Do you have more saved photos than you can manage? It’s not a bad problem to have. But with so many precious memories, it can be a challenge organizing them into a photo book. Photos can be displayed in a way that respects their value. The book should stand out wherever it’s placed thanks to the originality and personalization you put into it. While this sounds like a tall order, it all starts with a good photo book idea.   

What Makes the Perfect Photo Book Idea

When creating the best photo book ideas, look for these three basic components.

1. It’s meaningful.

Your photo book idea must have some significance. It doesn’t have to be your most prized possession but it should have value. Meaningful ideas include those that celebrate, honor, or remember a person or event.

2. It’s simple.

Don’t overthink or over-complicate your photo book idea. The theme should be clearly understood from the very first page – maybe even the cover. If you get too off-the-wall creative, the meaning might get lost in translation. And simpler ideas are also easier to organize.

3. It tells a story.

Successful photo book ideas walk you through a special day, a phase of life, a year, or a lifetime. They tell a full and cohesive story. Make sure you have enough photos to cover the chosen timeline. If you can create a fleshed-out plot, even better.

Inspiration for the Perfect Photo Book Idea

Whether you have a large collection of photos or are limited to a few specific photos, it helps to have some source of inspiration. Search the Motif blog or scroll through Pinterest for unique ideas. First, let’s not forget to look for inspiration from within. You may just need a little boost.

Let these questions guide you to the perfect photo book idea. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of them, check out their corresponding idea options to help fast-track your photo project.  

Do you have something to celebrate?

Life is full of celebrations. You don’t have to wait for monumental accomplishments. Every milestone deserves recognition – as long as it’s meaningful, simple to express, and has a story behind it.

Your photo book idea options:

• Engagement album
• Wedding day
• Baby announcement
• Anniversaries
• Birthdays
• Graduation day
• A new job or promotion

Is there a loved one you’d like to honor?

Friends, family members, and mentors play a major role in your life. It’s never a bad idea to say ‘thank you.’ With a hand-crafted photo book, you show appreciation while highlighting their greatest traits and your sweetest memories. If you can’t narrow it down to just one person, there are plenty of photo book ideas for the whole family.

Your photo book idea options:

• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day
• The best dad jokes
• Grandparent’s love story
• Teacher appreciation
• Coach of the year
• Family tree

Did you recently host/attend a special event?

Since most events are celebratory, you may already be headed in the right direction. Otherwise, consider hosting an event to simply gather and socialize. You didn’t celebrate anything in particular, but it’s a day worth remembering. Don’t discount those backyard barbecues or weekly movie nights. If there are enough photos to carry the theme, go with it.

Your photo book idea options:

• Family reunions
• Wedding showers
• Baby gender reveal
• Prom night
• Award show parties
• Pizza Fridays

Do you travel often or go on regular vacations?

If you’ve checked off some bucket list ideas, there’s a good chance photos exist to prove it. Give those hard-earned memories a home. Why not capture the details of every trip you take? A one-time getaway to the Catskills warrants as much attention as your annual beach trip.

Photo book idea options:

• Family vacations
• National parks
• The Seven Wonders of the World
• Staycations
• Weekend camping
• Road trips
• Sleepovers with friends

Are you or someone you know a visual artist?

If you have a creative hobby of any kind, share your gift. True artists may use photo books to exhibit their art. Others may treat it as a professional portfolio. Do what works best to showcase your craft.  

Your photo book idea options:

• Art portfolio (illustrations, paintings, sculptures, etc.)
• Fashion designs
• Photography skills
• Architecture drawings
• Home construction and remodeling (before and after shots)
• Recipe/food creations

Are you a small business owner?

Even non-creative entrepreneurs can use photo books to show creativity. Any business that can be visually marketed is a valid photo book idea. A professional-looking photo book is the perfect tool to attract clients, guests, or patients.

Your photo book idea options:

• Real estate track record (the types of homes you’ve sold)
• Airbnb, Vrbo, or similar bed-and-breakfast guestbooks
• How-to guides
• Project recaps (in lieu of another PowerPoint presentation)
• Success stories (transformation photos of weight-loss journeys, skincare treatments, hairstyles and more)

Do you have children?

Kids grow up in the blink of an eye. Capture all those fleeting moments in a photo book. Consider starting this photo book journey before your child is born. A pregnancy memory book encapsulates a very special nine months in your family’s timeline. Another option is to make the project interactive. Create an activity-based photo book idea, or dream up something that allows your child to be involved in the process.

• ABC photo book (use the alphabet to remember your child’s favorite things)
• DIY coloring book (basic shapes and scenes fill the pages for your little one to color)
• Personalized yearbook
• Children’s artwork
• Story book (help your child write their own book and become a published author)

Do you love animals?

