Wedding photo albums are available in a size and shape to suit every preference. More than just a book to put pictures in, your wedding album will provide you with memories that you can cherish and share with other throughout your life. In the past, having a physical wedding photo album containing printed pictures was standard, and your basic choice was to have one or not. But with the advent of digital technology, it's possible now to opt for digital wedding albums instead.
Choosing a Wedding Photo Album
When it's time to choose a wedding photo album that will be used to keep and display your pictures, there are three major areas to consider. You should find something that fits your personal taste, it should be designed to preserve and protect your most cherished photos, and it should allow for some personalization.
Finding a style of wedding photo album that you like should be easy to do. The photographer will probably have a variety of albums for you to choose from. Albums are bound in leather, silk, satin or can even be silver-plated. Carved wood is also available for the outside binding. Inside pages typically come in black or white. Most wedding albums are sized to easily accommodate 8 x 10 photos.
Probably the most important function of wedding photo albums is to preserve your photos. You'll want these photos to last for the rest of your life and beyond. Every part of the album that comes into contact with your photos, including the mounts and the pages themselves, should be acid-free. Paper is made from wood pulp, which naturally contains acid. Unless the paper undergoes a process to neutralize this acid, paper will yellow and deteriorate over time. And it will cause your treasured photographs to do the same.
If you're working with a reputable photographer, then any wedding photos albums he recommends will likely have sufficient quality to do the job. In the event you've decided to have a family member or friend handle your photography, then you'll need to shop around for your own album. Look for products that specifically state that they are acid-free and of archival quality. It's even better if they give you an actual pH value for the paper. Try to find paper with a pH of 7 or greater.
Your chosen wedding photo album should allow you to add your own personal touches. This may range from engraving on the front to adding scrapbook-type items like dried flower petals or fabric swatches. Top-end wedding albums offer the opportunity to choose your own unique album design.
Digital Wedding Albums
Deciding in favor of digital wedding albums doesn't necessarily mean that you must choose digital photography for your wedding. Magazine wedding albums can be produced by scanning physical photographs at high resolution, which are then printed and professionally bound. Sometimes referred to as coffee table wedding albums, digital wedding albums are widely available. If you have the expertise, you can even find Photoshop templates online to produce your own.
The newest wave of digital wedding albums include professionally produced, high definition wedding albums on DVD. Complete with soundtracks and special effects, these are truly wedding albums for the next generation.
Regardless of what you choose, keep in mind that your wedding photos provide priceless memories and also serve as a document of your family's history. Choose your photographer well and don't skimp when it comes to the wedding photo album.
Wedding photo albums allow you to relive your special day and share the memories with your family and friends
