Image Selection: Direction and Freedom

Image selection for an album can be overwhelming. I remember the day after my wedding, I was itching to get my hands on the photographer's pictures. When I finally got the proofs, I was so enamored with seeing myself in a big, puffy dress that I loved every single shot! Truly, all 727 of them. The first wedding album I designed for myself was 64 pages...after I cut back! One of the great things about the switch to digital photography is that brides are getting more images of their special day. But how do you choose which to put in your album?

Several people can be a part of the picture selection process. Some brides want to choose all their pictures; sometimes the photographer selects all the images. My ideal designing situation is to get the CD of all acceptable images (the ones you'd be happy to have in your album) and also a list of the bride's and/or photographer's must have images. This combination of direction and freedom is a designer's dream come true. The list of your absolute favorites reduces the amount of revisions and image swapping down the road. And the range of other images allows the designer to put together a variety of shots that complement each other. Some close ups, some landscapes. Some people shots, some details. Colors and photo treatments that coordinate and make the entire layout look like it just fits.

Here are some examples of what designer freedom can produce:

photography by Dede Edwards

The beauty in the above layout comes from the similar lighting and color tones. Let's say the bride didn't send two of these pictures, so I had to use ones that weren't taken at this time of day or on the beach. The effect is lost when a couple of images are swapped.


Here's another example of a beautiful complimentary layout. In this spread, the soft pink hue is repeated on the right side, which really allows the black and white image on the left to make a statement.

photography by Brooke Schwab

I love the challenge of mixing and matching images to get the perfect look for each spread. Visually appealing layouts are what make the story come alive! So when selecting your album images, you definitely want your favorites in there...but don't be afraid to leave the rest up to the designer. Sit back and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation. You may be amazed at what a little creative freedom can produce!