DIY Make Your Own Photo Album

How do you save your vacation snaps so that you can share them easily with friends and family? Photo books are the solution – and there are many different vendors online. But how do you get your photobook looking the best? Business Optimizer shares our tips on how to make your own photo album online. Are you ready? Let’s go!

Creating a photo album to commemorate a special event or celebrate a particular vacation or special occasion is an increasingly popular activity. They also make wonderful gifts.

As a result, a huge number of vendors have launched online – making it easy for you to create and customise your own photo book. The sheer number of companies now offering this type of service is great news for consumers – prices have come down significantly and the websites compete with many different features to try to win your business.

But how do you decide which vendor is right for you? And what choices should you make to ensure that you get the look you want?

Here are a few of the considerations you should bear in mind.

#1. What templates does the website offer?

Most websites will offer templates from which you can pick. Usually these will be focused around particular themes: birthdays, weddings, vacations, etc. Browse through the selections on offer to find one that you like and that suits your particular photo set.

#2. How easy is it to use the website?

While you are browsing for templates, you’ll get a good idea of how easy it is to navigate and use the website and how reliable and stable it is. If you are struggling to pick a template, then chances are you aren’t going to like working with the website to create your photobook.

#3. Which photobook size options are available?

Different vendors offer different sizes. Think about how you want to use your photobook before deciding which size is right. For a coffee table book or for special occasions, a larger format and a square shape might work better. For gifts, a more standard size might be appropriate – perhaps landscape A4? Or do you want a smaller and more portable format?

#4. What type of binding would you like?

The quality of binding will have a big impact on price, but it will also have a big impact on the look and feel of your photobook. Some websites offer options for leather or linen covers for a bit of extra luxury. Some offer vegan-friendly PU-leather-like coverings. Or would you prefer a simple hardback binding? Or a lightweight paper binding?

#5. What type of paper would you like?

The internal pages of your photobook also offer options to customise the quality. Paper thickness, opacity and finish may be possible options.

#6. Are there options for additional customization?

As well as offering standard templates to which you can upload your photos, some websites offer freestyle options so you can completely design the book as you wish. This takes more time and effort on your part, but if you’ve got a particular look or layout in mind, it can be the best way to ensure you get the book you want.

#7. Choose your photos wisely

When it comes to collating your photos to populate your book, think carefully about how you are going to display them. Should some be grouped? Which ones naturally go together? Is the order in which you place them really telling the story you want to tell? Do you have a nice mix of closeups and distance shots? Have you got some images that add context, such as landscapes, etc? Do any of the images need cropping or adjusting before inclusion?

Once you’ve compiled your book, save it and come back later to review it. This way, you can see it with fresh eyes and make sure you’ve achieved the look you want.

#8. Leave time for delivery!

Bear in mind that you aren’t going to get next-day delivery with a customized photo book. You’re probably going to need to allow a week to ten days for delivery. And it is definitely worth planning ahead during busy times, such as Christmas.