Strategies for Designing Parent Albums
above photo by Rebecca Sehn
Last week we talked a little bit about parent albums and the benefits for offering them. In that post, we touched on how offering exact duplicate copies of the bride & groom's album requires very little extra work for photographers because the design work is already done! While that strategy keeps things simple, some clients desire to have the ability to customize their parent albums.
So what is the best approach when your client is asking for alterations to the original design for their parent albums? Today we are going to break down the design/revision strategies successfully used here at Align to help photographers just like you painlessly create multiple album designs for the same wedding...without anyone losing their minds!
Here is a list of how Align can help you maximize your profits with minimal extra work for you, the busy photographer!
1. Duplicate copy
The most direct and simple option is that clients order an exact duplicate copy of the bride and groom's design, typically just in a smaller size that has the same proportions. This would be appropriate when there are NO requests for modifications. Many album printing companies will even allow you to order a smaller album using the exact same design files you uploaded for the large version (i.e. using 12x12-sized layouts to print an 8x8 copy as well). However, if your album company requests separate files for each version, just reach out to your Align designer! Depending on the size you need, we may be able to export the new files immediately or we can use another revision round to resize your design.
2. Take advantage of those unused revisions
Every Align Album Design order includes 3 rounds of revisions in the price. Once the bride & groom's design is approved, you can use any unused revision rounds to allow the parents to submit their changes. As long as you don't use more than 3 revision rounds total, there is no additional charge! But if you need more than that, the cost is $50/round which is still typically less expensive than placing a new album design order.
3. Multiple versions of a single spread
Alternatively, if you know for sure that ONLY ONE spread will be changing between the versions (such as the family portrait spread), we could simply design multiple versions of that one spread from the start (at our usual $8/spread price). For example if you need three versions of a 15 spread album, Align could actually design/bill/deliver 17 spreads total. And then you would place three separate orders with your print company and just switch out which version of the family portrait spread you upload to them.
4. Separate design orders
Some clients like to place separate design orders for each album. This is the best method if any of the following circumstances are in play concerning the albums: they utilize different image collections, they have different dimension ratios, they require different design styles, they won't have many spreads in common, etc. This is also the method to use when you simply want a fresh start after you finish the original design.
As you can see, depending on which approach best fits your workflow/client needs, there is a way to keep the design work simple while still giving your clients exactly what they want. There is nothing quite as satisfying as knowing you have delivered an amazing product and service to your client while paying close attention to their unique requests. At Align, we are more than happy to help you achieve this end goal!
Last week we talked a little bit about parent albums and the benefits for offering them. In that post, we touched on how offering exact duplicate copies of the bride & groom's album requires very little extra work for photographers because the design work is already done! While that strategy keeps things simple, some clients desire to have the ability to customize their parent albums.
So what is the best approach when your client is asking for alterations to the original design for their parent albums? Today we are going to break down the design/revision strategies successfully used here at Align to help photographers just like you painlessly create multiple album designs for the same wedding...without anyone losing their minds!
Here is a list of how Align can help you maximize your profits with minimal extra work for you, the busy photographer!
1. Duplicate copy
The most direct and simple option is that clients order an exact duplicate copy of the bride and groom's design, typically just in a smaller size that has the same proportions. This would be appropriate when there are NO requests for modifications. Many album printing companies will even allow you to order a smaller album using the exact same design files you uploaded for the large version (i.e. using 12x12-sized layouts to print an 8x8 copy as well). However, if your album company requests separate files for each version, just reach out to your Align designer! Depending on the size you need, we may be able to export the new files immediately or we can use another revision round to resize your design.
2. Take advantage of those unused revisions
Every Align Album Design order includes 3 rounds of revisions in the price. Once the bride & groom's design is approved, you can use any unused revision rounds to allow the parents to submit their changes. As long as you don't use more than 3 revision rounds total, there is no additional charge! But if you need more than that, the cost is $50/round which is still typically less expensive than placing a new album design order.
3. Multiple versions of a single spread
Alternatively, if you know for sure that ONLY ONE spread will be changing between the versions (such as the family portrait spread), we could simply design multiple versions of that one spread from the start (at our usual $8/spread price). For example if you need three versions of a 15 spread album, Align could actually design/bill/deliver 17 spreads total. And then you would place three separate orders with your print company and just switch out which version of the family portrait spread you upload to them.
4. Separate design orders
Some clients like to place separate design orders for each album. This is the best method if any of the following circumstances are in play concerning the albums: they utilize different image collections, they have different dimension ratios, they require different design styles, they won't have many spreads in common, etc. This is also the method to use when you simply want a fresh start after you finish the original design.
