. If any of these apply, you might be thinking about a baby sprinkle shower instead of the usual baby shower. 

Quick Links

• What is a baby sprinkle?
• Baby sprinkle gift ideas
• Baby sprinkle games 
• Baby sprinkle ideas
• Capture memories with plenty of photographs
• Baby sprinkle invitations
• Creating personalized baby sprinkle invitations and baby shower invites with Motif

What is a baby sprinkle?

A baby sprinkle is basically an abbreviated baby shower. It still involves guests, gifts, food, and refreshments, but they’re in much smaller amounts than your typical shower. They’re gaining in popularity nationwide so don’t be surprised if you find a baby sprinkle party invitation in your mailbox soon. 

Baby sprinkle gift ideas

Baby sprinkle gifts tend to be smaller in value and often more practical. Items like wipes, diapers, bibs, and other popular toiletries make great gifts. Bringing a gift for the older sibling is a great way to make everyone feel appreciated. Diapers in general are never a bad idea to those with newborns. Parents will always be needing to eat between feedings, changings, and stealing moments of rest when possible, so a gift of some home cooked meals or food delivery service is also a great practical gift idea.  

Baby sprinkle games

With the first hour or so of your sprinkle going to chatting, eating, and opening a few gifts, games can easily fill the remaining time. Some popular games to try include guessing the celebrity baby from photographs, blindfolded diaper changing, playdoh baby making station, and pin the pacifier on the baby.

If you’re not a big game person but want something that can happen throughout the gathering, try games like “Don’t Say Baby.” Whoever goes the longest without saying “Baby” wins the prize. Have guests fill out cards that include parenting advice for the expecting parents. Even if they have one already, they might need advice on managing two or more. 

Baby sprinkle ideas

Choosing a theme for your baby sparkle shower might be as easy as a color. Baby girl sprinkle ideas in anything pink will do the trick. Baby boy sprinkle ideas in baby blue will certainly do. Whatever your color may be, baby sprinkle theme ideas can also be based on animals, or nursery rhymes, food, or even floral. One could even go with a cloud theme to match the “sprinkle” event. Decorations with rainbows and clouds are popular as are flowers and raindrops. 

Consider a hired venue if you’d rather not handle the cleanup or food and beverages. Outdoor events can be fun if the weather cooperates or a personal at home setting may all be considered.

Capture memories with plenty of photographs

Photographs, besides the sprinkle gifts and empty beverage containers, will be the one thing that lets you remember the fun event. So be sure there’s someone designated to take photos of your baby sprinkle. If not just one person, remind everyone to snap liberally and then create a shared folder for everyone to contribute to. Any one of them could be used to create a personalized thank you card. Companies like Motif make it easy. Putting them a good assortment together in a photo book makes a great piece to revisit the moment whenever you feel like it. 

Baby sprinkle invitations

Instead of buying invitations from a store, use any photo of your own like a pregnancy shot to create an invite for the event. You’d be surprised how easy it is. Your guests will be amazed at how customized you were able to make them. They might even save them. 

Creating personalized baby sprinkle invitations and baby shower invites with Motif

Using your very own photos of the family to be or even any of the baby bump photos you’ve taken, creating personalized invitations is easy. Download the free Motif app to your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Motif works within Apple Photos so there’s no real need to upload photos unless of course you’re getting them from a friend or family. You can try Motif for free. Make as many projects as you like to see how fun it can be. Buy what you like. 

On your Mac laptop or desktop, open Photos and select the photo or memory you’d like to create your sprinkle/shower invite with. Right-click or in the File menu select Create, then Card, and then Motif. 

On your iPhone/iPad, simply open the Motif app and then select New in the upper right corner, then choose the product Card.  

Motif then magically places your selected photo into your card format. Add whatever text you’d like including time and date of the event. You’ll be surprised how easy it is.  

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

The post Baby Sprinkle Shower Ideas appeared first on The Motif Blog.

