Coffee table books are often a representation of your interests while also displaying your sense of style. There are stacks of them available to anyone at most bookstores or online retailers. The risk in purchasing one there is finding the same coffee table photo book in someone else’s living room or den. 

Quick Links

• What is a Coffee Table Book?
• Why Make a Custom Coffee Table Book?
• Inspiration, Ideas & Design Tips
• How to Create Your Own Coffee Table Book

However, there’s an easy way to prevent that from ever happening. Popular photo project apps like Motif allow users to create their own custom coffee table book using their very own photos. The finished product may have you wondering why you even considered a store-bought coffee table book. 

But wait, there’s more!  

Use the text tool in the app to include yourself as the author on the cover and spine of the book. That’s sure to raise an eyebrow or two of guests who pick them up. You’re literally a few clicks away from being a published author. 

If the sound of being a published author and featuring unique custom coffee table books in your home has a good ring to it, read on.  

What is a Coffee Table Book?

A coffee table book is usually oversized and often hardcover book filled with stimulating, eye-catching visuals. They’re usually light on copy and rely heavily on the imagery to hold your attention. Sizes do vary to accommodate the different size coffee tables found in most homes. Some consider them mostly decorative but they can be the source of good conversation among friends, family, and guests. 

Ultimately, if you’re making your own coffee table book, there are no rules. Your coffee table book should look just how you want it to. Most photo book providers offer a wide variety of sizes to choose from.  

Why Make A Custom Coffee Table Photo Book

It’s a question that’s been asked for years. There’s an amazing array of coffee table books available. The main problem with them is they’re filled with someone else’s photos. You may know something about the photos in them, but when you create a coffee table book for yourself, you know everything about every photo in it. When you pick it up you’re transported back in time to the moment you took the photo. All the details of the moment come rushing back. 

If you’re one of the many who rent out their homes to guests, a custom coffee table book is the perfect vehicle for information about the home, places to visit or eat nearby. It certainly looks way more professional than a few sheets of paper stapled together as a home guide. 

And let’s not forget, a coffee table photo book can be an excellent gift. Say you went on vacation with someone. Imagine the look on their face when they open a professionally printed book filled with photos they’re featured in. Gifts that you make are the ones that are most appreciated. 

Inspiration, Ideas & Design Tips

So what do you put in your coffee table book? Well, because you’re creating it, just about anything. That’s the beauty of making your own coffee table photo book. You are your own editor so what you say goes. 

Some, create a coffee table photo book featuring their wedding photos. There’s plenty of photos to choose from and it’s always a great time to look back at that special day. Your guests will enjoy the book too. They also make for great wedding party gifts. 

Vacations are another excellent subject for coffee table books. Again, we take tons of photos while we travel. Feature big travel photos and include additional text for things like names, dates, and particular details about that moment. A coffee table with a stack of travel photo books is always a great place to gather around. 

Children are also great coffee table book subjects. And, we have no shortage of photos of them. Rescue them off your devices and feature them in a professionally produced printed photo book. Feature the family in a series of coffee table photo books.

With the Motif photo app it’s easy to make all kinds of coffee table photo books. It has the tools to let you customize it with your own colors, text, and a variety of themes and patterns.  

How To Create Your Own Coffee Table Book 

There are three basic ingredients to making your own coffee table book: photos, the Motif app, and a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Really, that’s it. Your photos are most likely in your Apple Photos app and that’s where Motif runs natively within.

(Let’s use the screen capture (or the actual image) named MotifAppOS-iOS)

On your Mac desktop or laptop:

1. Download the Motif Photos app from the Mac App Store for free.
2. In Apple Photos select the photos you want included in your book.
3. From the File menu choose Create then Photo Book then Motif.
4. Choose a theme fitting of your story then let our smart tech arrange all your photos into a coffee table book.  
5. Add all the color, patterns, photos, and copy you want. 
6. Click Checkout, sit back, and let us print then ship your creation. 

On your iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the App Store on your device and download the Motif Photos app for free.
2. Open Motif and choose Photo Book in the products page.
3. Select the photos you want in your coffee table photo book.
4. Motif can automatically place all your photos into your photo book format.
5. Stylize as you wish with color, patterns, and your own copy.
6. Tap Checkout, sit back while Motif professionally prints and ships your book.  

Whichever device you choose to make your own coffee table book, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the print quality you receive. Then, clear some space and position it smartly on your coffee table. Don’t be surprised at how easy the whole process was. Enjoy your newest conversation piece.  

The post How to Make Your Own Coffee Table Book appeared first on The Motif Blog.

How much time and effort do you put into framing up your photos? Do you simply point and shoot or is there some thought as to how your subject is captured? Are you aware that math can play an important part in photography composition? We’re not talking about algorithms or long division, but the rule of thirds is a simple way to improve your photo taking skills. 

If your photo results are falling flat or failing to earn more likes, more expensive photo gear doesn’t always change that. Instead, learn more about improving composition with the rule of thirds.   

What Is the Rule of Thirds?

The rule of thirds is one of the most useful composition techniques in photography. You can use it in all types of photography to produce more engaging and better balanced images. It involves breaking any image you want to photograph into thirds, horizontally and vertically, so that you have nine equal parts.

Interestingly enough, it wasn’t a photographer who invented the rule of thirds. It was discussed back in 1797 by painters. They were discussing the balance between warm to cold colors and how much of the painting should each of the elements occupy. They said that one third should be composed of land and water, and the other two thirds should remain for air and sky. This is where the idea for the name came from.

If you’re not a photographer and wondering how to use the rule of thirds in designs, the info here applies to most everything you aim to create regardless of the medium. 

How to Use the Rule of Thirds 

Within the grid, you’ll notice the lines intersect at four distinct points or points of interest. Imagine this grid when you peer through your viewfinder. Or, use the LCD that’s used to frame the shot you’re about to take.

This rule is so popular that most digital cameras come with a rule of thirds grid overlay. It’s right there in front of you to help better frame your shots. This grid will help you position the elements in your shot and frame the most important parts of your photo. 

Basically, the rule of thirds states that if you place the main subject of your photo in the top, bottom, left, or right sections of the grid, you’ll snap a perfect picture every time.

Rule of Thirds Landscape

Apply the rule of thirds to your landscape photography by following some simple guidelines.

