Not long ago, Apple offered a photo printing service called Photo Print Products. It was wildly popular among Apple users – and for good reason. Apple’s printing services lived up to its reputation as a trusted partner in creative innovation. Imagine the response when Apple stopped taking photo orders in September 2018. The announcement was unexpected and left many people wondering: what happened to Apple Photo Print Products? This comprehensive guide explores the timeline of Apple’s photo service. It also outlines how easy it is to create Apple photo book projects in a world without it. By pairing new technology with Apple’s original resources, Motif Photos continues the tradition of professional-grade photo memories.

A History of Apple Photo Books

Apple debuted Photo Print Products in 2002. This platform allowed Apple users to create prints, photo books, and calendars directly through Apple. Their projects shipped from Apple to their front doors. And the platform integrated with iPhotos to make every project quick and easy to finish. Years later, when the Photos app replaced iPhoto, Photo Print Products transitioned with it.

Surprisingly, Apple did not have in-house printing services for their Photo Print Products. So who printed Apple photo books for Apple? The tech giant enlisted powerhouse printer, RR Donnelley. As the world’s largest commercial printer, RR Donnelley maintained the Apple product standards and produced high-quality photo projects for Apple customers.

Fortunately, nothing has changed since the partnership began in 2005. Even though Apple sunsetted Photo Print Products during the summer of 2018, its printing service remained. RR Donnelley picked up right where Apple left off by creating the app Motif. When searching for print products on Apple.com, you’re now directed to the third-party app. Best of all, Motif is a native app. That means it syncs with Apple Photos – exactly like Photo Print Products used to do. There’s no need to move photos from one device to another or wait for them to upload to a platform. Motif connects you to the Photos Library instantly. After downloading the free Motif app, create the same quality Apple photo books the same way you always did (with a few impressive upgrades, to boot!).

The Key Features of a Great Apple Photo Book

If you purchased an Apple photo book from Photo Print Products, you know what makes it the superior choice. That’s due in large part to Apple outsourcing its printing to RR Donnelley, a principal leader in the industry. RR Donnelley has decades of experience, access to the finest supplies, and a history of pushing the envelope. When the company introduced Motif, it made sure to maintain Apple photo book’s great key features. Here’s what to expect from Motif Apple photo products:

Paper quality – Images chosen can appear only as shiny and bright as the paper on which they’re printed. With Motif, expect premium, no-bleed paper that has an impressively silky finish. The paper runs smoothly through the fingertips.

Advanced technology – Motif uses smart technology which includes the feature Autoflow. It selects the highest quality photos from the Apple Photo folder for each project and automatically arranges them into the optimal layout.

Layouts library – Variety is the spice of life, and Motif stands by that. On the app, there are more than 80 unique layouts. You’re sure to find one that fits your Apple table book theme.

Product origin – Motif prints locally in the U.S. for its U.S. customers.

How to Create an Apple Photo Book on Your Favorite Device

Apple has made transitioning between their different devices a seamless experience. And the Motif app builds on that integration. Regardless of preference, be it desktop, laptop, iPad, or iPhone, an Apple photo book can be created on it. The process is equally simple when using Motif.

Below are some advantages of using each specific Apple device. 

Make an Apple photo book on iMac or MacBook

Apple’s iMac and Macbook computers are designed to be consumer-friendly. The interface doesn’t overwhelm the user, making navigation a breeze. It should be no surprise people choose these desktop machines to work on photo projects. With a simple click, drag, and drop, it’s easy to use this device. It also helps to have a large monitor – possibly even two of them. With a big screen, more photos can be clearly seen when laid out on the pages. The keyboard is another reason to use iMac to create your best photo books. Sentimental, humorous, and informational captions can be applied with ease. Typing quotes, notes, and titles tend to be easier on a standard Qwerty keyboard than a mobile device.

Make an Apple photo book on iPad

Of course, there are good reasons to make an Apple photo book on an iPad. While it doesn’t have the ease of an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, the iPad does offer convenience. With just five quick steps, you’ll know how to make a photo book on your iPad. It can be worked on anytime, anywhere. The iPad is lightweight and mobile, so a photo project can be edited whenever a few free minutes are available. Waiting for the doctor? Add more images to your Apple photo book. Bored during commercial breaks? Play around with different color schemes. It’s like carrying a bag of knitting supplies. When the project is always accessible, you get more done.