As you can see, depending on which approach best fits your workflow/client needs, there is a way to keep the design work simple while still giving your clients exactly what they want. There is nothing quite as satisfying as knowing you have delivered an amazing product and service to your client while paying close attention to their unique requests. At Align, we are more than happy to help you achieve this end goal!
We hope you've found these tips helpful!
----------> If you want to give outsourcing a try, click here to find out more about the design styles that Align offers. We have 3 standard design styles but can definitely customize to meet most needs. So don't hesitate to send us examples of designs you like and let us know what your preferences are, and we will design to those specifications. After you take a look at our design styles to find out which one would work best for you, click here to sign up for an account with Align. When you do so, we'll send you a free welcome gift -- our "Top 10 Most Popular Album Companies" Resource List. That way you can find out which album printing & binding companies are the most popular among photographers who use Align, and more importantly, WHY. We'd love to be a part of creating beautiful heirloom albums for your studio and clients!
----------> If you want to give outsourcing a try, click here to find out more about the design styles that Align offers. We have 3 standard design styles but can definitely customize to meet most needs. So don't hesitate to send us examples of designs you like and let us know what your preferences are, and we will design to those specifications. After you take a look at our design styles to find out which one would work best for you, click here to sign up for an account with Align. When you do so, we'll send you a free welcome gift -- our "Top 10 Most Popular Album Companies" Resource List. That way you can find out which album printing & binding companies are the most popular among photographers who use Align, and more importantly, WHY. We'd love to be a part of creating beautiful heirloom albums for your studio and clients!
And exciting news! If you're a photographer who wants to start offering albums without investing hours of guesswork and trial and error -- we have a solution for you! Check out the Album Start-Up Kit and start maximizing your profit today!
-----------
Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Massachusetts Beach Club Wedding Album Design for Morgan O'Neil Photography
The wedding in today's featured album design took place at a beach club in Massachusetts and it was absolutely lovely in every way imaginable. We can't get enough of the soft colors, ocean-front ceremony location and golden hour beach portraits! Baltimore Wedding Photographer Morgan O'Neil really captured this day flawlessly!
We have had the pleasure of working with Morgan and her increasingly gorgeous images for 6 years now and in that time have designed over 50 albums for her clients. You can see some of the other album designs we've created for her here!
This design is a great example of our Classic Design style and how beneficial it is to limit the number of images per spread so that the very best images can shine!
Here are a few of our favorite spreads from this beautiful design:
We have had the pleasure of working with Morgan and her increasingly gorgeous images for 6 years now and in that time have designed over 50 albums for her clients. You can see some of the other album designs we've created for her here!
This design is a great example of our Classic Design style and how beneficial it is to limit the number of images per spread so that the very best images can shine!
Here are a few of our favorite spreads from this beautiful design:
To see the design in full, click through the slideshow:
Thank you, Morgan, for trusting us to be a part of your team!
Thank you, Morgan, for trusting us to be a part of your team!
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Design by: Kari (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Design by: Kari (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Venue Sample Album Design for Paige Vaughn Photo
Austin Film Wedding photographer Paige Vaughn is super business savvy! We've been designing albums for her since 2017 and she recently reached out to ask us to design three sample albums for her favorite venue in Austin -- The Arlo. Of course we jumped at the opportunity and today we want to share one of these beautiful designs with you!
Venue sample albums are albums gifted to the venue so they can show them off to couples who are considering booking their wedding there. The top priority of a venue sample album is to show off the venue at its very best. And this album absolutely does just that!
It's so smart of Paige to provide these albums to her venue because it also allows her photography to get in front of her ideal clients -- those who are planning a high-end wedding at one of her favorite venues at which to shoot.
Consider if you were a bride or groom looking through this design... how tempting would it be to simply book your wedding at The Arlo AND hire Paige to photograph it!?
Here are a few of our favorite spreads from this stunning venue sample album design:
Venue sample albums are albums gifted to the venue so they can show them off to couples who are considering booking their wedding there. The top priority of a venue sample album is to show off the venue at its very best. And this album absolutely does just that!
It's so smart of Paige to provide these albums to her venue because it also allows her photography to get in front of her ideal clients -- those who are planning a high-end wedding at one of her favorite venues at which to shoot.
Consider if you were a bride or groom looking through this design... how tempting would it be to simply book your wedding at The Arlo AND hire Paige to photograph it!?
Here are a few of our favorite spreads from this stunning venue sample album design:
To see the design in full, click through the slideshow:
Thank you, Paige, for trusting us with your beautiful images!
Thank you, Paige, for trusting us with your beautiful images!