To start, align the horizon of the shot with one of the horizontal lines on your rule of thirds grid (the bottom one is usually best). The horizon doesn’t have to line up precisely with the horizontal line. The key here is to use the rule of thirds grid to help you better frame the shot and avoid things like cutting your image in half by lining up the horizon across the center of the frame.

If there are other elements within the landscape photo, aim to place them near at least one of the four points of interest. Remember, that’s where your viewers will look first. Make a good impression by adding something interesting and exciting near the focal point.

This image is one of the better rule of thirds examples. Notice in the image above that the horizon is near the bottom line. Plus, the main subject of the image, the tree, is right on two of the four focal points.

Breaking Rule of Thirds

It is possible to break the rule of thirds and end up with beautiful photos. In fact, sometimes you can end up with an even stronger composition by ignoring the rule. So while it’s encouraged to learn and use the rule of thirds, experiment with breaking it.

One of the best instances to break the rule of thirds is when photographing symmetrical subjects. If you’re photographing a succulent or flower from above, the symmetry looks even more striking when perfectly centered in the frame.

The important thing is to first learn the rule of thirds. Then, pushing it to find ways of breaking the rule of thirds will only make your understanding of composition even better. The quality of your photography will show as a result. Before long you’ll find yourself looking at the world around you differently, even without a camera in your hand. 

Show Your Best Rule of Thirds Results

An excellent way to see improvement in your photo taking skills is via before and after comparisons. Photography is best appreciated when it’s printed. So assemble your favorite photos in your collection and print them in a photo book. It’s really easy with Motif. Then, spend some time practicing the rule of thirds. After several months or even a year, create another with your new photos. Having printed photo books to view side by side lets you see how your skills as a photographer have advanced. Plus, they’re so much easier to view and share than scrolling through your camera roll.

The post Using the Rule of Thirds in Your Photography appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Everyone loves a fridge or mantle filled with personalized photo cards. Customized photo cards are the ultimate thoughtful celebration of a loved one’s birthday, special occasion, holiday, or “just because.” Custom photo cards are easy to make and come from the heart. Here are five reasons it’s better to create a card than to buy one.

Customized photo cards fit the occasion perfectly.

There are specialty stores dedicated to gifts and greeting cards. There’s also that aisle at the grocery store, department store, or the pharmacy. They exist for a good reason: we love celebrating life’s special occasions.

We can’t think of a wrong reason to send a card. Why try finding one on the shelf that suits your purpose and sentiments when you can create a card yourself and customize it for the moment?

After all, when was the last time you found a specific, off-the-rack card to celebrate the birthday of twins named Lillie & Lula? How many hours have you spent looking for a holiday greeting to warm the hearts of all your friends and family?

Pre-made cards don’t always fit special occasions perfectly. Creating a custom photo card is done for a specific purpose. It can be as coordinated, quirky, or as sentimental as you want it to be.

It’s friendly on your wallet.

Generic cards can be surprisingly expensive. They’re also thrown away after a few days. 

Why hand over $6 or more for a semi-generic greeting that is soon forgotten when custom cards can be printed for less? Your thoughtfulness sends a lasting memento that ends up on the fridge or mantelpiece.

You can make a card without leaving the house.

Create custom cards from the comfort of your couch. Avoid that awkward shuffling around other shoppers in the card aisle. Save yourself the frustration of unsuccessfully searching for a card that perfectly showcases your sentiments. And the resulting frustration that comes from throwing in the towel and choosing any card just to be done with it. Custom cards are shipped to your door. All you need to do is add that personal touch.

Print as many or as few as you need.

There are plenty of occasions where you only need a single card. For holidays, birth announcements, wedding thank you cards, invitations, save the dates, and birthday invitations, specific amounts are needed. Get the exact number of cards without paying for extras when you need just one or two more than a packaged set.

Make your card “a keeper.”

When you create your own card, you personalize it by choosing the perfect design and layout. Then add the perfect photo(s) and your customized message. In essence, you’re making a keepsake. Motif helps you craft a card that represents you. Create it exactly how you want it in minutes. Your recipient will receive a treasured sentiment printed on high-quality paper with lasting ink that brings your memories and message to life.

A card shouldn’t be “just a card.” It can be a beautiful piece of art that displays and shares favorite moments. Motif makes it possible to create these lasting keepsakes in minutes. 

How to Make Your Own Cards

From Photos on macOS, select a single or multiple photos to make your own personalized cards. Choose from professionally designed layouts that showcase photos in the perfect setting for your unique occasion. Motif organizes the layout and allows you to customize the text to write the perfect message, making it truly your own. Once you submit your card design, sit back, relax, and wait for your creation to arrive at your door.

DIY Photo Card

Ready to begin? There are several sizes to start a DIY photo card project. Choose from:

• Folded cards in sizes 5×7 (portrait format) or 7×5 (landscape format). Folded cards are great as classic greeting/birthday cards, typically with a photo on the outside and text and/or photos inside the card.
• Flat cards in sizes 4×6 (portrait format) or 6×4 (landscape format). Flat cards work well for announcements, holiday or save-the-date cards, or thank you cards. 

Begin the process of making photo cards by choosing the orientation. Once you’ve chosen the form and size, click “Create.” The next screen outlines card themes and templates available.

Photo Card Templates

Motif offers several photo card templates to create your custom design. Each theme is highly customizable and easy to use. Themes to choose from include:

• Birth announcement
• Happy Birthday
• Thank You
• Save the Date
• Photo only

Once a theme is chosen, the bottom window shows sample pages. To add images, drag and drop an Album, Memory, or pictures on your open Project. Or drop them in your Project in the “My Projects” section of the Photos sidebar. You can also copy and paste images into your Project. Click on individual photos to edit them. Add a filter, crop, adjust the color or white balance, removing red-eye, and more. 

Click on the text boxes to add your party details, birthday wishes, whatever you’d like to say. Text is customizable with many fonts available. Choose sizes, colors, and placement on the card.

Photo Card Printing

When you’re happy with the design, click “Checkout.” If there are any issues with the card, such as an empty photo block or low photo quality, the app prompts you to fix it. Once everything is set, a text box asking “Everything Look Good?” will pop up, asking you to review the project carefully. Take one more look, then click the box that states, “Yes, I have carefully reviewed my project and am ready to check out.” Then, click “Checkout.”