Make an Apple photo book on iPhone

No iPad, no problem. The iPhone is even more mobile and is a device most people have handy 24/7. Creating and updating an Apple photo book becomes another way to spend time with your phone. Conveniently, the iPhone usually houses a majority of the original photos people take. It’s what is used to capture memories. From funny group selfies to professional-level portraits, it’s all at your fingertips. Worried about the logistics? There are plenty of hacks for designing photo books from your iPhone. First and foremost, let Motif’s software expedite specific steps. And when it’s time for editing, invest in an Apple Pencil. That one little tool can make a big difference.  

Print an Apple photo book

Once the device has been selected, consider these tips for photo book printing. The two most important tips are finding the right editing tools and the right printer. Nailing these elements helps you avoid blurry images or poor coloring. Yes, editing is crucial. Don’t overlook this step. For photos that need a lot of touching up, try one of the top-rated photo editing apps for iOS and macOS. Simpler edits are done in the Motif app, such as sharpening images, cropping, zooming in, and more. After edits, your photos should be ready to print. Motif has it covered here. Remember, Apple has trusted the company with its printing since 2005. Rest assured, the quality and care expected from Apple is precisely what Motif delivers.

Apple Photo Book Ideas

Think beyond beautifully bound wedding albums. An Apple photo book project can be created to celebrate, honor, and cherish almost any occasion.

Celebrate

Events – In addition to “the big day,” consider turning other special events into a table photo book. Baby showers, holiday parties, and family reunions are all excellent fodder for photo albums. Imagine all the fun images captured for a Halloween photo book.

Anniversaries – An anniversary photo book makes a sweet gift between partners or children to give their parents. Include photos that tell the couple’s love story or that depict a shared hobby.

Birthdays – Between the on-theme decorations to blowing out the candles, there’s a lot to capture during a birthday party. Don’t let that collection of photos sit idly in the camera roll.  

Awards and recognitions – It’s perfectly fine to celebrate a child making honor roll or someone earning a promotion at work. Let a photo book showcase all the hard work it took to get to that point.  

Milestones – Milestones can be anything from baby’s first steps to big family moves. Document everything big and small. You won’t regret it.

Honor

People – There are likely several friends and family members who deserve to be showered with attention. That’s why a thoughtful Father’s Day photo book or teacher appreciation album is always well-received.  

Landmarks – Toured the National Parks or sailed the seven seas? Landmarks make great photo ops. Group enough to create a cohesive theme, like “waterfalls” or “monuments.”

Pets – If featuring pets in the family photo book is a consideration, imagine if they had their own pages? Try to catch furry friends playing or making a funny gesture. Most pet owners already have an album full of snaps on their iPhones.

Cherish

Vacations – Being a world traveler isn’t required to feature cherished vacations. A random family beach trip deserves a dedicated photo book just as much as any other trip would.

Stages of life – If lucky enough to enjoy things like prom night, college life, and the first time a house is purchased, cherish those moments. They only happen once, and the years go by in a blink of an eye.

Family history – Everyone has an origin story. Give it the love and organization it deserves with a family tree photo album.

Seasons – Pick a favorite season and turn a temporary period of time into a long-lasting memory. Or, collect pictures from all four seasons and create a winter, spring, summer, and fall photo book.  

Recipes – Grandma’s handwritten recipe cards are priceless. But that’s all the more reason to have them printed and bound. Protect the originals, and pass down multiple copies of an Apple photo book, instead.   

3 Apple Photo Book Customization and Editing Tips

Personalization is one of the top reasons to create Apple photo book projects. This is an opportunity to use some imagination to tell a story. Making a photo book is essentially creating art. Let Motif’s technology bring out some hidden talents that aren’t widely known.

Plan on giving an Apple photo book to someone else? All the more reason to use these customization and editing tips. A personal photo project makes for a much more thoughtful gift. It won’t take much time or effort. Within the Motif app, there are countless ways to personalize a photo book. Below are three essential tips that will make an Apple photo book a stand-out piece.

1.   Choose from a wide selection of Apple photo book themes

Motif offers a variety of background themes. This helps to bring personality and cohesion when creating Apple photo book projects. Here’s a menu of the current theme selection and when to use each one:

• Portfolio – White: hold tradition with this classic white portfolio-style theme – perfect for a wedding album.