If you or someone you know was asked and you or someone you know said yes, congratulations! Someone’s getting married! So at some point, there will be a wedding where friends, family and loved ones will gather to bear witness to this union. All those people are going to need to know where to be and when they should be there. Knowing what to write on a wedding invitation is the key to a proper wedding with real live guests in attendance.   

Quick Links

• What to include on wedding invitation
• When to send wedding invitations
• RSVPs on wedding invitations
• What should the wedding invitations look like
• How do you define the dress code for your wedding on the invitations 
• How soon should the wedding thank you card be sent out 
• What should not be included in a wedding invitation
• Do you need to give all guests a plus one
• Can you invite some guests to the reception only
• Create your wedding invitations with Motif

What to include on wedding invitation

The key to getting all those friends, family, and loved ones to your wedding is a properly worded wedding invitation. This is an invitation you check, double-check, and check again before printing. Because one wrong digit or direction could mean empty seats and a lot of leftover chicken and fish. 

In your invitation, be sure to include these basics:

• Bride and groom names 
• Wedding date and time 
• Location of ceremony and reception if held elsewhere.
• Attire requested

Should you want to add more info to your invite, do so with caution. We’ll cover more throughout this story.  

When to send wedding invitations

The answer to this question depends mostly on the location of the wedding. If it’s a local ceremony with a majority of the guests being local as well, invitations should be sent out 8 weeks before the wedding date. This gives your guests ample time to plan and rsvp for the event. 

However, if you’re planning a destination wedding, those invitations should be sent out 12 weeks before the wedding. A passport isn’t something that is created or renewed as quickly as we’d always like. 

Also, include a return address on the envelope. If their address is incorrect due to a move, you’ll get the invite back and you’ll know they didn’t receive it. Sure beats a, “I never heard about your wedding,” response.  

RSVPs on wedding invitations

What the heck does RSVP stand for anyway? Well, the abbreviation RSVP comes from the French phrase répondez s’il vous plaît, which means “please reply.” Typically, an RSVP is a separate card that’s mailed with the invitation that guests indicate their intent and then mail back. The invitation is something the guest retains as their reminder and for some a keepsake. 

Be sure to include an “RSVP by” date on your RSVP cards. When should RSVPs for the wedding be due? That “RSVP by” date should be at least two weeks before your wedding. Your caterer will need that much time to determine an accurate headcount. Include a pre-addressed envelope to mail the reply back. Some RSVPs can be done via email, a phone number, or online. Don’t forget to put a stamp on the return envelope. 

What should the wedding invitations look like

Since it’s your wedding, your wedding invitations should look like you want them to. However, whatever your design is, it’s important that whatever information you’re trying to convey is clearly visible. A really cool design that makes the date and time hard to read becomes very uncool to your potential guests. Companies like Motif let you print cards and include photos of your own like engagement photos. 

How do you define the dress code for your wedding on the invitations

Communicating the dress code for your wedding can be made by identifying the specific code or a range. For example, if it’s a casual attire ceremony, guests can look up casual wedding attire online and get a good idea of what that encompasses. If it’s black tie optional to semi-formal, your guests will know. Whatever the dress code, it should ultimately match the formalness of the bride and groom. 

How soon should wedding thank you cards be sent out

Ideally, wedding thank you cards should be sent within 3 months after getting home from your honeymoon for gifts received on your wedding day. If gifts were sent to you before your wedding, you have a two-week window. It’s just good manners to let them know you received your gift. 

What should not be included in a wedding invitation

Most experts agree putting registry info on your wedding invitation is a no-no. That can be included on an information insert or a wedding website. It also cannot be stressed enough that incorrect information should be avoided at all costs. So, proof those invites before printing.  

Do you need to give all guests a plus one

If cost is an issue you certainly don’t have to give every single guest a plus-one. The unmarried or not in a serious relationship are acceptable to extend a solo invite. Most people will understand that without “and guest” or another name on the invitation, they can’t bring a guest.

If you find that nearly everyone attending will be coupled up, you could extend a plus-one invitation to your few single friends and family members.

