Posts Tagged ‘Albums’

Ballroom Brag Books

©TimeLine Media - image spanning 2 album pages

When sharing photographs today, it is increasingly evident that people want to share their photos digitally, online, in their social networks. But I still receive many requests to have photos printed on paper. These prints can be passed around when shared, or mailed across continents to give as gifts, and some make it into frames to hang in offices or living rooms. My favorite, though, is when people ask about making albums. This is a service I have been doing for a few years now, and I have received lots of good feedback from clients that liked how it turned out!

Photo Albums

The albums are printed onto photographic paper, mounted onto a solid backing, and bound into a black leather cover. This protects photos, and makes them easier to pass around, and share at home or take with you to share anywhere you like. There is a design element too that is easier to produce in book form. When you open the pages to the book, it is possible to make a horizontal image more panoramic in its display by having the image span two pages. Using this, it seems like the images are even more enlarged, and pop off the page. Here are two examples of how it can be done with a landscape image, and a ballroom dance image:

©TimeLine Media - image spanning 2 album pages
©TimeLine Media – image spanning 2 album pages
©TimeLine Media - ballroom dance image spanning 2 album pages
©TimeLine Media – example of brag books – ballroom dance image spanning 2 album pages

My wife came up with the idea for the names for the brag books. There are three sizes – the standard size being 5×7 – the “Ballroom Brag Book”. With this book you can span landscape images to one 7×10 image across 2 facing pages. The smallest book is the 4×6 or “Baby Ballroom Brag Book”. The largest of the books is a beautiful 10×10 book where you can make 20×10 spanning images on facing pages. This is what I use to demonstrate the books when we travel to events. It is called the “Brilliant Ballroom Brag Book”.

Album Design

These albums can be made from photos at any event we have photographed. Between 12 and 20 images will display best in these books. If you have that number of images, it can actually be cheaper to have them put in books than individual prints! I will put together a draft of the layout for you. Afterwards, I will send you a pdf copy for you to look at an approve before the book is printed. It is delivered in a nice case for storing the album. If this is something that you wondered about when you went through the site I hope this helps. Please email me or call with any questions about them. These are great for sharing, and I actually have fun putting the layouts together!

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

KISS Wedding books

Digital wedding albums is rising in popularity these days. The “magazine” style album is a more traditional look compared to the matted albums from Seldex. In searching the internet for these contemporary digital albums, it becomes dizzying with the amount of options. Additionally there are many styles that can be used to customize you wedding album. After much searching and viewing other studio samples, I am going with the KISS Wedding books. With the KISS Wedding books, they are making it as simple as it can be. Moreover, the quality of the books is outstanding. The lab for printing and assembling is in the US making the communication and shipping times much faster than with other album makers.

Cover for KISS Wedding books

The outside covering for transporting and storing the book is not my style. However, it is very sturdy and made of a canvas material. It is soft enough not to scratch the cover of the book.

KISS Wedding books

The outside leather cover is available in 7 different colors.

KISS Wedding books

For any panoramic spreads, there is no space, but a tiny fold down the middle of the book. It easily lays flat on a table for viewing.

As a photographer the KISS customer service was excellent – they give you quick feedback on the status of your order – checking the files prior to printing to ensure the best output. The ordering, processing, and shipment of the book was very easy which should translate to quicker production and final shipment to the newly-married couple.

TimeLine Mediawww.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

Seldex matted albums

In preparation for the upcoming bridal show in Chantilly, I had some sample wedding albums made for the display. The Seldex 10 inch square album from Finao is the one shown here. It is a more traditional album in that it is made with photographic prints that are matted to the pages of the book. I have seen many albums that are available at retail shops, but this album is definitely a cut above. The cover on this particular album is “Burgundy Nepal” color made from an imitation leather material.

Wedding Album

Seldex wedding album from TimeLine Media
Seldex wedding album of matted prints by TimeLine Media
Seldex wedding album from TimeLine Media

Mat Prints

I assemble each of these albums myself. It starts with designing of mat placement, editing and retouching of the photos. Finally the assembling of the photos/mats to the final book pages.

Seldex wedding album from TimeLine Media

Each mat in the album is white with a white core although other colors and combinations are available from the manufacturer. The mat itself has a very fine texture to give the pages a feel similar to linen right up to the edges of each mat opening.

Each page of the book has a protective metal corner colored to match the pages. In this case it makes book assembly easier. Additionally, protects the edges as the book is used over time.

Seldex Wedding Album

The binding for the book is very thick, and is very secure. The cover material is soft and pliable ensuring a long life of use either on a table or on a shelf. This book is definitely made to be used! This type of album could also be used as a parent album as it can be made in smaller dimensions, or as a proof-like album from a wedding or portrait session. This is definitely recommended if you’re looking for a matted album that is secured in it’s construction, yet customizable for each project.

TimeLine Mediawww.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208