• Portfolio – Black: the black background and clear white font make this the best choice for an artist’s portfolio.

• Image Conscious: with thin borders and minimal free space, this theme’s focus is the photos.

• Color Wash: the splatters or strokes of color would be the perfect complement to a child’s artwork display.

• Pretty in Pink: this is a go-to theme for a baby photo book, Valentine’s gift, or spring-time photos celebration.

• Baby Blue: the baby blue color scheme works well for showcasing winter photos or for a pregnancy memory book.

• Gold on Charcoal: the soft gold font on matte-black charcoal pages is an elegant choice for anniversary photos or a graduation recap.

• Gold on White: with an all-white background and elegant gold lettering, this theme is universal.

• Reclaimed Wood: a rustic design imparts hominess, which is ideal for any type of family photo book.

• The Full Story: this theme has bold, solid backgrounds with ample room for adding poems, thank-you notes, inspirational quotes, and other meaningful messages.

• Chalk it up: a chalkboard-style background with strategically placed chalk markings sounds fitting for a teacher, and it also makes for a modern recipe book.  

• Spring Vibes: elegant brushes of pastel colors signal a seasonal shift in your photos collection.

• Pop of Color: choose from four bold patterns in red, orange, and blue; or keep the backgrounds one solid color – any color you want.   

• Destination Abroad: with images of international money and passports, this theme is for the world traveler.

2.   Consider adding text to your Apple photo book

Not all photos need to be defined by titles or captions. Adding text to Apple photo book projects is a great customization tool. Add text to identify people, places, and time periods if it makes sense. Consider crafting a personal note, making a funny joke, or wooing someone with an intimate haiku. Capture all the details of that moment while the memory is fresh. Use your words wisely.

With that said, there are two ways to add text to Apple photo book projects. The first option requires learning how to add text to photos using an app on iPhone or iPad. You can easily do this using the markup editor in the Apple Photos app. If more font styles, stickers, and effects are desired, download a dedicated text app. Either way, this method puts the text directly on a photo. When creating Apple photo book projects, pull in the touched-up photo, and it’s ready to go. The downside is that text added to an individual photo using a third-party app does not allow for editing or repositioning if the text doesn’t work with your photo book layout.

More creative freedom comes with the second option: adding text as the Apple photo book pages are created. The Motif app provides room for adding content and the tools needed to customize it. In the “Edit Text” mode, select font style, size, color, and alignment. At any point before printing, go back and change the text until it’s the perfect fit.

3.   Take advantage of these useful Apple photo book features

Often, editing photos is all the customization needed. In fact, applying the same edits to all the images in a photo book is one way to create a personal theme. It becomes a style choice. At the very least, editing enhances the overall look and feel.  

The same basic Apple photo book editing features in the beloved Printed Photo Products are available with the Motif app. While they seem like minimal moves, their collective impact on the end product is significant. Take the time and play around with all these useful features:

• Change the page layout
• Zoom in or out of pages
• Tap on images to open the editor toolbox
• Tap on any text block to edit the copy, font, color, etc.

Motif Apple Photo Book Options

Apple’s Photo Print Products may not be around, but now you have Motif. The Motif app is a one-stop-shop for creating Apple photo books. Just like Photo Print Products, different photo book sizes are available to choose from. Monitor the price while creating and changing the project. Promotional codes and discounts can be secured before checkout.

Apple photo book sizes

Note: there are different sizing options between hardcover and softcover books. This might be an important consideration when trying to pick the perfect photo book size.

The Apple photo book softcover sizes are:

11 x 8.5 inches

8 x 6 inches

8 x 8 inches

The Apple photo book hardcover sizes are:

13 x 10 inches

11 x 8.5 inches

10 x 10 inches

8 x 8 inches

Apple photo book prices, promos, and orders

Motif’s Apple photo book prices are fair and competitive. For example, a large softcover book starts at $22.99. As a book is built, the pricing fluctuates. Certain features come with an additional cost. This can be monitored as projects are edited and adjusted as needed. It’s important to create a memory book you love. So add all the bells and whistles to make the photo project the best it can be. A Motif discount code for Apple photo books can be found on their website.