Once you complete a project, the order is placed within the Motif photo app. Log in to Motif and walk through the process to order your cards. Choose how many cards to print, add a shipping and billing address, and complete payment. Your design goes to our state-of-the-art printing press. It’s the same place that’s always printed Apple photo projects—Motif’s been a printing partner with Apple since 2005. You can always count on our premium quality prints.

With your photos and your words, personalized cards can literally celebrate anything. Whether you’re announcing a new addition to the family, showing off an adorable puppy, celebrating a milestone birthday, or honoring your high school graduate, rely on the Motif App to assist you. A card coming from you and Motif instead of some store is guaranteed to bring joy (and a great new addition to the fridge).

The post How To Make your Own Photo Cards appeared first on The Motif Blog.

One moment they’re spoon feeding you strained peas, the next they’re assembling Ikea furniture in your college dorm rooms. Time has a way of flying by. As a family it’s important to capture the special moments siblings share. Of course, you’ll always be siblings, but eventually you become parents, aunts/uncles, etc. Adults, basically. 

When this adulthood hits, it’s always great to be able to look back and smile, cringe, or laugh. Here are a few family photo ideas to help you capture the best sibling portraits.    

Take a serious sibling portrait. Parents deserve a good picture. 

Saying “cheese” is a silly cue that hopefully elicits smiles from photo subjects. People enjoy taking light-hearted photos to capture a shot. They can experience that sentiment again each time they see it. When considering family photo ideas that feature siblings, serious sibling picture poses should be included. Put away the cargo shorts and tank tops and opt for attire suitable for church services or semi formal events. Traditional settings might include siblings seated or standing in front of the book case, fireplace, or together on the sofa. Backyards or neighborhood parks also make excellent locations. Shoot for serious but smiling faces. Leave the rabbit ears from behind for another session.     

Recreate your childhood photos

If you’d like to take the “TBT” or “Throw Back Thursday” trend to the next level, recreate these family photo ideas. You’re most likely stocked with images from way back then. How about that time you all got new bikes? Or when you all built that sofa cushion fort in the living room? Have some fun and recreate those sibling picture poses. Your clothes sizes might be a bit different, but get as close to your previous wardrobe as possible. Return to the actual scene if available. Dig up any props found in the old shot. If the location or props aren’t available, focus on the siblings and matching their expressions to minimize what’s missing from the original. Have fun with it. Chances are, you’ll find yourself recreating more of these family portrait ideas. 

Remake a photo from your parents’ childhood

Similar to recreating sibling picture poses from the past, attempting the same with photos from your parents’ childhood can be even more rewarding. These family photo ideas always get light-hearted laughs from all involved. Find a silly photo or mom or dad, then let the family portrait replicating begin. However, this exercise properly executed often yields more revealing results. For example, find a photo of your parents when they were about the age you are now. By recreating this scene as closely as possible, you’ll likely see the genetic similarities between parents and their children. It’s sibling portrait magic. 

Make a family portrait with your pet-siblings too

“Hey hoomans! Don’t furrrget to include me.” This might be the easiest sibling portrait to pull off. Family pets grow quickly from pup to hound or kitten to cat. Taking sibling picture poses with a pet every few weeks have become the latest rage. Dress in the same outfit for each photo session so the rapid growth of your furry family member is the focus. Make it a true family portrait and include the parents. Here are more family group portrait ideas to explore.

Turn these pictures into a gift for your parents

When taking these sibling picture poses, check your camera settings to make sure a higher resolution photo is taken. Sibling portrait shots make excellent gifts when printed in Apple photo books and cards. Leaving those family photo ideas on your camera would do them little justice. It’s only fitting to incorporate them into a thoughtful photo book or card.     

Make a photo book

There are many photo book companies that can produce one for you. But, there’s only one that’s Apple approved and a trusted partner with Apple for decades. Simply download Motif to your Mac, iPhone, and iPad for free. It works seamlessly with Apple Photos. Choose the Album or Memories you want to use in your book, then under File menu select Create then Book then Motif. The user-friendly app transforms your best images into professional layouts. Motif does all the technical stuff and leaves the fun personalizing to you.   

Make a photo card

Much like turning sibling portraits and family photo ideas into photo books, Motif also offers personalized cards. You know what it feels like flipping through a bill, bill, junk mail, junk mail, and then light up when it’s an actual letter from someone. Creating a photo card is even easier than creating a photo book. Choose the Album or Memories you want to use in your card, then under File menu select Create then Card then Motif. 

The post Four Sibling Photo Ideas Parents Will Love appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Factors to consider for determining your photo book size

1. How many photos do you want to feature?
2. What size are your photos?
3. What is the orientation of your photos?
4. Do you want to add any text/captions?
5. Where will you display your photo book?
6. Photobook size options

When creating a new photo book, here are a few things one should consider. Select the pictures you want for your project. Choose a layout that best fits your imagery. Are you adding copy to your photo book?  Determining the photo book size should be your first decision. When creating photo books with limited pages, size matters. The size you choose dictates the placement of your images. 

 The following steps will help find the right photo book size for your project.

How to Choose a Photo Book Size: 5 Factors to Consider

There are five factors to consider when determining your photo book size. Answering the following questions will help you find the best fit for your project. 

1.   How many photos do you want to feature?

Estimate how many photos you’ll want to use. Then group all your photos together by page. Do you have many pages with five or six photos? A large 13 X 10 photo book should comfortably accommodate those numbers. A project with one or two photos per page can be condensed to something smaller.

2.   What size are your photos?

 Large-scale high-resolution photos look best in a large photo book. However, smaller photos and lower resolution images do not need to be showcased in small photo books. Several thumbnail images pieced together can easily fill a large page. Grids and collages add visual interest. Use them sparingly to increase their impact.

3.  What’s the orientation of your photos?

Some photos have a portrait orientation. Some are landscape. Others are square. Take inventory of how many you have of each. When one format is more prevalent, you’ll know which photo book layout works best for your project. Let your photos help determine your photo book size. 

4.   Do you want to add any text?

When designing your photo book layout, consider room for headers and captions. Text requires space regardless of font size. Telling a story with words and photos on every page requires the room of a larger book. Placing text on top of an image is possible, but can be challenging on certain photos. A photo book with little to no text can be any size. 

5.   Where do you want to display your photo book?

Consider where you’ll keep your photo book when selecting its size. Coffee tables normally accommodate a wide variety of sizes. An overflowing bookshelf may have limits. Evaluate the need for portability of your photo book. Smaller photo books are easier to travel with to show friends and relatives.

