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Photo Book Ideas

The event is over, the suitcase is unpacked, the baby's first birthday is done--inevitably after any wedding, vacation or major milestone, you will have dozens of photos. If you don't have the time or inclination to make a scrapbook, make a photo book that tells a story. Design it on the computer with software you already have, or put the photos in a pre-designed book on a photo-processing website. Send the book to a printer for publishing, and you'll have a record of memories you want to share.

Publishing Your Photo Book
- There are many options for creating a photo book--find the one that is right for you.
  
  There are a number of ways to make a photo book, and you can explore each option to find the right photo book for you. Visit sites such as Shutterfly, Snapfish, MyPublisher, Kodak Gallery and Walmart to look at their options for pre-designed photo books. You can choose the size, theme and type of cover. You can also design your own photo book on your computer, using software such as PhotoShop or iPhoto, and then upload your designs to publishing websites to have your book published. If you want to do it yourself, you can design your pages and print them on a home printer, and then place them in an album.
  
  Most photo book publishers have similar systems for creating your book: you upload digital photos, place them on the pages in the layout that appeals to you, choose a theme, add text, and then send to print. In general, in 2010, photo books ranged from around $10 for a 4- by 6-inch softcover book to more than $50 for a 12-by-12, 20-page hardcover book. Features such as leather covers and additional pages add to the cost of the book. Before designing your photo book, explore several publishers to find the one that has the style of book you want--simple and elegant, whimsical--at a price you can afford.
Photo Book Subjects
- A wedding is a natural for a photo book.
  
  You can make a photo book about any subject, as long as you have photos. Here are some ideas:
  
  Year in Review
  
  Vacation
  
  Wedding
  
  Baby's first year
  
  Holidays
  
  Relationships (as for anniversaries, Mother's Day or Father's Day)
  
  Baby and bridal showers
  
  Good-bye (such as when someone leaves a job)
  
  Family
  
  Pets
  
  The Book of You (all about you and your likes, dislikes)
Tips for a Successful Photo Book
- Photo books allow everyone to enjoy your photos and memories.
  
  Before you design your photo book, choose the photos that you want to include. Add plenty of photos; you can always leave out the ones that don't add to the story you are telling.
  
  Add as many details as possible to your text, so you don't look back in a few years and wonder who is in the photo and what they were doing.
  
  Double-check your spelling and grammar before printing, and make sure all of your photos will print. In some cases, the size or resolution of digital photos prevents them from printing properly in the photo book.
  
  Photo books make memorable gifts--and don't be surprised if friends or relatives ask for copies.

Photography