Once completely satisfied with the design, proceed to checkout to begin printing. Motif guarantees the Apple photo book order is in good hands from start to finish. If the photo project is needed quickly, Motif offers Apple photo book express shipping. Their customer service team is available to answer questions. Reach out by phone or email. Be sure to connect with Motif on social media and subscribe via email. Stay informed of new ideas, products, and tips that help create cherished Apple photo book keepsakes.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Apple Photo Books appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Nine months is a sliver of time. When you’re pregnant, every day is meaningful. You’re creating life. This phase deserves to be documented.

• Choose your frequency and timing
• Set up a photoshoot location
• Wear the same clothes
• Turn to the side
• Add a cute theme
• Be patient with yourself
• Think outside the bump
• Bring your pregnancy memory book to life

Whether you’re a first-time mom or expecting your third child, it’s never too late to create a pregnancy memory book. This collection of photos, feelings, and notes is a prized possession that you and your family cherish forever.   

Why a Pregnancy Memory Book is the “Mother” of All Photo Albums

A pregnancy photo album is a wonderful way to celebrate those milestones throughout this exciting time. From revealing a positive pregnancy test to your loved ones to purchasing your first pair of tiny baby shoes, a quick snapshot can bring a world of memories to life. Now it goes without saying that pregnancy can look different for every individual, so let Motif help you build a collection of heart warming moments that are tailor made to you. 

Documenting your pregnancy in a photo book allows you to lovingly look back on each special moment either by yourself or with your family and friends.  This beautiful memory book isn’t just a coffee-table accessory; you can use it to reflect on the experience, to compare notes between pregnancies, get insight into your children’s personalities, or to simply bring a smile to your face. Some days, that’s all a mother really needs.

Photography Tips for Your Pregnancy Memory Book

There are plenty of types of pregnancy progression photoshoots and ways you can capture this exciting journey.. To ensure your pregnancy memory book is a reflection of you and your taste, we have a few tips to help you create a totally unique photo book.

Choose your frequency and timing

Taking weekly photos is a great way to track your baby’s development. However, if the prospect of 40 photo sessions sounds overwhelming, one quality shot each month is a great middle ground That will give you nine total photos to form an even 3×3 grid. If your body is changing drastically from week-to-week, you can always increase the frequency depending on how you feel.

Choose your  photoshoot location

You do not need to hire a professional photographer and drive to an idyllic field with sunflowers. Selecting a location can be as simple as finding a spot in your house that receives a lot of natural light. For the best lighting, take your photos in the morning hours or right before the sun sets at night to make the most of glowy golden hour. Ideally, set up your photoshoots at the same time of day.

Wear the same clothes

If you want to try and keep your progression photos consistent wearing the same outfit for each photo will make it easier to see the changes over time. Keep the focus on your changing bump instead of your clothing. To ensure you feel as confident and comfortable as possible, consider clothes that you can grow into throughout the course of your pregnancy.  

Turn to the side

Even though these may not be formal photos, you can lean on  maternity portrait photography tips when you’re looking for  posing inspiration. Turn to the side about 45 degrees this angle showcases the size of the bump without losing your naturally beautiful curves.

Whether you choose to look at the camera or not is up to you. Some women prefer to gaze lovingly at their bump. Others look away from or directly at the camera. Try a different head angle each month to add variety while keeping your belly at the 45-degree turn.

Add a cute theme to your photo book

It’s a little easier to dream up newborn baby photoshoot ideas because you have an adorable baby to admire. Brainstorming creative pregnancy photo themes can sometimes feel a little more  challenging. Pinterest can be a great resource to spark some creativity. One common theme is holding up a piece of fruit or a vegetable that illustrates the baby’s current size. You can also make a custom countdown shirt to tick off the weeks or months of your pregnancy.

Another idea is to add an accessory that corresponds with the month of the year. From sporting a  green headband in March to represent St. Patrick’s Day or  holding an American flag for July there are plenty of ways you can interpret this idea. Whatever you decide, stick with the same theme throughout to maintain continuity in the photos. 

Be patient with yourself

Pregnancy looks different for everyone. You’ll definitely have days where standing in front of a camera is the last thing on your mind. That’s perfectly okay. There is no rule that says you have to snap a photo every four weeks to the day. Avoid putting too much pressure on yourself and listen to your body. You can always pick back up the next day or next week.

Think outside the bump

While baby’s development is the primary focus for a pregnancy memory book, sometimes there are few extra parts to the story. . Don’t forget to include those in-between moments. Capture food cravings, candid photos painting the nursery, your spouse feeling the baby kick for the first time, and other precious moments with your phone. Every memory counts!