Pets are part of the family. They, too, deserve a special dedication. While they might prefer a few treats, you’d like a more lasting reward. Enter the photo book. You’re not limited to domesticated animals. Wildlife makes great fodder for photos, as well.

Photo book idea options:

• Action shots
• Pet portraits
• Pet fashion show
• Wildlife photography

Make it real.

Ready to turn your photo book idea into reality? The next step is to download the Motif app. It integrates directly with the images on your Mac or iPhone/iPad, so you don’t have to export or upload anything. All your photos are ready to use with the click of a button. For additional guidance, follow these tips to create your first Apple photo book. Rest assured, Motif is an easy-to-use tool. Capture every moment, idea, or special event in photo books with Motif.

The post Dream Up The Perfect Photo Book Idea For Any Occasion appeared first on The Motif Blog.

Running out of room on the refrigerator door for your child’s artwork? Unfortunately, there’s limited real estate within your home for these creations. It’s especially difficult because some pieces may be fairly impressive works of art. The thought of throwing them away breaks your heart. It might even break theirs. Your children’s creations deserve more than a cardboard box or even worse. Put their creative efforts into an art photo book.

3 Ways to Display Children’s Artwork in a Photo Book

Every photo book has a focus. For some, it’s a compilation of fun wedding photos. For others, it’s a family history photo book. The key is a clear focal point. For this new project, it’s your child’s artwork. Your first step is to decide on a composition. For a children’s art book, there are three basic options. One: focus on the art itself. Two: show progression through the years. Three: take photos of your child with their art.

Focus on the art.

The goal of this layout is to display the child’s art. Do exactly that. Use this photo book to highlight the art and only the art. Think of it as a portfolio. Each page gets one brilliant masterpiece. Leave room for some text, though. Years from now, you’ll appreciate having a title or date stamp to identify the art.

You don’t have to stick to one piece per page. If you have a stockpile of creations, make a photo collage. Feature multiple pieces on one page using the photo collage technique. Be sensible with your collages. Group artwork from the same year. Or create a collage theme. For example, group all watercolor flowers in one collage. This will help keep your children’s art book focused and organized.  

Show their progression.

Children grow up quickly. Their art skills do, too. One day, they’re drawing stick figures. The next, they’re adding denim jeans and dimples. Show this progression through the pages of your photo book. How it’s laid out depends on the number of pieces you have. A dozen works of art over a one-year span is enough to start. Simply arrange the art in the order it was created. Make the first page the earliest piece or pieces. That way your children’s art book culminates with their most impressive creation to date.

Feature the artist.

If you’re looking for a more casual photo book, this is your best bet. This theme is achieved by including candid photos of your child actually making their artwork. There are plenty of unique photo ideas for children. For this style of photo book consider playful poses. Take the opportunity to get artsy with your photos. Art is the focus, after all. This could be a closeup of their tiny hands holding their work of art. It could be a black-and-white photo of the child painting at their easel. Incorporate these shots with pages focused on the art itself. Variety is key.

Remember, it’s a photo book for children! Let your imagination run as wild as theirs. Think about the child’s interests, idols, and inspirations. What motivated them to create these works of art? Use that information to create cohesion throughout the book.

How to Photograph Your Children’s Artwork for Display

The next step is an important one. To display children’s artwork in a book, you must photograph the art. Photographing artwork is like taking a photo of a photo. It can be tricky. Follow these steps to guarantee you get the best shot.

1. Find a spot with natural light: Set up by a large window or sliding glass doors. Even skylights in the bathroom are a great source of natural light.

2. Use a neutral background: New white poster board works perfectly. It’s also economical and easy to find.

3. Step on a stool: It’s important to get an overhead shot of the art. This offers the best angle to display children’s artwork in a photo book. To nail the overhead, get some height. Standing on a chair or stool should be enough.

4. Touch up: At a minimum, your photos will need to be cropped. You might also touch them up with filters, brightness, or saturation. Learn how to edit photos on an iPhone. This will go a long way towards creating a quality photo book.

5. File away: Save all the images to a specific photo album on your iPhone or Mac computer. With everything in one place, it’s easier to design your art photo book. Back up the files on an external hard drive as well. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

6. Recycle or relocate: Your child’s artwork has been captured and securely saved. You’re now free to dispose of it. Recycle whenever possible. Or simply relocate to a dedicated storage bin.

Create your photobook.

Download the Motif app to create your art photo book. Motif directly integrates with Photos on MacOS and the images on your iPhone/iPad in iOS. After downloading the app, simply select an album or memory to get started. If you’re new to Motif, follow these tips to create your first photo book. Rest assured, Motif makes the design process a breeze. It’s so easy, you might create a new photo book every year.

The post How to Display Children’s Artwork in a Photo Book 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.