Your Photo Book Size Options

Now that you’ve reviewed the determining factors, it’s time to apply them. Below is a breakdown of photo book size options. Each size lends itself to specific types of projects. Match your goals to the book size.

Photo books are often categorized by their orientation. Square, landscape and portrait are common photo book designs. Within these categories are a range of size options. Photobook sizes are categorized as width-by-height (W X H).

Square Photo Album Sizes

The width and height of a square photo book are the same. This creates symmetry when displayed in your home. Square photo books are compact for carrying with you. This design works well for books that have an equal number of portrait and landscape photos.

Motif offers the following square photo book sizes:

• 8 X 8 inches
• 10 X 10 inches

Landscape Photo Album Sizes

A landscape photo book is wider than it is tall. Landscape is ideal for showcasing panoramic scenery shots. Wide-angle photos often don’t require cropping. Landscape albums are frequently used for travel photos and wedding albums.

Motif offers these landscape photo book sizes:

• 13 x 10 inches
• 11 x 8.5 inches

Portrait Photo Album Sizes

Portrait-style photo books are taller than they are wide. This orientation is better suited for portrait photos. It is often chosen for creating yearbooks, graduation albums, and work portfolios. Portrait photobooks have a more formal look and feel.

Popular portrait photo book sizes include:

• 8 x 11
• 11 x 14
• 12 x 16

Motif also offers portrait-style photo cards that measure 6 x 4 inches and 7 X 5 inches. They’re perfect for:

• Holiday greetings
• Personalized birthday wishes
• Save the dates
• Wedding invitations
• Birth announcements

Adding Your Photos

Once you’ve determined your photo book size, you might find some of your images aren’t sized or formatted for printing. If you’re planning an important event you might want to create a photo book of, adjust the setting of your camera. Better resolution photos make for better-printed photo memories. Motif Autoflow uses advanced technology to sort through the photos in your project. It will flag and filter duplicates, blurry photos, and low-quality images. The Autoflow function recommends the total number of pages and estimates pricing.  

 After a quick review of the above steps, creating the rest of your photo book will be a breeze.

The post How to Pick the Perfect Photo Book Size for Every Project appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Finding the right cloud storage solution to protect your photos can be difficult. Nowadays, there are lots of great services to choose from – both free and paid. But how do you know which one will work for you?

In this guide, we explore the top ‘freemium’ (free solutions that also offer paid plans for more flexibility) and premium paid-only services, explaining their advantages, disadvantages, what you’ll get for free, and the benefits of paying.

So, read on to explore the different storage options available – and work out which one is best suited to your needs.

The best ‘freemium’ plan storage options

With ‘freemium’ services, you can store your photos with them for free. Alternatively, you have the option to upgrade your account for a monthly fee. This will often give you more storage, or access to other photography tools and features.

Whether you choose to keep it free or opt for paid is entirely up to you. The great thing about ‘freemium’ solutions is that you can try before you buy and find the platform that works for you before you commit to a contract.

We round up Dropbox, Google Photos, Apple iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, Amazon Photos and Flickr below.

Dropbox

Dropbox lets you store and organize all kinds of files – including photos. With file backup, file recovery and remote wipe (which removes your files from a lost device but keeps them in the cloud), it helps you to protect your precious captured memories – if you lose your phone, you don’t have to lose your photos too.

Free storage capacity: You’ll get 2GB free as standard. However, you can grow this to up to 18GB if you refer friends. For every person who signs up via your referral link, you’ll both get an extra 500MB – you claim up to 16GB additional storage this way.

Paid plan storage options: Dropbox offers two different paid plans – Dropbox Plus and Dropbox Professional. Dropbox Plus costs £9.99/month or £95.88/year and gives you 2TB of storage, while Dropbox Professional will give you 3TB for £19.99/month or £199/year.

Advantages of Dropbox: It’s easy to use. Dropbox also makes it simple to share files with friends.

Disadvantages of Dropbox: Despite boasting lots of security features, there are some security concerns as their servers have previously been hacked. You should therefore be careful with storing sensitive information.

Furthermore, Dropbox gives administrators the right to delete information from free and inactive accounts. So, if you don’t choose to pay, you’ll need to regularly log in.

Google Photos

Google Photos lets up backup as many photos and videos as you want. Reachable on any device via photos.google.com, you can always access your images wherever you are. Thanks to Google’s photo recognition, they make searching for photos easy, too. So if you’re disorganised with folders, don’t worry – you can simply search ‘dog’ (for example) to see all your dog photos.

Free storage capacity: Free storage is unlimited for photos of 16 megapixels or less, and videos of 1080p resolution or lower. If you upload files larger than this, they can be compressed while uploading.

You also have a free 15GB Google Drive allowance which you can use to store higher resolution images if you choose.

Paid plan storage options: You can buy additional Google Drive storage if needed. This is particularly useful if you take very high resolution photos or videos (such as 4K).

Advantages: Google Photos works particularly well with smartphones. Available in both the Google Play store and the App Store, its app lets you free up phone space and move all the files to the cloud with just a tap. Another benefit is that you can connect with friends and family using shared albums, making it easier to keep your photos together.

Disadvantages: Unless you’re paying for additional Google Drive storage, you’re limited to images of 16 megapixels or less. This means you may sometimes need to reduce image resolution.

Apple iCloud

iCloud is Apple’s cloud storage solution. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you’re likely already using this – you can use this to backup mail, notes, calendars, app data, contacts and documents as well as photos and videos.

Free storage capacity: You’ll get 5GB of storage with the free version.

Paid plan storage options: There are paid plans available for as little as $0.99 per month. This will give you 50GB of storage. Other options are $2.99 per month for 200GB or $9.99 per month for 2TB.

Advantages: iCloud is already integrated into iOS and OS X, and also works with Microsoft’s Windows, too. It’s easy to sync photos with new Apple devices – you just need to log into your iCloud account.

Disadvantages: It is not available for Android devices. However, there is a potential workaround which you can find out more about in our How To Access Your Photos on iCloud guide.

There are also some uncertainties about security and privacy. There have been some notable leaks affecting the platform in recent years but Apple have reassured users that files are secure and that data is encrypted.

Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft OneDrive offers cloud-based storage for files and photos. It forms part of the web-based version of Microsoft Office and allows you to access your files from any device – even when you’re offline.

Free storage capacity: You’ll get 5B free as standard.