Bring Your Pregnancy Photo Book to Life With Motif

Once you have a collection of pregnancy progression photos and candids, the next step is to put them into a  cohesive, high-quality photo book. Motif makes this part easy. After you’ve selected the photos you want to use, Motif will curate themes and recommend ideal layouts for your project. The app will also remove duplicates automatically so you won’t accidentally feature the same photo twice.

When stylizing your pregnancy memory book, leave room for custom text fields. Your photo book can be used to record alternative baby names,  or as a place to journal your feelings during the course of your pregnancy. You can even use your favorite photos on a selection of beautiful photo cards.

Remember, you’re trying to capture this unique period of your life. Seize the opportunity while it lasts. Before you know it, you’ll be holding a bundle of joy in your arms and starting a whole new chapter. 

The post Capture your precious memories with a pregnancy memory photo book appeared first on The Motif Blog.

• See the Wonders of the World
• Sail the World’s Oceans
• View the Northern Lights
• Visit the Continents
• Go on Safari
• Dive at the Great Barrier Reef
• Visit the Grand Canyon
• Hike the Appalachian Trail
• Tour Major Global Cities
• Spend a Week Off the Grid

Even if you don’t know what a “bucket list” is, there’s a good chance that you have one. 

For those not in the know, your bucket list is a list of things you would like to see or do before you die, or “kick the bucket.” Different people have different goals they’d like to achieve, with some being simple and sweet while others are exciting or downright silly. No two people are likely to have the exact same bucket list, though a lot of peoples’ lists may share a lot of elements in common.

Great Bucket List Ideas – Photos!

One thing to be sure to include in your bucket list plans is your camera. While you might not have considered taking pictures while coming up with bucket list ideas, photos can really help you to capture the majesty of crossing off each item on your list. Don’t just rely on the camera on your phone, either; depending on what’s on your bucket list, you may need some special equipment if you really want to capture the best shots.

See the Wonders of the World

There are some amazing sights that you can include as you make your bucket list. From the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to other wonderful structures such as Stonehenge and Taj Mahal, there are plenty of places around the world just waiting for you to visit. Just remember that some of the ancient wonders have since been lost to time, so you may end up mixing wonders from a few different lists while planning your travels.

Sail the World’s Oceans

There are five oceans out there in the world, just waiting for you to come and sail them all. You’re likely familiar with the Pacific and the Atlantic, but there’s also the Indian Ocean (between Africa, Australia and southern Asia), the Southern Ocean (which circles Antarctica) and the Arctic Ocean (which covers the Arctic.) You can hit all five with cruises and other trips by sea.

View the Northern Lights

A breathtaking view you won’t want to miss, the Northern Lights seems like something completely out of this world. A popular choice among bucket list ideas, photos are a must when taking in the Northern Lights. It’s the sort of experience where pictures can tell the story so much better than words.

Visit the Continents

Though it can be difficult to visit all seven continents (Antarctica isn’t always easy to reach), you can make a major effort to visit as many of them as possible. Take pictures on each continent, or collect a small amount of soil or sand while you’re there. You can even make a photo collection focused solely on your trip to visit the continents.

Go on Safari

Some people are hesitant to include safaris on a bucket list because of the negative association they’ve gotten due to big-game hunting and illegal safari excursions. There are a number of safari options available even if you’re not interested in hunting, including increasingly popular photo safaris. That way you can enjoy the wild while also getting some great pictures to share with friends once you get back.

Dive at the Great Barrier Reef

The oceans are full of wonder, but there are few things as glorious under the water as the Great Barrier Reef. Even with the damage that the reefs have taken over the years, it’s still a sight to behold. Just remember that if you want pictures, you’re going to need an underwater camera or some heavy-duty waterproof protection for your iPhone!

Visit the Grand Canyon

One of the great wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon will take your breath away. It can be hard to wrap your head around just how large the Grand Canyon is without actually seeing it, which is why it’s a key component for so many people on their travel bucket list. Be sure to take pictures with a person or reference point so you can accurately show the incredible scale and scope of this breathtaking location.

Hike the Appalachian Trail

If you want an adventure, consider hiking some or all of the Appalachian Trail. Stretching from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine, this 2200-mile marked trail is considered the longest hiking-only trail in the world. With beautiful views just waiting to be captured, the Appalachian Trail can be visited again and again with you tackling a different portion of the trail on each visit.

