If you’ve ever wondered how scrapbooks began you’re not alone. Most people are familiar with the photo album and understand that once the camera enabled people to have their own photos, these photos were stored and organized in a sensible manner. However, scrapbooks are a bit more detailed than photo albums. Scrapbooks also contain other information, documents, text, and images than mere photographs. In fact, the art of scrapbooking includes using other items that are appropriate for the subject and displaying them in a creative and beautiful manner. Scrapbooks are much more than photo albums. They have the ability to tell a story, and are comparable to journals with photos. They are true memory books and are very sentimental. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Every picture tells a story,” well, scrapbooks provide the room to “tell the story” alongside the photo.
The inherent wonder and beauty of scrapbooks is found in the fact that generations may not only view the photos as they would in a family photo album, but have a theme, style, and journalized information to help explain the photos as well. Since scrapbooks are often customized and designed according to a theme, it makes it much simpler and more organized for readers to understand what was taking place in each photo.

However, what may be interesting to realize, is that scrapbooking is in fact older than photo albums. Before there were cameras and family photos, there were news clippings, magazine stories, drawings, notes, and memorabilia. These items were often arranged and displayed in books and the art of scrapbooking was formed. It is said that both Mark Twain, the writer, and Thomas Jefferson, the politician, were both avid scrapbookers. They kept close journals, records, and details of their lives by creating scrapbooks that displayed personal memorabilia.

Not only is scrapbooking a step above the traditional family photo album, scrapbooks are also very popular for those who are involved in genealogy. In the past, these scrapbooks were referred to as memory books, and they were used to document family journeys across generations. It was only logical that these books would contain personal information to help explain the nature of each memorabilia that was included.

Scrapbooks offer many more advantages than traditional photo albums. The way scrapbooks are displayed, the ability to create books with themes, and the ability to pour out your own creativity, heart, and soul into your scrapbook is a benefit not provided with photo albums.

Another important aspect of scrapbooking is that old photos that are in traditional photo albums are often displayed in paper that contains acid. Over a period of years, this paper deteriorates and leaves the photos to become damaged. It is imperative that old photos are removed from these albums and displayed in safe, acid free binders or papers. Many people are choosing to replace photo albums with scrapbooks to not only protect their sentimental photos, but to combine them with journaling and other important memorabilia. The popularity of scrapbooking continues to rise as more people discover the benefits and advantages of using scrapbooks as compared to photo albums.

Photo gifts offer a truly unique and great looking way to commemorate or celebrate special occasions. Whether you’re celebrating the arrival of a newborn son or daughter, or your fifth wedding anniversary looms, there are photo gifts that can be customised to meet your needs by displaying a photograph or image of your choice. The possibilities are virtually limitless because of this level of personalisation.

Newborn Baby Blanket

Baby blankets are a traditional newborn baby gift and by adding a photo of the new arrival you can give a blanket that will become a keepsake or memento as much as it will a comfortable blanket. By having a montage created of the best baby photos you have, you can even create a modern and customised take on a patchwork quilt.

Anniversary Photo Montage

A photo montage can be used on many items to help celebrate special occasions. Anniversaries celebrate a number of years together and, as such, anniversary gifts are the perfect opportunity to use a montage of many different photographs. This can then be printed on to high quality woven canvas prints or onto many other different items.

Customised Wallpaper

For a fun and incredibly unique gift idea, you need look no further than customised wallpaper. You can either add a photograph or any other high resolution digital image to assist in making a feature wall or decorating an entire room. Not only is customised photo wallpaper an unusual gift idea but it allows you to really let your imagination go and create a room in your home that is exactly what you want.

Wedding Photo Albums

The wedding photo album is one of the most important documented albums in a couple’s life and it will undoubtedly see a lot of thumbing throughout its own life. Photo albums and photo books can be used to update existing albums or they can be used to help store new memories from your wedding day or the big day of another happy couple.

This Is Your Life Photo Books

Photo books can be customised to include many images printed directly onto the page and the cover can be customised too. A This is your Life book takes its lead from the television classic of the same name and makes a great birthday gift; it can also be used as a tailored leaving gift. As with all photo gifts, the uses of the photo book are only governed by what you choose to do with them. They can even be used as a model or designer portfolio.

Personalised Calendars

Personalised photo calendars include 13 images (one for the cover and one each for the twelve months of the year). You can choose the sequence of the photographs and even the start and end month while also adding your own captions to each of the pages. Perfect for anniversaries, Christmas gifts, or birthday gifts, you don’t have to include photographs and you can use images or pictures of any relevant item, person, place or any other subject.

 

It’s the biggest day of their lives and you have been selected to be the photographer. Now that’s quite an honor and a responsibility. Everyone is counting on you to take wonderful pictures so everyone who attends can enjoy easy photo sharing.

But there’s no reason to panic. We’ve got a complete checklist so you can keep the smiles on everybody’s faces. These handy tips will help you deliver a wonderful record of this special occasion that will make for easy photo sharing for years to come.