Paid plan storage options: If you pay $1.99 per month, you’ll get 50GB of storage. Alternatively, you get larger amounts of storage with other Microsoft products. If you subscribe to Office 365 Personal ($6.99 per month, or $69.99 per month), you’ll get 1TB (1000 GB) of storage included. Those who subscribe to Office 365 Home ($9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year) will get a total of 6TB (1000 GB each for a total of 6 users).

Advantages: It’s easy to organise your files, and also easy to share – including connecting to social media.

Disadvantages: As is the case with many cloud providers, some users are concerned about privacy. Microsoft OneDrive have a policy that reserves the right to scan files for ‘objectionable content’ and remove these (as does Apple’s iCloud).

Amazon Photos

Amazon Photos is designed for Amazon customers to save and share unlimited photos on desktop, mobile, tablet. It allows you to keep your photos securely without lower image resolution.

Free storage capacity: Everyone with an Amazon account can get 5GB of storage for photos and videos for free.

Paid plan storage options: If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you’ll receive unlimited full-resolution photo storage and 5GB of storage for videos. Amazon Prime is available for $12.99 per month, or $119 per year (or $5.99 per month for qualifying customers with an EBT or Medicaid card, or $6.49 per month with Prime Student).

Advantages: With an Amazon Prime subscription, you’ll be able to use special features such as the Family Vault for sharing and photo tagging for easier grouping. You’ll also get access to Prime Video, free two-day delivery, music streaming, and eBooks. So, you’re getting much more for your money than storage alone.

Disadvantages: It can be considered just a basic storage tool. This makes it simple to use but also means it’s only designed for personal use, rather than the organisation options you’d need for a business.

Also, if you don’t use Amazon, you find better value on plans that are for storage only without all the other benefits.

Flickr

Flickr is a photo sharing service that allows you to store images on their cloud. Boasting an excellent photography community, Flickr lets you explore other people’s photos as well as post your own. But don’t worry – you can upload privately, too.

Free storage capacity: As long as you have (or create) a free Yahoo account, you can upload up to 1,000 photos or videos – of any resolution.

Paid plan storage options: Flickr Pro costs $5.99 per month or $50.04 a year and offers unlimited storage.

Advantages: There are Flickr apps for iOS and Android designed to make it easier to access, organize, edit and share your photos. Signing up to Flickr Pro also gives you advanced stats on your photos and ad-free browsing and sharing across Flickr.

You’ll even get exclusive discounts from Adobe, Blurb, SmugMug, and Priime.

Disadvantages: A drawback of the free service is that the Uploadr tool, which allows you to bulk upload and backup photos from your computer, hard drives, iPhoto, Dropbox and more on Windows or Mac, is only available to Pro customers.

The best paid cloud storage options

If you know you’ll need more storage or flexibility than the free plans can offer, it’s worth considering the paid-only options. They are particularly popular with professionals but avid enthusiasts and those who simply love to record memories can also benefit.

We’ve picked two to summarise – SmugMug and Adobe Lightroom.

SmugMug

Although SmugMug is arguably not as well known as Flickr, this image sharing site actually acquired Flickr in 2018. They continue to operate separately, with SmugMug also letting you browse other community members’ images.

Paid plan storage options:

With SmugMug, there are five different payment plans, ranging from Basic (at $5.99 per month, or $48 per year) to Pro (at $41.99 per month, or $360 per year).

All of these give you free unlimited photo and video uploads for photos up to 150 MB each, and videos up to 1080p in quality, 3GB in size and 20 minutes in length. All plans are ad free.

The difference in plan prices does not affect your storage but higher priced plans give you access to commerce tools for fulfilling orders for your photography. The top range plans also offer you more help with branding and marketing.

Advantages: With SmugMug, you won’t have to sacrifice image quality as you can upload as many high resolution images as you like without compressing them.

Disadvantages: Although there is a great range of features available, some users do report that they can find it hard to navigate. Ease for users is therefore a potential issue. The compatible video quality is also no higher than Google Photos’ free unlimited uploads.

Adobe Lightroom

Paid plan storage options:

Adobe offers several different plans that combine access to their photography products with cloud storage.

Advantages: Choosing Adobe gives you access to the powerful photo editing tool Lightroom. With this, you can easily edit full resolution photos anywhere – on mobile, or desktop. And thanks to cloud storage, your edits will automatically update on your other devices.

Disadvantages: If you’re not interested in the photo editing aspect, you probably don’t need to pay for Adobe Lightroom. There are cheaper alternatives for storage alone. With Adobe Lightroom, you’re largely paying for the software with the storage as a bonus.

Choosing the right cloud storage option

We hope that our list has helped you find a cloud storage plan that suits you.

If you’re a professional photographer, a paid plan is likely the right option. But if you’re just looking to backup photos from your phone, a simple free plan should suffice.

The post The Best (Free and Paid) Cloud Storage Options for Photos appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Personalized photo books are growing in popularity, in part because they’re getting easier and easier to make with great technology, and also because they make a perfect gift for every occasion. If you’re thinking about making a custom photo book for the whole family but need ideas to get started, we’ve got you covered! Here are 10 of our favorites:

1. Family baby book

How many times have you had someone ask which parent you look more like, or whether your son looks more like his father or mother? Family baby books are a great way to look back at each family member’s beginning while beautifully encapsulating those squishy thighs and firsts. There are two ways we love to do this: chronologically and comparatively.

To make a chronological book, dedicate a spread or two to each member of your family. Organize photos of each family member into their dedicated page spreads and organize each member’s pages in chronological birth order, starting from oldest to youngest or vice versa.

A comparative book is a perfect way to figure out who got mom’s eyes or grandpa’s nose—you get the idea. We love the concept of organizing these by stages. So, for example, you might start at “birth” and include everyone’s birth photo in the same spread, using text tools to label names, locations, and birth dates. You could then move into six-month baby photos, first steps (with the date and each person’s age), first birthday, high school graduation, and on and on.

2. Your family in history

We keep family history alive through stories, but photos are a great way to give those stories new meaning. Regale your family’s tale through a custom photo book that details your family’s unique history. Perhaps your great grandparents came to the U.S. from abroad and built a business. Your grandparent was born across the country, graduated college and married their college sweetheart…

Every person in your family has a story and their stories, when combined, build a unique tapestry of personal history. One of our all-time favorite photo book ideas is to tell it through photos and keep the stories alive for generations to come.