Tour Major Global Cities

There are a lot of beautiful cities around the world, but only a few that can truly be considered “global.” These are places like New York City, Paris, London, Singapore and Tokyo, where they play such a pivotal role in the world economy that you can find a little bit of everything somewhere in the city. Be sure to take in some local tours to really get a feel for what makes each global city special.

Spend a Week Off the Grid

If you really want a one-of-a-kind experience for your bucket list, try unplugging and living for a week completely off the grid. It might take some prep and training to get you ready for it, but once you’ve lived for a week without the various conveniences (and annoyances) of modern life you might just find that your entire perspective has changed.

The post 10 Bucket List Ideas: Photos to Capture Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences appeared first on The Motif Blog.

When it comes to planning an event, there are a lot of little details that come together to make it as special and memorable as possible. 

Bringing all of the moving parts together into one cohesive event isn’t always easy, but when you do pull it off, your event can be something truly magical. Something you might not have thought about that can help make your event stand out from others is a themed guest book. Letting all of your guests sign in and leave their personal mark on such a book creates a cherished keepsake that you’ll love for years to come.

On the other hand, having a more generic guest book at your event can seem a bit out of place. You have all of these other personalized elements that you’ve synchronized with each other, but then there’s a cookie-cutter guest book that people sign and forget. If you want to make an impact, try matching the guest book to your event theme so that it becomes a part of the event itself. There’s no better way to do this than with a photo guest book that captures the theme in a way most of your guests haven’t seen before.

Why a Photo Guest Book?

Right now, you might be wondering exactly why you might create a custom guest book as a photo book instead of a standard guest book. 

There’s actually a good reason for this: You can better capture the theme of your event through pictures than you can through the limited design elements of a standard guest book. Think about photo yearbooks and other personal photo books that mark a specific place or time; they tend to bring memories to life and stay with you beyond the event or time period itself. On the flip side, a more standard no-photo guest book is not something widely considered to be as personal or customized of a memento. The point of having a photo guest book isn’t just to record who is at your event, but to create a personal keepsake that will help represent your event well in the future.

What Is Your Event’s Theme?

Before you get too far into starting to design a guest book for your event, you’ll want to stop and think about what the theme of your event actually is. 

For some events, this thought process is easy because you actually do have a formal theme already created. For other events, it’s a bit trickier; the theme is inherently tied to the type of event (such as a wedding), but as far as thematic planning goes it may have stopped with picking the colors that people will wear. There isn’t anything wrong with that… many events don’t have any sort of a formal theme.

If you don’t have a formal theme for your event, this can make the act of designing your photo guest book a little more intensive–and interesting, too. You can put a bit more thought into which photos to add and what aspects of your event to bring to the forefront. Fortunately, you can break down different aspects of your guest book theme to make the creation and customization easier.

Three Aspects of Your Photo Book

When it comes to designing a photo book to serve as a guest book for your event, there are three aspects that you should focus on: The pictures it contains, the colors you use in the book and, the text you include. Each of these aspects is a key part to the book’s theme, and that’s what you want to match up with the theme of your event. 

Take a moment to consider each of these aspects in a little more depth to see just how they can work together to create a guest book for your event:

• Pictures: Obviously, your pictures will be an important part of any photo book. For this book, though, you need to make sure that you’re selecting photos that not only capture the reader’s attention but are also relevant to the event for which the book was created. The photos should not only match the theme in general content, but they should also match it in tone.
  
  Select pictures that bring up the right types of nostalgia, evoke appropriate emotions, and maybe even make guests laugh with unexpected flashes of comedy. Put care into your picture selections since they will become a part of the event’s theme just as much as any decorations or centerpieces.
  
  
• Color: The colors that you use in your guest book should sync up with the predominant colors of your event, but there’s more to the effective use of color than just making sure that a few colors match. The colors you use will not only tie the book into the event’s theme colors, they will also serve as accents to the pictures you select.
  
  This means you have to make sure that they aren’t going to clash, or if they do then it’s at a point that’s appropriate (to draw attention to a specific picture, for instance.)
  
  
• Text: The text that you include in your book is just as important as your photo and color choices, even though this is the aspect that’s most likely to be neglected. It’s easy to forget when designing a book like this that it isn’t just meant to be a photo book… you want it to effectively serve as a guest book as well.
  