Tip #1: Bring along the right camera

Let’s start right from the top. What kind of camera should you use? Fortunately, there is an easy answer. Ideally, you’d use an ultra wide with 100mm lens range. This will allow for just about any kind of photo opportunity that comes up. Also, don’t forget the tripod for those beautiful, “moody” shots and a reflector for window shots - both are helpful when the bride and groom are looking for high quality pictures that will allow for photo printing.

Tip #2: Go to the bride’s home the day of the ceremony

Many photographers just show up at the reception hall, ready to go. But you may want to go to the bride’s house first. Even thought it may be in a state of turmoil, this is a great time take pictures of the bride, her mom, and the bridesmaids. They’ll love it when they can enjoy easy photo sharing years after this special time, when they can look back on the anticipation and excitement they felt.

Be creative! Create photo opportunities inside and outside the home. These “extra” touches will help the family with easy photo sharing over the years - and they’ll appreciate your efforts at helping them stay connected.

Tip #3: Be “invisible” at the ceremony

During the ceremony, a photographer needs to be invisible. You need to blend in as much a possible. The attention and focus should always be the bride and groom.

Many photographers make a major mistake at weddings - they bring along a flash! Remember, you should rarely if ever use a flash because it’s a major distraction. You may want to ask the happy couple before hand - and if they say okay, then use it, but use it sparingly.

Tip #4: How to create those special shots

Finally, this is your chance to shine. While you’ve been fairly restrained up until now, here’s where you’ll have to step up an create photos that will have everyone gushing. So if you want pictures the happy couple to be proud of - if you want to take photos that are perfect for easy photo sharing and photo printing — be assertive, but polite!

You’ll need to take group shots of individual tables — so move quickly and tell the guests exactly what you want them to do. If need be, ask a family member or an usher to help you create a special grouping or environment that will be especially memorable. You’ll take photos that will give the event depth and meaning for everyone who attends, and they’ll be such good photos people will go online looking for photo printing websites as soon as they get their pictures!

Tip #5: Keep posing to a minimum

Obviously, there are some occasions when posing is necessary — especially those group shots of each table. But what will separate your photo album from all the rest is how many genuine moments you capture.

Be alert! You’ll get the best photos by photographing a quick kiss, a longing look, a squeezed hand, and a loving embrace that are all spontaneous and spectacular! And if you keep vigilant and keep an eye out, you’ll capture moments that will become treasured heirlooms for future generations to enjoy. Because of your attention to detail and sharp eye, the bride and groom will be able to share memories - created by you - for decades to come. If you keep posing to a minimum, you will providing great photos for easy photo sharing.

Tip #6: Add a slideshow DVD

Want to help the happy couple share photos in a unique and exciting new way? Then create a slideshow DVD. This is a great for easy photo sharing and photo printing.

Many more people today love to sit and relax with a DVD and enjoy reliving the laughter and the tears of the wedding. A DVD becomes a great companion to a beautiful photo album.

Weddings are a new beginning and a major milestone in life. And with today’s sophisticated equipment, you can shoot photos that look crystal-clear and razor-sharp.

Did you ever take one of those pictures that was almost perfect except for one minor little problem? Maybe the camera wasn’t held quite straight and the picture ended up crooked, or you caught a great candid moment with you and your friends but there’s some really bad red eye effect. It is no doubt frustrating to have to exclude an otherwise great picture from an album because its just not up to par. In years past, for the most part people just had to deal with it. Now, thanks to the photo editing tools commonly found on most computers, fixing these problems is quick, easy, and fun.

Online photo sharing has really revolutionized the way that people look at pictures and share them with others. Many regular photo albums, such as those family photo albums that are always packed full of embarassing pictures, feel cobbled together and disorganized. With online photo sharing, people can custom design and organize their photo albums so that they are far more presentable. In addition to better formatting, the editing tools that are commonly available have also enhanced the quality of the pictures themselves.

What You Can Do With Photo Editing Software

One common issue with pictures is when they end up crooked. This can happen for a number of reasons. Maybe you gave your camera to a stranger to a picture with some friends, and they were having so much trouble figuring out the camera that they weren’t holding it straight. Or, perhaps you don’t own a digital camera and are forced to scan your pictures in manually - it’s not uncommon for them to come out crooked in this case. Fortunately, fixing a crooked picture with editing software is easy. In many cases, its as simple as choosing an automatic straightening option in your editor. Even if an editor doesn’t have this feature, gradually rotating the picture using a rotate tool and a little patience should get the job done.

Cropping is another useful edit that you can easily do with most photo editing programs. Cropping is kind of like a way of zooming-in on a picture after its already been taken - you can use a cropping tool to cut out more of the background and really focus on whatever your target is. Alternately, if a picture ended up a little bit off center, and the subjects of the photo are strangely off center, you can crop off the extra and put the focus back where it belongs. Cropping tools are generally very easy to use. All you need to do in most cases is simply draw a box around the part of the picture that you want to keep. Everything outside of the box gets erased, leaving you with just the section that you want.

Photo editing tools really let you get your best pictures up on the online photo sharing network of your choice. Straightening and cropping are just two of the many features commonly found in photo editors. Have fun exploring the possibilities of photo editors as you build your online photo collection.