3. Family fairytale

Bedtime stories are a time-honored tradition, and what better fairytale than one creatively crafted just for your kids? Tell your story through photos, or you could even take photos of your children to use in your photo book, drafting a story featuring them.

Motif makes it easy to blend text and photos into a dream-worthy fairytale storybook created just for your family.

4. Through the seasons

If you plan to create photo books regularly, consider a family photo book that organizes the year by seasons, rather than months. Motif’s themes make it easy to give your book cohesiveness, while the individual seasonal photos will create natural “chapters” of your year in seasons.

5.  Around the world

If you’re a family that loves to travel, consider creating a book that consolidates photos from all your best adventures. You could create a chapter for each trip, showcasing the trip destination and dates in text, complementing the text with your all-time favorite family photo of each trip.

6. Family yearbook

Remember the yearbooks you’d get at the end of each school year? Consider doing the same for your family. This is a great way to keep all your favorite memories fresh and organized, while giving your photos use and purpose. You could organize your photos by month, family member, or even memorable moments. Consider doing a collage of sorts at the end, just like your old yearbooks did.

Through Motif you can even title your books on the spine, making it easy to find the “2020 family yearbook”, and lining them all up on the shelf makes a great focal point for a bookcase or open shelving unit.

7. Heirloom cookbook

Perhaps your family has a series of recipes that bring special meaning to certain holidays or celebrations. Carry those traditions through the years by creating a custom family cookbook that you can pass on to future generations. Use the text feature to enter the recipes and pair them with a photo of the recipe on each page. You can even include anecdotes about the recipe’s origin or meaning, giving an extra personal touch to each special inclusion.

8. A year at a time

If you’re creating a family photo book that encompasses long periods of time, consider creating a “year-at-a-time” book. Section your book off by years and organize photos by year using Motif’s professionally created layouts. You can caption special moments or personal anecdotes where appropriate. These make beautiful coffee table books and will no doubt be a favorite from which to tell family stories for years to come.

9. Deck your halls

Holidays are filled with traditions and memories and can, in themselves, fill entire photo books. Show those traditions through photos in a special photo book dedicated to your family’s holidays. Consider doing a two-page spread for news years to start your book, then Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and so on. Make sure to include some of your family-specific celebrations, too, such as birthdays or dance recitals.

10. The story of us

If you’re married or have a personal love story, consider telling it through a custom story photo book. If you have children, they’ll undoubtedly love hearing it over and over, and your loved one will be touched by your personal recounting of the moments that made you fall in love. In the later chapters you can tell the stories of your children and their early moments and proceed to turn your love story into a story of your family’s love and bond.

The post Ten Photo Book Ideas for the Whole Family appeared first on The Motif Blog.

At its most basic, photography is light captured by a sensor or on film to produce an image that can be replicated. That’s it. But the end results are hardly that humdrum.

The images conjured by that light can inspire and excite us. They can make us pensive or talkative. They can remind us of happy memories or show us terrifying truths or allow us to experience the otherworldly. They can change lives and show us lives long gone.

If every art has a language, then light is the language of photography. Without it, the medium doesn’t exist. Learning photography requires us to study this language. And with the photography basics below, you can begin becoming more fluent.

Color temperature

You can spend a lot of time with color temperature, diving into the physics, mechanics, and applications. But the short and sweet of it is that color temperature describes a light’s hue.

When color temperature is balanced in a photo, whites will appear as a true white. That is, the colors are neutral. As you change the color temperature—which is measured in a unit called Kelvin (or simply K)—that neutrality shifts, and the whites will no longer be so pristine.

Increase the color temperature, and the photo’s colors become cooler. In other words, the whites will take on a blue hue, while blues grow deeper. Decrease the color temperature, and the photo’s oranges and reds will become predominant. This makes the image feel warmer.

Balancing the whites in your camera settings, or through post-process editing, will offer that neutral palate, but that’s not necessarily the best way to present every image. To elicit certain moods or atmospheres, you may want to make your compositions either cooler or warmer.

Hard vs. soft lighting

Color isn’t the only property of light that can drastically alter your photo. You’ll need to be mindful of whether the light is hard or soft, as well.

Hard light hits directly. That is, it travels from its source to your subject without being filtered. The resulting effect highlights texture and creates deep, strong shadows.

Use your camera flash for a selfie, and you’ve just smacked yourself with insta-hard light. A more thespian example is film noir. Those knife-edged shadows cast across the actors’ faces—such as the classic venetian blinds setup—come courtesy of hard light.

Conversely, soft light originates from a broad source and is diffused through an intermediary. Think light flowing through a window. It results in softened shadows and more even complexions. This makes soft light easier to work with and more complementary to people’s features when taking family photos. (Though hard light has its uses. See below.)

Remember: It’s not necessarily the source that makes a light hard or soft light. It’s about how that light reaches and wraps around your subject. A good way to remember this fact is the sun. At noon on a clear day, the sun shines brightly and casts strong shadows. But filter that same light through an overcast sky and it softens.

Inside lighting

Inside lighting can be tricky. Indoor light sources tend to be harsh, natural light can be minimal, and your choices may be limited to what your tools can compensate for.

The interior surroundings will also affect color. Dark walls will bounce off a darker hue of light, which will be reflected in your photo. But bright, white walls will bounce a nice even color of light.

Inside photography can have its perks, though. Since you aren’t at the mercy of the elements, you can more easily use lenses and artificial light sources to manipulate the composition. For example, bouncing a flash off a white wall can evenly light a scene, and soft boxes allow you to pack up and take that hazy glow anywhere.

Don’t have a soft box? Sunlight streaming through a window proffers a soft light that compliments most any portrait. It’s basically a makeshift soft box.

Outside lighting

Outside lighting is generally favored by photographers. Unless you’re shooting at night, you’ll have plenty of good, natural light to brighten your set. All of it free, thanks to the sun.

But the sun illuminates the outdoors differently at different times. To reiterate: A clear sky, especially during midday, provides a hard light, while clouds diffuse soft light naturally. Therefore, most photographers prefer to shoot on bright, overcast days.

You should consider the time of day, too. The best light tends to be in the hours before sunset or after sunrise. This is known as the golden hour. Because the sun’s light travels through more atmosphere at this time of day, it becomes very soft and very warm. It’s a tone that enhances most any subject.