  Your choice of text can help in this regard, while also providing a narrative that ties the various pictures and pages together. You can use text to keep guests moving through the book, connecting them back to the event and encouraging them to sign where appropriate. Your text is what truly transforms the book from a photo book into a guest book worth signing.

All of this might sound like a lot of work for a guest book, but the end result will be very worth it. What is just a guest book today may end up being a treasured keepsake or even a coffee table book at some point in the future.

Tying the Book to Your Theme

After coming up with the perfect photos and figuring out how to design a guest book with them, you still have to tie your book into the overall theme of your event. Don’t worry, though… you’ve already done most of the work in that regard, even if you don’t realize it yet.

The selections you made regarding pictures, colors and text were all part of tying your book and your event theme together. Aspects of your event and its theme are already designed into the book, so the book itself should fit well as part of the event. Now you just need to do a little bit more to make sure that the book fits into the event instead of just sitting awkwardly by the sidelines.

Make a place for your guest book where it can have its own focus, ideally near the entrance so that it will be one of the early things that guests see. Don’t just stick it on the end of a crowded table; find a stand or podium where the guest book can be the center of attention, and, if necessary, include a sign or mention it to your guests so they’ll know that you would like them to sign. You want it to seem natural there so that your guests can be more easily drawn in once they open its cover.

Designing Your Photo Book

Now that you know how to match your guest book to your theme and make it a natural part of your event, the big challenge that remains is actually creating it. 

Start looking for pictures to include early, since you may need to go through a few different revisions to make sure that you have everything just right before your event. Come up with a set of photos that you’d like to include, plus alternate shots for different pages so that you can swap out the various pictures if you find that certain pics just don’t work well with others.

Keep in mind that this is supposed to be a guest book too, so you’re going to need to leave places for your guests to sign. This could be blank pages at the back of the book, areas set aside on the various pages, or even the inside front and back cover. Part of the decision on where these spaces will go will depend on how you lay your book out, and it’s definitely something that you should keep in mind during the design process. Wherever you decide to leave space for signatures, don’t forget to include a bit of text so that your guests will know where they’re supposed to sign.

An Event to Remember

If this seems like a lot of preparation for a guest book, it won’t seem that way after your event has come and gone.

By that point, you’ll have a book full of signatures and notes from family and friends, giving you something to look back through fondly to help you remember the event and everyone who attended. You may find that some of your guests made notes around the pictures, sharing a joke or calling up old memories. As more people sign the book during the event, it will take on something of a life of its own that will be fun to explore later. The book that you make to serve as a guest book might end up becoming a major keepsake that you turn to time and again.

There’s also a chance that others will want a copy of the book as well, both as a way to remember the event and to be able to look back on the various memories you evoked with your pictures. You might even find yourself having to order multiple copies because your seemingly simple guest book ended up being the life of the party. When was the last time you saw a guest book that was so in-demand people wanted their own personal copy?

The post How to Create a Photo Guest Book that Matches Your Event Theme appeared first on The Motif Blog.

In this digital age, it’s easy to store photos on your phone or computer instead of printing them. This saves trees, but does it save memories? Consider creating a beautiful coffee table photo book to preserve specific moments in time that you can relive any time you’re sitting in your living room, cup of coffee optional!

There’s simply nothing sweeter than coming home from a long day’s work, and pulling out a photo book to remind yourself of the people, places, and things that have inspired joy. It makes that daily grind more bearable.

If you think of coffee table books simply as collections of famous works of art, you might be selling yourself short as a creator in your own right. Whether it’s sold in a museum gift shop or created from the “favorites” folder on your iPhone or Mac, a coffee table book is an artistic expression.

Take a look at some of these coffee table photo book ideas to help transport you and your family to your happiest memories.

Wedding Coffee Table Photo Book

A wedding takes months or even years of preparation, and then the moment is gone in an instant. Thankfully, photographs can capture the beauty of your romantic moments forever.

Creating a coffee table photo book focusing on you and your spouse’s wedding and honeymoon is what our photo books are made for. The wedding party likely will spend most of your wedding day greeting and visiting numerous guests, and very little time to bask in the beauty of the moment. A photo booklet of the highlights is the perfect way to savor those details that might have slipped your notice on the big day.

