SHOULD YOU CREATE PHOTO BOOKS?
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We live in an age where everything is on our phones, I mean EVERYTHING! from where we frequently shop, the local newspaper, email and of course too many social media options to list.
WHAT IF YOU LOST YOUR PHONE?
Which brings me to the subject of your your photos! How many do you have on your phone? Do you have to constantly delete some in order to add more? Are you purchasing additional cloud storage to save these precious memories? How about all the memories prior to your current phone?
PHOTO BOOKS ARE A MUST
For these reasons and many more, I highly recommend photo books! I personally love using Shutterfly as they allow unlimited photo storage and can easily be created right on your phone! Also they save your work so in the unfortunate loss of your books, you can always have them reprinted. Once I download my photos to Shutterfly, I delete them from my phone which is one of the few tips I share in post, How To Organize Your Photos.
I also recently discovered Amazon Photo which allows unlimited photo storage for Prime customers, they have an awesome app and photo books. You can't beat free shipping!
MEMORIES CAN EASILY BE SHARED
I am 100% guilty of loving to share my memories via social media but my five and seven year old do not have a Facebook account (nor do they need one yet) but they love to see our lives when they were little or the moments before they were born. We keep our photo books where the kids can enjoy them anytime they want, and they DO!!
WHEN SHOULD YOU CREATE A BOOK
I personally have found it best to create a book for each year of our kids's life and they get it as part of their present on their birthday. They love looking back at the memories of the past year and often pull out all their previous year books and enjoy every little moment we have been able to capture. Their cousins even know of our tradition and quickly chime in - I get to look at it next!! Stepping away from the digital mindset of photography is a great way to enhance the next generation.
BIG EVENTS
In addition to the book I create each year for the kids, I also like to make one for the big events in our life, especially a family vacation. These moments are often too far in-between but hold so many great times to look back at and easily remember as a family.
SUGGESTED SIZE
As a once upon a time scrapbooker, I have way too many large 12x12 scrapbooks that I know what to do with. When I started making the photo books for the kids, the best decision I made was going with the 8x8 hardcover option. There are nice and durable, but best of all fit perfectly on our shelf without taking up an abundance of space. Each year we add to the stack, and I am so excited that I will already have this done come graduation. I cannot think of a better accessory for the guest tables!!
OVERWHELMED
This is the great part, Shutterfly will even design your books for you. All you need to do is send them the digital images - what could be better than that!! Now plan a weekend with the girls, grab a hotel, some wine and comfortable clothes cause its that easy - why not enjoy it with some of your favorite peeps!