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10 Tips for Shooting with the Album in Mind

Tips & Tricks
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Caroline Logan Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
The longer I'm a photographer, the more I realize that shooting for the album is where it's at. Not only am I the founder of Align, I'm also a pro wedding photographer, and through both my experience as a photographer, and our experience here at Align designing thousands of albums, I've learned that shooting with the end product in mind is just plain smart. It makes our albums SO much prettier AND helps us as artists to better tell a cohesive, powerful story. Today I thought I'd share 10 tips for how to shoot with the album in mind. Some of these tips will only apply to wedding photographers, but most of them will also translate well for portrait photographers. The more we can keep these principles top of mind during a shoot or wedding day, the happier we will be with our albums, and the more they will sell themselves.  
 
1 -- Shoot both horizontal and vertical in each setting 
This is as basic as you get, but it's EXTREMELY helpful when you sit down to design an album or you order a design from Align. A combination of horizontal and vertical images from each setting will provide more possibilities and variety for each spread while keeping the design cohesive. I know for most photographers -- myself included -- we either favor horizontal or vertical images heavily (I end up shooting WAY more verticals), so if that's you, just make a conscious effort to ensure that you take a few of the other orientation at each location. Above and below are some examples from our clients of spreads that came together REALLY well as a result of this practice.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Angela Newton Roy Photography / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Caroline Logan Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
2 -- Take scene-setting photos of the location 
This is the #1 thing that helps fill out the story of a design, but that most photographers neglect to do. We take detail photos of bouquets, place settings, bridal details, but we forget to take detail photos of the location. And this is something EVERY photographer can do regardless of how high-end or detail-heavy the wedding you are shooting is. Since wedding days are usually a whirlwind of events, one thing that works well for me is to arrive a half hour early to the venue. As I scout for first look and portrait locations, I take my camera with me and take 10-15 scene-setting details that capture the aesthetic of the venue. These can include a wide shot of the building, a sign, close ups of the foliage, architecture, etc. The client picked their venue for a reason, and so it only makes sense to capture a few photos to show off what makes it unique. And these images really come in handy when filling out the story of a wedding day. Here are a few spreads that are great examples of this idea:
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Abby Grace Photography / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Leezett Photography / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Tori Watson Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
3 -- Tell a color story when styling the bridal details 
We all love photographing the dress, shoes, rings and jewelry. Bridal details are a must-have for any wedding album design. These images usually appear early-on in a design, so it's a good idea to think of them as a first act -- a taste of what is to come. In order to keep a spread with bridal details cohesive in itself AND with the rest of the album, it's helpful to style them using consistent backgrounds and to keep in mind the color-story of the wedding. One easy way to do this is to use a bridesmaid dress as a shooting surface for smaller details. That way you are able to bring the wedding colors into the album early on. These next two spreads are a good example of superb bridal detail styling:
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Allison Mannella Photography / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Anna Shackleford Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
4 -- Don't forget the groom! 
Unfortunately, many times, the groom gets less coverage in the design. As a photographer, I know the timeline doesn't always permit me to capture groom details, but whenever possible, it's a good idea to plan an opportunity to shoot them into the timeline. That way you can produce a spread that shows off the leading man in a way that is comparable in quality to the bride.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Persimmon Images / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Kaitlyn Phipps Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
5 -- Take wide and tight shots in each location 
Album designs are most beautiful when each spread is made up of photos from the same location, with the same colors and lighting. So make sure that you take your time at each spot and change it up! If you are photographing a group portrait of the bridesmaids in their getting-ready robes, make sure that's not the only photo with those robes in it. And when shooting a couple, make sure you get some wide shots in each setting and then get in tight to capture a detail of how they are holding hands, or an accessory the bride is wearing. These close-ups really add variety and interest to portrait spreads and when taken in the same location as the wide shots, they make for beautiful, cohesive spreads that tell a story.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Anna Schackleford Photography / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Leezett Photography / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Tori Watson Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
6 -- Mind the gutter 
Not all photographers love a powerful spread with one full-bleed horizontal image. But if you're like me and you DO, make sure you are intentional during your portrait time and take a number of wide shots with the couple off to one side so that the gutter won't cut through them in the design. I just love the drama that a spread like this adds to an album design!
wedding album design example and tips

above photo by Caroline Talbot Photography / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photo by Julie Wilhite Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
7 -- Shoot bridal party portraits and family portraits all in one location. 
Typically bridal party portraits are grouped together in 1-3 spreads in an album design and family portraits take up 1-2 spreads. You don't need to shoot the bridal party in the same location as the family, but it's helpful if you stay in one spot for the entirety of the bridal party photos and then another spot for family. Doing this makes for gorgeous, cohesive spreads like these:
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Abby Grace Photography / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Rebekah J Murray Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
8 -- Look for simple backgrounds 
We don't always get the chance to choose our backgrounds as photographers, but when we do, it's helpful to keep them simple. The more images you put on a spread, the busier it becomes. And if you have many photos all with busy backgrounds, it will confuse the viewer's eye and make the spread look messy and muddled. So whenever possible, choose simple over busy. And if you do have a busy background, shoot at a lower aperture whenever possible to blur out the background and allow your subject to pop.
portrait album design example and tips

