Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Family Photo Journal 2014

Every year I make several photo books of our year. In JANUARY, I began making our photo journal and then I got distracted. But recently I made a list of several projects I needed to finish before I was allowed to begin any more. And at the top of that list was finishing photo books. 
In the past, I've had one book of big camera photos and one book of Instagrams. This year I decided to combine and conquer! I arrange my books by month, so after each month I have an extra spread of iPhone squares. I love the way that it turned out. You know that question, "If your house burned down- what items would you save?" My quilts and photo books. 100%.
So I thought I'd share some pages from my photo book, show you how I do them.

Here are just a few randomly-selected pages from the photo book, so you can get an idea of what they look like. ,



This is an example of an Instagram page. I love it, don't you?






 



This particular book is a hard cover 8x10 with 219 pages. (And I paid 80$ on Blurb including shipping!) I used to love Shutterfly, and still do for small books, but for this many pages- get Blurb! The standard book price on Blurb costs more than Shutterfly, but extra pages cost more on Shutterfly, so choose depending on the length of your books (and I like to GO BIG). (Note: this is not an ad, this is just info from one friend to another.) I also like the quality of Blurb more, but they don't ever send me coupons for free books, and Shutterfly does a couple times a year!

I don't add any text to the books, except the month name at the beginning of each new section (which you could easily overlook), occasional dates or ages (like Three Years Old!) on a picture of the boys on their birthday, and little Gs and Ms on the corners of pictures of the boys. I can tell them apart now, but I'm not positive I'll always remember who had which haircut when they were three.

Finishing my photo books always makes me resolve to take better photos, because I love all these beautiful pictures and memories preserved. What a gift photography has been in my life!





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9 comments:

Courtney said...

These look awesome! Do you ever print out your blog posts or put them in a book? I want to turn my blog into a photo book but it seems so overwhelming.

Natasha and Jesse said...

What a great way to have photos! I have so many photos on my phone but haven't printed them out. Can you transfer directly from iPhones to blurb or Shutterfly- or do you have to have them on a computer first?My husband made me a photo book as a gift this past Christmas and it is so wonderful. I need to do another one.

janette said...

I love love love making photobooks! I've been using Shutterfly--I'm wondering what paper choice you used for blurb (standard, premium, proline?) and if blurb ever sends out 30% coupons off books like shutterfly does.

Unknown said...

Lovely! I really need to get one this...I'm so behind. Thanks for the inspiration!

Polly said...

It's a good thing you will save your albums in a fire. It will help you remember your children which you forgot to save!

Becky Pitcher said...

I never have but I always mean to! Yeah, it just seems like so much work. That's why these are photos only, no words. They'd never get done if I included text.

Becky Pitcher said...

Yes! In my experience, they always have at least one coupon on their site, ranging from 15-50% off. This book was 30% off.

janette said...

Thank you!

janette said...

Thank you!