Can you invite some guests to the reception only

Intimate wedding ceremonies followed by a larger reception is becoming increasingly popular. That being said, keeping your ceremony guest list small and inviting additional guests to the reception only is acceptable. Your invitation wording should be clear so everyone knows what to expect.

Create your wedding invitations with Motif

With all this wedding invitation info, your personalized wedding invitations, save the date and thank you cards are only a click or tap away. Simply download the free Motif app to your Mac laptop/desktop, iPhone or iPad. You can start those cards without having to purchase anything. Buy your creation if you like. But by all means, please give this option a try.  

On your Mac laptop or desktop, open Photos and select the photo or memory you’d like to create your wedding invites with. Right-click or in the File menu select Create then the Card, and then Motif. 

On your iPhone/iPad, simply open the Motif app and then select New in the upper right corner, then choose the product Card.  

Motif then springs into motion and magically places all your photos into your selected card format. Then, customize it with text, color, themes, and patterns. You’ll be surprised how easy it is.  

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

The post Nine Tips For Wedding Invite Etiquette appeared first on The Motif Blog.

A child’s baptism and christening is one of their first important religious events. Given the fact that they are just a few months old when it happens is a great reason to photograph the event. Because when you’re only 3 or 4 months old, you’re not thinking to yourself, “why is this guy in a funny hat pouring water on my head?” And to parents, this only happens once in a child’s life so we’re taking pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. It’s important those photos are printed in a place for family and friends to see. A personalized christening photo album is that perfect place. 

Quick Links

• 5 baptism photoshoot ideas & tips
• Capture candid shots of the service
• Take formal photographs of your family
• Include photos from the party afterwards
• Always check if photographs are allowed during
• Be aware of the lighting you will be working with
• Christening photo album formats to try
• A keepsake from the day
• Capture memories with a guestbook
• How can you personalize your baptism photo album?
• How to make your own christening photo album with Motif

If this is your first child or you’re looking to improve after a previous baptism photo book, here’s a few tips and ideas to consider.    

5 baptism photoshoot ideas & tips

With companies like Motif, printing your favorite christening photos in a christening photo book is so much easier than it used to be. If you decide to photograph the event yourself or assign the task to a trusted family member, it’s a good idea to have some idea of what you’d like before the event takes place. Winging it may not produce the results you’d like. Repeating the event can be difficult. Even if you decide to hire a photographer it’s still good to plan some shots beforehand.  

Capture candid shots of the service

One of the best christening photo ideas is to shoot candid shots. Too many staged and expected photos can fall flat when capturing this once in a lifetime ceremony. Some of your best photos happen when your subjects don’t realize you’re photographing them. 

Try this experiment: take a picture of your kids having fun. Then, ask them to pose for a photo. More times than not, you’ll see a difference in the smile. Candid photography tends to capture the purity of the moment. 

Take formal photographs of your family

A healthy balance of candid and formal photos captures the ceremony completely. Formal photos are good to capture the group in attendance. They can also encompass and frame up the individual parts of the ceremony.  

Include photos from the party afterwards

Once the seriousness of the baptism/christening is in the books, it’s time to relax and enjoy the people who came together for this event. Spirits are high and collars have been loosened. It’s a perfect time to photograph the party fixings and those enjoying them. 

Always check if photographs are allowed during

Before you even take one photo, be sure to ask if photos are allowed. Churches are sacred spaces and may have rules about taking photographs. In recent times, it’s much more common for photography to be allowed. Here’s a few things you might want to ask before the ceremony:

• Ask where you can stand and where to avoid
• Ask what you can and can’t shoot
• Ask your priest if they mind being in your photos
• Can you use flash and if so when (sometimes flash photography can upset an infant so use sparingly) 

Be aware of the lighting you will be working with

Light can be a challenge when shooting baptism photography. Most churches can be quite dim and a bit gloomy. Taking bright and crisp photos might be difficult. So concentrate on the moments, embrace the lighting available, and find out beforehand how an adjustment to your ISO settings on your camera could help your photo results. 

