When we have a phone full of wedding photos and an entire file on the computer dedicated to them, the question 'why should I make a wedding album?' is a really good one. By the time people have reached our website then they're more or less convinced that it's a good idea, so this article goes out to those who are still sitting on the fence.
I'm going to break this down giving various - and I hope - convicing reasons but the overarching argument for me is photos are meant to be viewed. That's their one function, they are a visual representation of a moment and they are there to be seen!
A PHOTO ALBUM IS A PHYSICAL PRODUCT
Now the fact that it's a physical product works well on two fronts. Firstly it can't suddenly become obsolete; it's not like you've been left with a BETAMAX tape, a floppy disc, a CD that you can't access. It just won't date, it will remain independent of technological updates. Secondly, you can hold and feel it. You have it in it's finished form.
PHOTO ALBUMS ARE MULTI SENSORY
Holding a weighty tome in your hands feels good. You can sense the smoothness of the leather, the grain of the linen, the texture of the bookcloth. When you open it you can smell the paper. Stroking the paper you can feel the relief of the photos themselves, touch the glossiness of the pictures and then return to the ever so slight finish of the photo board. Running your finger over the pages you'll sense the dent of the writing. Turning over the glassine interleaves you can hear the swish of the air passing through them. When we buy clothes the feel of the fabric is important, when we buy furniture how it fits against our bodies counts, when we buy beauty products the smell means something - we use all our senses. Photo albums tap in to all these senses!
WEDDING ALBUMS ARE ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIVE ITEMS WE OWN
You often hear people say that if there was a fire the one thing they'd try and save is their wedding photo album! It's one of the few things that if you were having a cull you wouldn't throw away. It's because it's a really emotive link to the past. It's your story and looking through it either on your own, with a family member or with friends is a real treat. Every time I get ours out it takes me straight back in an instant.
WITH AN ALBUM YOU'LL LOOK AT THE PHOTOS MORE
I'm really not making this up, I'm convinced that having a wedding album either out on your coffee table or on a bookshelf will mean that you look at your wedding photos more. You'll give the album time, make a coffee and settle down to a proper look through. Really be in the moment rather than them just flashing up as a memory on your phone.
IT IS THE START OF YOUR JOURNEY AS A FAMILY
This may sound a bit old school and traditional but for many the wedding is the start of your journey together. Children love to see how it all started, the dream at the beginning. A wedding album brings all this to life and shows the grandparents, aunties and uncles - everyone in their finery, full head of hair, having a fabulous time!
MAKING A WEDDING ALBUM IS NO LONGER JUST A PRIVILEGE OF PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
We are now all capable of printing off our own wedding photos and making a wedding album! Only a generation or two ago this wouldn't have been the case, only photographers had a dark room and the capabilities to produce photos now a touch of a button we can all do it. Even if your wedding was twenty years ago you can still do it!
IT WON'T COST THE EARTH
A scrapbook type of album where you stick the photos in yourself really doesn't cost that much and you can do the whole thing (printing off photos, buying an album, getting mounting squares) for less than £100.
IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY THERAPEUTIC THING TO DO
We're all constantly being told that we need to be more mindful, take stock of how we're spending our time, be creative when we can. Making an album is really enjoyable and allows you once again to be completely immersed in the joy of your wedding day.
AND THEN..
This is my last and I think most convicing reason... when you envision yourself showing your child or grandchild your wedding album, are you together leafing through a book or are you swiping on a phone?