Another photographic favorite is the blue hour. It takes place roughly a half hour before sunrise or after sunset. Like the golden hour, the sun’s angle changes the way light filters through the atmosphere, but this lower angle adds a much cooler nuance, bathing the world in blues and purples.

Positioning: Front lighting

Front lighting occurs when the light source is positioned in front of your subject. It’s that simple.

If you’re just learning photography, front lighting is the easiest light to work with. Because it shines directly on your subject, it reduces the number of shadows, brings out detail, and minimizes texture. It’s the you-get-what-you-see position for light.

Although easy to use, front lighting does have some downsides. Images using front light feel flat because they lack texture and shadow, robbing them of a sense of depth. It’s also the least dramatic of the lightings, though it can still be used to great artistic effect.

Positioning: Side lighting

If you want to add some flair to your composition, try side lighting. Side lighting occurs when a light source hits at about 90 degrees so one side of your subject is in light, the other side in shadow.

A quick note on shadows: Shadows add layers and shape light within the frame. This creates dimension and volume, which can reinforce the drama of an image or redirect the viewer’s focus. But shadows can also obscure important details, so they can be tricky to get right. They are a practice-makes-perfect type situation.

Side lighting plays with this contrast between light and shadow to evoke the texture and dimension that front lighting striped away. When done right, its visual impact makes your subject pop in the frame.

Positioning: Backlighting

Speaking of shadows, backlighting.

Backlighting occurs when the light source comes from behind the subject. With all that light flooding into your camera’s sensor, the subject becomes cast in deep shadow, and details become muted.

Does this ruin a photograph? Sometimes, but when used intentionally, it creates a layer of spectacle and awe. Picture a city skyline with the sunset bursting from behind, and you’ll get the drift.

As with side lighting, backlighting can be difficult to get right. Silhouettes are never pure. Light will almost certainly be falling on the subject from some side- or front-light source. The trick is to darken just the right amount of detail to draw the eye, but keep enough so that the composition’s subject isn’t unclear.

Photography basics are the first step

When it comes to photography basics, lighting may be the most fundamental but there are several others to consider. Composition. Familiarity with your gear. The exposure triangle. Editing software. And, of course, practice!

As you continue your photographic journey, be sure to create a photo book portfolio of your work. Select your favorite shots, your most adventurous experiments, and the compositions that surprised you. Chronicle them in a photo book dedicated to your photographic journey, showing your progress year after year.

Remember, it’s not just about the next shot, but the journey that got you there.

The post Go Back to Photography Basics with Photo Lighting appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Life is full of incredible moments, and we love capturing the essence of them. The first birthdays with our children. Weddings with our childhood best friends. Anniversary parties for parents. The special bond with a favorite pet. That once-in-a-lifetime family trip. But perhaps just as fun as the moment we snap that special memory is getting to relive it later. Sure, you could simply print it out and frame it, but there are so many fun, different ways to honor those special times! Here are five unique photo project ideas you’ll want to try!

1. Create a custom photo book

It’s a rare occasion when we take a single photo of an event. More often, we take a series of photos throughout the event—think of a birthday, a trip away, or a night out on the town with friends. Motif custom photo books turn your photo collections into commemorative albums you can flip through and enjoy for many years to come.

Create a custom photo book that details the beautiful animals and nature during your trip to Fiji. Or that honors the local traditions you learned while on that trip in Brazil. Document every precious first of your new baby’s first year: The quality papers and inks bring every dimple and eye sparkle to life so you can relive them over and over.

Motif can create your book for you, even helping you evaluate and choose images and placing them in professionally designed layouts. Or, if you’d like complete creative freedom, you’ll find templates, fonts, color options, and editing tools that allow you to customize every detail and photo so you can create the photo book of your dreams.

2. Create a custom birthday card

A birthday card is a classic way to wish someone a happy birthday. Greeting card companies have given us words to thoughtfully spread our cheer and love for the birthday boy or girl easily. Make the next birthday card one to remember by customizing it for the birthday honoree!

Motif photo cards come with options for multiple sizes and folded or flat cards so you can create the exact format you’re imagining. Customize your greeting, and design your card to include a single photo or a collection of images that honors the birthday person. You can resize the photo and edit your layout, or simply choose from a variety of professionally designed themes to create your perfect, custom card in just moments. And the best part? (Well, one of them, anyway.) Custom, created-just-for-them cards start at just $1.49!!!

3. Make a custom calendar to kick off the New Year

We all have access to calendars on our phones, but if you’re like us, there’s just something therapeutic about being able to actually cross things off and circle important dates—to see what’s coming next in front of us. What better way to make that an even better experience than seeing those you love while organizing and managing life? Motif custom calendars do just that—and take it one step further.

Not only can you customize each calendar page with a unique photo (or several of them), but you can customize days. Update the text on individual calendar dates with your personal important dates. You’ll never miss a birthday, anniversary or family trip. You can even commemorate special family events, like the day you got engaged or the moment your son took his first steps. You can include a countdown to Christmas or to your upcoming trip to Disney. There are countless ways to make your calendar special. They make great gifts, too!

4. Make a children’s story book

Have some creative flair? Put it to use creating custom children’s story books. You don’t have to go through a publishing house—you can simply create your own! Whether you’re a parent, teacher, cool aunt, or grandparent, custom books make amazing gifts to share with children.

Create your own storyline, and write your own characters in. If you’re writing the book for a specific someone, make them the main character! Teachers can write a book that helps teach their classroom rules in an entertaining way. Make it funny, make it sentimental—it’s your story, so you can make it whatever and exactly what you want!

In Motif, you’ll find intuitive text tools so you’re able to format your story in your choice of font, color of text that best fits each page, and even move copy as your book takes form. Add in photos to illustrate your story, or even use your own sketches or class artwork to illustrate the book in a unique and memorable way. Design your own cover and even add the book title to the spine so it’s easy to find!

5. Create custom holiday photo cards

When we hear “holiday cards,” our minds jump to Christmas, Hanukkah, and end-of-year celebrations. But think of all the other holidays we usually send cards to commemorate! Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, Grandparents’ Day, and anniversaries, to name just a few. Sure, you could go out and buy a card, but isn’t making one so much more special?

For Grandparent’s Day, consider having your little one draw a picture for their grandparent: You can then use Motif to turn that picture into a custom card showing your love and appreciation for all the grandparent does to love on your child.