above photos by Jenny Lee's Photography / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photo by Anna Shackleford Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
9 -- Shoot for the story 
Each spread in an album design should tell an individual story, much like a chapter in a book. So for example, when you are shooting the toasts during a wedding reception, try to photograph not only the individuals giving the toast, but the reactions on the faces of the bride and groom, reactions from guests, and a close up of clinking glasses. It's a lot to cover, so making a game-plan with your 2nd shooter to decide who is going to cover what ahead of time can be helpful. But having a wide variety of images to tell the story for each part of the day is so powerful when it comes to putting together the album design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photos by Rebekah J Murray Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
10 -- Keep the end in mind 
Every book needs a powerful conclusion -- a cathartic note that wraps everything up and makes you feel that all is right with the world. If your album ends with a single page (or half-spread), it is especially important to think through the ending when you are shooting since you will only have a limited amount of space with which to conclude the story. If you are shooting an exit or fireworks, those are obvious end notes to a wedding day story. But if you aren't staying for the exit, make sure you have a good portrait of the couple with which to end. Portrait images that work well for a last page of an album design include the couple walking away, a silhouette image, or some type of night shot with ambient or back lighting. This is SO crucial because you can have a GORGEOUS design, but if you don't have a powerful image to end with, it can feel unfinished.
wedding album design example and tips

above photo by Erin Wallace Photography / Click here to view full design.
wedding album design example and tips

above photo by Caroline Talbot Photography / Click here to view full design. 
 
 
Approaching your weddings and portrait shoots with the album in mind can take a paradigm shift of sorts, but when you begin to think in these terms, it becomes easier and easier, and soon it's second nature. It is definitely worth the extra effort to implement a few of these tips because the finished albums that result will make you more proud of your finished product, make your clients fall even more in love with you and your work, and serve as powerful examples of the stories you can tell for future clients.
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10 tips for shooting with the album -- your finished product -- in mind
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

Tropical Florida Keys Wedding by Julie Wilhite

Album Designs
Show of hands -- who wants to be swept away to a tropical beach right about now!?!? Whether you're experiencing mid-winter doldrums or just crave the feeling of sand between your toes, this album design of a Florida Keys wedding photographed by Julie Wilhite is bound to put you in the vacation mindset! 
 
Julie is a Texas-based wedding and portrait photographer whose work we've featured on Align's blog a few times in the past! We just love her ability to tell each wedding's unique story by capturing moments and emotions on camera! 
 
Check out some of our favorite spreads from this Islamorada, Florida wedding:




To view this whole album design, click through below: 
 
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Design by: Kari (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Denise

Texas Ranch Wedding by Julie Wilhite Photography

Album Designs
Hey guys, guess what... this album design not only features a beautiful wedding photographed by Julie Wilhite, but it also contains a quick cameo by miniature donkeys... yes, sorry if I just spoiled the surprise, but it's true. This wedding held at Old Glory Ranch in Texas proves that classy and country aren't mutually exclusive.  
 
Julie is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Houston/Austin who has a knack for capturing her clients' emotions. Click here to see more designs we've created for her! 
 
Here are some of our favorite spreads from this album:




Click through the slideshow below to check out the whole design: 
 
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Design by: Kari (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Denise

Beautiful University Wedding By Julie Wilhite

Album Designs
Oh how we love Julie Wilhite's classic & beautiful photography style! Julie is a wedding and portrait photographer in Houston/Austin area of Texas. We've previously featured another album design of hers here. Click over to see it and read more about the importance Julie places on storytelling. 
 
Today we're featuring a wedding Julia shot at the Rice University campus in Houston. The brick archways throughout the album design are the epitome of university architecture and make perfect portrait locations! These are a few of our favorite spreads from this design: 
 
 




Click through the slideshow below to see the whole design! 
 
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Design by: Shannon (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Denise

Elegant Houston Wedding by Julie Wilhite Photography

Album Designs
Simply gorgeous! We are so excited to share this album design featuring an elegant wedding photographed by Julie Wilhite, a wedding and portrait photographer in Houston/Austin, Texas. The bride describes the feel of her wedding as "very spring, light and airy" and Julie captured that essence perfectly! 
 
When we first began working with Julie this summer, it was easy to tell how much she valued the storytelling ability of wedding albums. She even shared helpful examples of her previous designs so that we could learn her style and tell the story just like she would! When discussing the importance of wedding albums, Julie says, "Albums are where the story is woven together with the couple's favorite images of their day. In this day and age, people do not print images enough and that is when the images truly come alive." 
 
We couldn't agree more, Julie! 
 
Here are some of our favorite spreads from this album design: 




Click through below to view this beautiful album in its entirety! 
 
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Design by: Kari (View More) // Design style: Classic (View More) // Blog post written by: Denise