Mom’s are the best. Although we may know that already, sometimes it doesn’t get said enough . Many mothers we know hold down jobs, take care of their families, volunteer in the community, and still somehow find the time to enjoy a hobby.
Then once a year, we try to show our mothers how much we love and admire them on Mother’s Day. That’s a surprisingly tall order. But if there’s one we do know it’s that the gifts that show we’ve made a loving effort are the ones that they’ll treasure.
So what better choice than to make a Mother’s Day photo album?
Discover a theme for Mother’s Day photo book
When building your Mother’s Day photo book, a great guide is to think of a theme. This is basically the main idea, feature, or message that ties a composition together. Discovering yours can take your Mother’s Day photo album to the next level. What theme you choose will depend on whom you’re creating the book for.
A new mother will laugh at the trials and joys of a baby’s first year. A mother of grade schoolers will adore reliving those family getaways. An empty-nester may want to reminisce on those chaotic, yet halcyon days when the kids lived at home.
What theme you choose will depend on whom you’re creating the book for. A new mother will laugh at the trials and joys of baby’s first year. A mother of grade schoolers will adore reliving those family getaways. An empty-nester may want to reminisce on those chaotic, yet halcyon days when the kids lived at home.
The theme can be something other than motherhood, too. No doubt the mother in your life has varied interests, and those may prove incredibly photogenic.
If she’s an amateur nature photographer, a collection displaying her best shots can help you both connect over the hobby. If she’s a league bowler, chronicle her path to the championship. Or consider highlighting her career accomplishments alongside her life accomplishments. Crazy how she managed to be so successful at both, right?
In the end, the best photo book won’t simply say that you love her; it’ll say you love her for her.
Find the right pictures
Finding the right pictures can be a challenge. The digital photo age means hard drives bursting with photos in need of organization.
Choosing a theme beforehand helps here. It allows you to sift through a file of photos quickly, as your eye will be drawn to the images that fit. After an initial pass, see what you have. You may discover you have too many or too few based on your initial theme. If so, go back and adjust.
The Motif extension has several tools to assist you here. The Autoflow option will curate your photos for you. Using advanced algorithms, the feature looks for superior shots based on a host of criteria. These include focus, clarity, orientation, and smiling faces. It even removes duplicates, so you don’t have to pre-curate.
The app sports retouching tools, too, allowing you to turn less-than-stellar photos into beautiful images. Imagine you have a photo that perfectly captures your mother’s smile and spirit. But there’s a lot of background clutter. And the colors are washed out. And that’s either your finger or an alien blob in the upper left-hand corner.
With our photo book app, you can give this image a professional makeover. Crop out the clutter, zoom in on your mother’s radiant smile, and touch up the colors to be bright and vibrant. Or select a filter that adds an artistic flair.
Post-process editing can prevent an imperfect photo from ruining a perfect image.
Look for analog photos, too
Or be inspired by photos you didn’t take on your phone and head to the attic and peruse the old photo albums. Look for pictures of family history, high school gatherings, and milestone events. This tip is especially handy if your mother fondly recalls the days of 24-hour photo huts or fanning herself with a Polaroid.
Or for an added personal touch, try something other than traditional photos. Scan or take pictures of the children’s art and arrange those in a photo collection. Don’t forget to sign and date the pieces and have the kiddos write up heartfelt messages.
Again, this tip doesn’t have to center specifically on motherhood. If your mother is a painter, a collection of her work can show how much you appreciate and admire her craft.
Design your photo book
Your mother famously loved anything you gave her for Mother’s Day. Ours did too, but let’s be honest. That macaroni mosaic really pushed the limits on what qualifies as a “giraffe.”
It’s the thought that counts, but we’ve got a couple of design tips to help elevate your photo book game.
- Let your theme and selected images guide you. If it’s childhood, go chronological. Once you start noticing trends you may find other ways to group them e.g. geography, season, and so on.
- Choose a background that speaks to the theme. If there’s a strong color that dominates the photos, pick a background that complements it.
- Vary your layouts. Alter the sizes, shapes, and number of photos per page. Motif has several professional layout options to choose and gather inspiration from.
- Select a lead image that grabs attention and sets the tone.
- Some photos require text; others speak for themselves. It’s up to you if you want to include it and where. Options include an inspiring quote at the beginning, describing the photos, or even whole letters to let your mom know how special she is.
If you select Motif’s Autoflow option, the app will also arrange the photos using professional layouts. Perfect for the photo album neophyte and the busy photo book connoisseur!
Cherished memories and more to come
Mothers give years of love, happiness, and security to their children. Show your love and appreciation for those cherished memories by displaying them in a collection that will last for years! A Mother’s Day photo album offers just such an opportunity, and it will allow her (and you) to rekindle those memories for years to come.