For Mother’s and Father’s Day, dig through your childhood photos until you find your favorite with your parent. Scan it in, and use Motif to give it new life. Add your custom greeting, and give your mom or dad a new memory by reliving their own memory through your eyes.

The options are endless but all have one thing in common: The recipient is sure to love your custom card and the time you took to make something so special for their day.

There are countless photo projects you can create using Motif: It’s limitless with your creativity. If you’ve already used Motif to create your own photo project, we’d love to see what you made! Tag us and your project using #mymotif to share and inspire other users. Need some help getting started? Find inspiration by searching #mymotif on Instagram.

The post Five Unique Photo Projects You’ll Want to Try appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Want a wicked keepsake? A Halloween photo book is the best solution. What other occasion lets you dress up, spend time with loved ones, and just cut loose? Best of all, each Halloween has its own distinct personality, making it like no other Halloween before or after it.

This particular holiday also comes with some challenges for the photo book enthusiast. Lighting can be all over the place. The bustle can make it difficult to focus. And kids are more interested in the jovial happenings than whatever shot you’re trying to frame.

To help you out, here are ten tips for creating a once-in-a-lifetime Halloween photo book. As to whether it’s sweet or spooky—or a little of both—that’s up to you!

1. Capturing Halloween costume pictures

Rule number one for capturing Halloween costume pictures: Don’t wait until dark. Snap these shots in the light so all those wonderful details pop with vibrancy and color. In fact, consider taking these much-coveted photos the day before to ease the Halloween rush.

Beyond that, be creative and have fun! You’ll want the straight-on portrait shot, but don’t forget to experiment with angles. A high angle will give the photo a childish playfulness, while a low angle will make the kids feel larger than life.

Have your little ones get into character, too, and find some scenery to match. Is your child a fairy princess this year? Try a forest trail. A superhero? Consider a lionhearted leap from the playground swings.

2. Low-lighting tips for photographic treats

You’ll want nighttime shots, but these can be difficult to get right. Halloween photography shouldn’t rely on any one shot. Take lots of pictures so you have options to choose from. If your smartphone or camera of choice has a night mode, use it. If not, try these tricks:

• Don’t use a flash unless you have a specific reason to use it. It over exposes nighttime shots, and getting hit with an unexpected flash is simply the worst.
• Increase your camera’s ISO. This will lighten dark images, but it does add a grainy look (what photographers call “noise”).
• Slow down shutter speed to limit motion blur.

3. How to photograph Halloween décor

Décor sits patiently for its photo op, yet can still be tricky to photograph. Thankfully, there are some techniques that can make a world of difference.

• Take your photos in natural lighting. Harsh artificial light does you no favors.
• Steady your camera. If you have a tripod—use it.
• Try different distances, and don’t rely on your zoom. Get into the décor’s space.
• The rule of thirds is your friend.
• For outdoor Halloween decoration pictures, you may want to wait until sunset to give your photos those long, knife-edged shadows that scream Halloween.

4. Trick-or-treat picture tips

Trick-or-treat pictures are just as difficult as décor—for the opposite reason. It’s a mad dash of energy, excitement, and movement that give little time snap a photo. Instead of fighting the bedlam, role with it.

Your subject doesn’t always have to be your little one. Try pictures of the group: children holding their bags for candy, the smiles of adults obliging, the cavalcade of colored costumes. Groups offer versatile ways to fill the frame and experiment with the rule of thirds.

If you do want to single out your child, try a large aperture for a shallow focus effect.

5. Recommended themes for Halloween

It can be a lot of fun to pick a Halloween theme that connects your decorations, costumes, and festivities together. Some themes worth considering include: classic Halloween motifs (haunted house or monster mash), a fright-night flick (zombie apocalypse or slasher soiree), or a relaxing fall festival (if you’re not into the scares).

A simple yet memorable Halloween theme is Samhain, the Celtic celebration that inspired our contemporary holiday. A backyard fire pit with some apple- and hazelnut-based dishes—which the Celts associated with the Otherworld and divine wisdom, respectively—can go a long way to learning about Halloween’s deep history.

Whatever theme you land on, you can then use it to tie your Halloween photo book together.

6. Halloween party invitation ideas

The party invitation should match this Halloween’s one-of-a-kind personality. If you’re hosting a fancy-dress party for friends, create a collage that combines photos from past Halloweens to remind everyone how much fun they have together. 

If it’s a kid-friendly event with a haunted house theme, break out the arts and crafts. Put white thumbprints on a black paper, and illustrate the thumbprints to transform them into a family of ghoulish ghosts.

Personalized party invitations may seem like a ton of work, but Motif makes it easy. By saving your finished project to your Apple Photos app, you can turn one card into as many as you need.

7. Shooting the Halloween party

The key to good party photography is variety. Snap a mixture of costume poses, candid snaps, and action shots to capture the party’s many facets. Then get in close to the party’s small details: pets, food, and faces bobbing for apples.

Aerial shots make for great photo book centerpieces, so see if you can use a staircase, porch, or chair to get some height on the group.

8. The evening wind down

The evening is over, but there are still memories to capture. Take photos of little ones resting on grandpa’s shoulder and older kids comparing hauls. Grab images of goodbye hugs and clean-up helpers.

These moments often go overlooked in photo books, but they can be just as special and significant as the evening itself.

9. Picking the best Halloween pictures

Picking the best images for your Halloween photo book is matter of personal style, but there are still a few guidelines worth following:

• Look for images that tie your Halloween theme together.
• Skip blurry photos but not special moments.
• Go for variety. Don’t add too many similar images.
• Avoid photos with an element that distracts from the subject.
• Don’t overthink it! Let your instincts guide you.

If you took a lot of pictures, this can be a time-consuming task. Luckily, Motif has features to evaluate your Photo app to select only the highest-quality images, saving you time and sanity.

10. The Halloween photo book

Make your photo book as unique as your Halloween was. For example, when creating labels, don’t just write dry facts. Play toward the evening’s tone with wording that’s playful, scary, humorous, etc.

Consider experimenting with layout, too. Halloween is a free-flowing kind of holiday. Instead of laying out images along straight lines, try askew angles and a more collage-like aesthetic.

With Motif, you can easily create a Halloween photo book to collect this year’s one-of-a-kind memories. Give Motif a try. We’re dying to see what you come up with.

The post 10 Tips for Sweet and Spooky Halloween Photo Books appeared first on The Motif Blog.