Christening photo album formats to try

Transforming all your favorite photos from the baptism and christening from a digital format to print is really easy these days. A professionally printed personalized baptism photo album lets you display photos how you choose and have at hand whenever you reach for it. Here’s a couple ideas to consider.  

A keepsake from the day

Assembling all your favorite shots from your christening into a printed photo album is easy. You can also include photos from friends, family, and photographers you might have hired. A christening photo album can also include descriptions of the event and also important details about who attended, dates and whatever you feel important to record. Your christening photo book can live on a bookshelf with your other photo albums. Maybe next to their sibling’s baptism photo albums. 

Capture memories with a guestbook

Another great idea to include with your personalized christening album is a guestbook. It may not contain photos from the christening but it’s an opportunity for guests to sign in and leave a message for the family. Pull this out on the child’s 16th birthday to read over the well wishes everyone wrote down that many years ago. Prepare this one before the christening with a few baby photos you might have a few of and be sure to leave a bunch of blank pages to write on.  

How can you personalize your baptism photo album?

A baptism photo album by companies like Motif becomes personalized as soon as you add your own photos to it. Then, pick a theme to match the tone of your christening. Select the colors and patterns that you prefer. Describe the who, the what, the when, and whatever else you’d like with a powerful text tool. Put their name on the cover and the spine if you like. Put photos basically anywhere you’d like.  

How to make your own christening photo album with Motif

Your personalized christening photo album begins by downloading the free Motif app to your Mac laptop/desktop, iPhone or iPad. You can start your photo project without having to purchase anything. Buy your creation if you like. But by all means, please give it a try.  

On your Mac laptop or desktop, open Photos and select the photo or memory you’d like to create your christening photo album with. Right-click or in the File menu select Create then the Photo Book, and then Motif. 

On your iPhone/iPad, simply open the Motif app and then select New in the upper right corner, then choose the product Photo Book.  

From there, the Motif app springs into motion and magically places all your photos into chronological order into a photo book format. It will also select the best photos from your group and prevent duplicates from showing up in your book. Then, customize it with text, color, themes, and patterns. You’ll be surprised how easy it is.  

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

The post Create A Christening Photo Album appeared first on The Motif Blog.

If you or someone else is about to complete another trip around the sun, this story is 100% perfect for you. Just like last year and the year before that one, you’re brainstorming possible birthday present ideas. But instead of getting them something that may or may not fit them properly or something that someone else made, try giving them something you made and is completely unique.  

A professionally printed photo book filled with some of your favorite photo memories is a gift that’s special. It’s something you took the time to make. It’s a truly personal gift that shows how much you care. Making printed photo projects is easier than you think with companies like Motif.

Here’s a few birthday photo album ideas to help you create something they’ll always cherish and remember the special person who gave it to them.   

Quick Links

• Tips & ideas for creating a unique birthday photo book
• Add text of your favorite memories
• Include embarrassing photos
• Choose their favorite color theme
• Tell a story
• Include their loved ones
• Milestone photo books ideas
• 18th birthday photo album
• 30th birthday photo album
• 50th birthday photo album
• How to design your own photo book

Tips & ideas for creating a unique birthday photo book

Instead of worry and fear, feel excited about creating a photo book for a birthday gift. You’ve got a ton of great photos to create your gift already on your camera or phone. Photos have a great way of taking you back to a moment in time. One could sit with your birthday friend scrolling through your phone with a lot of pinching and spreading on photos. Sound like fun? Really? Well how about paging through a professionally printed photo book complete with all the details of each special photo memory? Forget skipping past the duplicates or blurry shots because the book has all the best shots. 

If the latter sounds like a way better option, here’s a few simple ideas to help make your birthday photo book really shine. 

Add text of your favorite memories

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Yet sometimes, the words escape us. Depending on how long ago the memory was and how good your memory is, some valuable details right next to that picture can be very, very handy. If you can’t remember the name of the lake near that mountain with the park ranger who told you to check out that thing, a helpful sentence or two right next to the photo would fill in all those gaps.  