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Design by: Kari (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Design by: Kari (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
The Benefits Of Offering Parent Albums
Hey photographers, it's Align founder and pro-photographer Melissa Jill here! Let's talk about something I believe every photographer should include as a part of their service and offerings -- parent albums!
Parent albums are duplicate or slightly-altered copies of the main album you've already created for the bride & groom. While they usually have the same design on the inside pages, the size of the album is typically smaller and more light-weight than the bride and groom's album. If you are NOT currently offering parent albums as a core part of your photography packages, I would encourage you to do so!
I feel strongly about offering parent albums for a few good reasons that can be separated into how they benefit not only your client, but also YOU!
BENEFITS FOR THE CLIENT:
Offering parent albums as part of your ever-evolving photography service is a no brainer and an instant win-win. Your clients will be thrilled to have the option to purchase something so beautiful and significant for their loved ones, the value of your service will increase with the additional product, and there's very little effort needed to bring in some extra income!
If you found this post helpful and would like to receive tips like this straight to your inbox, click here to sign up!
Parent albums are duplicate or slightly-altered copies of the main album you've already created for the bride & groom. While they usually have the same design on the inside pages, the size of the album is typically smaller and more light-weight than the bride and groom's album. If you are NOT currently offering parent albums as a core part of your photography packages, I would encourage you to do so!
I feel strongly about offering parent albums for a few good reasons that can be separated into how they benefit not only your client, but also YOU!
BENEFITS FOR THE CLIENT:
- Regardless of who is paying for the wedding photography, parent albums are in high demand. It just makes sense to offer them since so many clients want them. Parent albums are such an easy YES for clients because they serve as the ideal memento to look back on and relive the celebration they just poured so much time and valuable resources into.
- They are the perfect "thank you" gift from the bride and groom to honor how their parents have supported them throughout the process of getting married!
- And if the parents are the ones paying for the photography, they often want a keepsake for themselves to be able to cherish all of their memories from the event!
- Offering parent albums boosts your bottom line and adds value to your services. Within my own photography business, I find that out of the couples who purchase albums, about 1/2 of them will also include parent albums for a fairly painless price point of $300 - $500. To set the price for your own clients, I suggest you mark up the amount you're paying your album printing & binding company by 200-300%. Note that this is lower than the pricing I suggest for the original copy of the album.
- The design work is already done! My parent albums have the exact same design as the bride & groom's original album which keeps things uncomplicated and simple. And for those of you who have clients who desire a little more customization in terms of altering the original design for parent albums... check out our blog post on the parent album design/revision strategies we've used here at Align to help photographers painlessly create multiple album designs for the same wedding!
- You get additional exposure and marketing of your amazing work. The parents will be showing off their high quality parent album to their circle of friends -- people who may not be exposed to the bride & groom's copy!
Offering parent albums as part of your ever-evolving photography service is a no brainer and an instant win-win. Your clients will be thrilled to have the option to purchase something so beautiful and significant for their loved ones, the value of your service will increase with the additional product, and there's very little effort needed to bring in some extra income!
If you found this post helpful and would like to receive tips like this straight to your inbox, click here to sign up!
And exciting news! If you're a photographer who wants to start offering albums without investing hours of guesswork and trial and error -- we have a solution for you! Check out the Album Start-Up Kit and start maximizing your profit today!
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Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Fall Color Engagement Album Design for Nidya Lloyd Photography
We have had the pleasure of being the album design company of choice for talented New York wedding and portrait photographer Nidya Lloyd for the last seven years. In that time we've designed over 50 albums for Nidya and it has been a BLAST! We adore her and her work and never tire of seeing her beautiful images grace our screens!
This particular design that we are excited to share with you today is an engagement album featuring beautiful fall colors and cute pups! It was designed using our Simple Design Style that features 1-4 images per spread and clean white backgrounds -- a style perfect for portrait albums! And fun fact: this design was approved with NO REVISIONS! Happy dance! We love that Nidya's client adored the initial design and we were able to wrap up this project so quickly for her!
Here are a few of our favorite spreads from this fun engagement album design:
This particular design that we are excited to share with you today is an engagement album featuring beautiful fall colors and cute pups! It was designed using our Simple Design Style that features 1-4 images per spread and clean white backgrounds -- a style perfect for portrait albums! And fun fact: this design was approved with NO REVISIONS! Happy dance! We love that Nidya's client adored the initial design and we were able to wrap up this project so quickly for her!
Here are a few of our favorite spreads from this fun engagement album design:
To see the design in full, click through the slideshow:
Thank you, Nidya, for trusting us to be a part of your team!
Thank you, Nidya, for trusting us to be a part of your team!
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Design by: Rachel (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
Design by: Rachel (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Melissa Jill