Whether it’s a staycation or a journey to an exotic destination, the honeymoon is also a period you’ll want to freeze in time to revisit later. It’s not just an opportunity for gorgeous travel photography; it’s a moment to celebrate the love, optimism and adventure you are experiencing with that irreplaceable someone in your life.

By cataloging these precious days in a wedding photo book, you and your spouse will be able to revisit the past with the flip of a page. By cataloging these precious days in a photo book, you and your spouse will be able to revisit the past with the flip of a page. Nothing stirs up memories like the images of days gone by. You’ll be able to see those precious times for what they were, and compare to how far you’ve come on life’s journey. And perhaps one day, a little child’s hands will be turning the pages of your coffee table book, too.

Motif makes the process simple with its autoflow technology that lives within your MacOS. This intuitive workflow technology automatically sorts through your images and organizes photo projects by similarities such as image subjects or location. It’ll even choose the best images among duplicates and optimize any centering or cropping that’s necessary.

Family Vacation Photo Book

A family vacation coffee table photo book is another opportunity to capture extraordinary moments in time. So much of family life is about the daily grind of homework, birthday parties, orthodontist visits and breaking up arguments about whose turn it is to empty the dishwasher. A vacation is a unique opportunity to experience a destination for the first time together as a family, or to revisit a vacation home or other favorite recurring gathering spot. Photos of your travels not only creates an opportunity for the parents to remember, but for young ones to recall memories that otherwise would be hazy. 

Photograph rare sites, exotic dishes, or the splendid scenic views, along with children posed in front of monuments and candids of the family cavorting on the beach. That way, even if you can’t take the time to journey back, you’ll always have that memory set in stone for your family to see. 

Your family can even spice up a family vacation photo book by adding imagery of souvenirs. Including scans of travel tickets, foreign pamphlets, brochures, and menus. Having tangible items in addition to that visual memory will allow you to savor those once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Motif features a variety of patterns and design themes, so you’re sure to find something suitable to encompass each special moment.

Travel Photo Books

A coffee table book is a great way to preserve the memories of a family vacation, but it’s also a brilliant idea for any vacation, even if you traveled solo. A photo book that casts the destination as the starring character might be more focused on the unique scenes of your journey than Aunt Sally posing in front of the Grand Canyon, though. When you journey to foreign places, you’ll encounter incredible architecture, stunning artwork, jaw-dropping vistas, and so much more. Transform those amazing moments into a book that you can flip through when you’re back at home, sweet home, whenever you’ve got the wanderlust blues.

Creating a travel photo book has never been easier than it is when using the Motif. Our intelligent image selection automatically analyzes photos from that location and uses the highest-quality photos to seamlessly tell the story of your travels. It will also optimize your photos for quality, and remove photos that are too similar. 

Trips to far-flung locations require a lot of planning and saving, and unfortunately go by in the blink of an eye. Treat your life’s journeys with the respect they deserve by creating a specialized photo book. This way, your travels will always be waiting for you on your coffee table to transport you back to that specific moment in time.

A Coffee Table Photo Book of Your Kids Growing Up

Printing photography is about memorializing the beauty of that which is lost in an instant. And what passes more quickly than childhood? In one moment you’re changing diapers, the next they’re off to college. Time waits for no one, and that’s why preserving each moment in photographs is your bridge to your best memories.

With a photo book on display of your children, you can look back at the moment you brought your child home. You’ll revisit every birthday, the first day of school, their first dance, and every milestone until they leave home. It’s easy to create captions for special moments with the Motif app as well. Just select a font and start writing your own narrative to complement the stories that lie within your photographic memories.

You’ll even allow your children an opportunity to look back on times they may not remember. You and your family can grow together even closer by appreciating the great times you’ve had. A photo book of childhood memories is also a great gift for grandparents—and when your not-so-little-one gets engaged, it’s a sweet memento for the spouse-to-be.

Photo Books by Motif

The greatest part about your coffee table photo book is that it can capture any moments you’d like. Whether it be anniversaries, celebrations, holidays, or everyday moments that brought everyone together, those memories will always endure through photos. Motif has been a leader in the printing business since its fruition in 1864. With our friendly partnership with Apple, we’ve successfully captured your unique stories and memories in over 75 million customized photo books. Let your family’s story be the next one that gets told. 

A custom photo book isn’t just a portfolio, but the closest thing we have to a doorway through time. There’s no time like the present to create your doorway to the best memories of the past today with Motif.

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