Include embarrassing photos

Embarrassing photos are birthday gold. Nothing brings a smile and some laughter like a silly photo of your birthday boy or girl on a quality printed page. And that beautiful photo book filled with amazing photos and a few embarrassing ones gets saved and put on the bookshelf. Ask yourself how much is a bunch of people laughing together worth? Some might say that’s priceless. Include the embarrassing photos in your birthday photo book. 

Choose their favorite color theme

If your birthday person is a fan of certain colors, the Motif photo book app lets you choose whatever color you’d like in the book. Do they have a favorite team? Create their birthday photo book with their favorite colors in the background and part of the theme or pattern. Favorite colors only add to their enjoyment of the photos you filled the book with. 

Tell a story

There is a story behind every photo. But sometimes, a paragraph or two really helps tell a better story. If you’re making a 1st birthday photo album, a written record of your first year is something you’ll have forever. They’d also make great gifts for grandparents and other family members. Imagine digging that photo book out a few years down the road for a good read. 

Include their loved ones

And of course you include photos of loved ones. Nobody really goes through life alone so the people important to us belong in your birthday photo book. It’s made for one person but is really best enjoyed and shared together. Even if you’re enjoying it alone it’s easy to be reminded of the important people in your life.  

Milestone photo books ideas

In addition to the random birthday gift, milestone birthdays such as the 1st, 18th, 30th, 40th, 50th and so on make perfect birthday gifts. They’re great opportunities to span the time with photos collected in one professionally printed photo book. It seems there are never a shortage of photos throughout our lives. Putting them all in one place helps document the years you’re celebrating. 

Below are a few ideas for some of the more popular milestones.  

18th birthday photo album

They grow up so fast. It just seemed like yesterday when you were changing their diaper. Now they’re asking to borrow the car and looking forward to moving away for college. It’s a really good bet there are tons of photos that span them crawling around in diapers, to their first day of school, to them posing with their freshly minted driver’s license. 

Consider assembling another photo book containing photos of their school years as a graduate from college gift. 

30th birthday photo album

30 years old to many is considered being an adult, though that may be debated. Many who reach that age might be feeling as if their fun years have passed. Well that’s not true, but collecting all the photos of the fun things you did in your 20’s is a great birthday gift idea. So many of those photos live on your social media feeds so they’re easy to get into a printed photo book. That book is easy to thumb through while sitting on your sofa because that’s what adults have. The futon is gone and you probably have a nice book shelf to store your printed photo albums. 

50th birthday photo album

This book should have some size to it. It’s an opportunity to look back at the chapters of life they’ve experienced so far. It’s a great way to feel good about what you’ve accomplished. Consider including all the things you might from an 18th and 30th birthday album, and then add your new family photos, travel photos, and anything else from your 40s. Like we mentioned earlier, there’s going to be quite a bit to put in this photo book. 

50th birthday photo albums make for great coffee table books that visitors are often surprised by. You might also find yourself impressed by everything it contains.  

How to design your own photo book

Creating these birthday photo albums is not as difficult as you might think. The Motif photo app works within your Apple Photos app where almost all your photos already exist. Just assemble the photos you want in your book into a “birthday photo book” album in your Photos app. 

Then, on your Mac laptop or desktop, open Photos and select the photo or image you’d like to create your birthday photo book with. Right-click or in the File menu select Create then the Photo Book, and then Motif. 

On your iPhone/iPad, simply open the Motif app and then select New in the upper right corner, then choose the product Photo Book.  

From there, the Motif app springs into motion and magically places all your photos into chronological order into a photo book format. It will also select the best photos from your group and prevent having duplicates in your book. Then, you get to customize it with text, color, themes, and patterns to make it the perfect birthday gift. 

Bring your best photos to life with Motif.

Experience how easy creating personalized photo projects is with Motif. Our photo project app seamlessly works with Apple Photos in macOS and iOS. We do all the complicated stuff leaving the fun creative freedom to you.

The post Seven Birthday Photo Book Ideas To Try appeared first on The Motif Blog.