If you're creating an album of vacation photos on your own or assembling your shots for one of those commercially printed photo books, the July-August issue of National Geographic Traveler offers tips and tricks for producing something you'll want to share with friends and family.
• Keep it simple. Don't let design compete with your photos. Choose plain backgrounds and themes. Don't pick overly designed template pages.
• Be consistent. Choose one typeface and a colour scheme, and stick to it throughout. Pick one or two templates, but no more. The best photo books have a Zen-like quality.
• Let the images speak for themselves. A simple black border -- or none at all -- allows your photos to tell the story. A large, ornate border that changes page by page detracts from your images and can confuse readers.
• Spell-check your captions. Typographical errors cheapen your book.
• Add scrapbook mementos. Scan and upload ticket stubs, menus and other souvenirs from your trip, and include them alongside the images. These will complement the captions and offer context to your photos.
• Edit your photos. Don't try to fit every image on the page. Pick the strongest ones, and supplement them with several smaller snapshots. Crop each picture, and don't forget to correct the colour and contrast.
• Ask for help. Most photo-sharing sites have an active community where you can get advice from other shutterbugs. If you're not sure about a picture, just ask.
• Avoid special effects. Yes, you can turn your photo into a pencil drawing or an Andy Warhol painting, but is that the right effect for your safari or cruise?
Written by: Alice T. Carter, TRIBUNE-REVIEW THEATER CRITIC
Monday, July 13, 2009
TribLIVE
13 July 2009
How to create a great photo book?
