Photography today has become such a disposable business. The rise of digital images means that many people take a picture and it lives on their phone or social media only long enough for space to allow or until the device is disposed of. Images printed a hundred years ago still make desirable collectible items yet over 90% of the images taken today will never have the opportunity.

Wedding photographs are something you can't replace because the day can't be redone. They may be the only record of that day and while the couple now has endless choices of how they capture it the wedding album remains one of the most long-lasting.

There was a time when a professional wedding photography album was the norm. Photographer's packages did not include digitals and only by purchasing a book would brides have their wedding memories. Offering hard copy albums is something that clearly sets Austin wedding photographers apart. While many shoot-and-burn wedding photographers will send links and move on their images will also likely eventually be confined to the same digital anonymity that most camera phone pictures fall into. No more will children casually come across their photos of great-great-great grandma in her gown stashed in a box somewhere in the attic. The only way to change this is with an album.

Quality over Quantity

Digital photography means we're clicking more images than ever. It's not unusual for weddings to product thousands of images even if a bride only gets a handful of those ultimately. Photography printing is so much more than what the average consumer has come to expect at Walmart and CVS. These oversaturated monstrosities are poor imitations of what proper printing can produce yet many people settle for them, treating them as little more than extended digital copies because they're just as disposable in quality.

That's why a professional wedding photo album is different. Albums will never sit in a drawer forever, forgotten, unloved, and unremembered. With one look that bride knows her album and is instantly transported back to her wedding day, eating wedding cake, and the memories contained within that book. It's something to pass on, to show future generations, and maybe one day they will too discover it long after she's gone.

Photo Book vs Wedding Album

Some people get these two terms confused. In fact, studies show that the amount of people who can tell the difference is about equal with those who can't. A photo book generally comes in a variety of different variations. Flat books where the book opens and lays flat for larger images that take up two pages have an entirely different printing process. There's also a variety of covers from leatherette, photos, and a real leather cover to consider and an entirely different type of paper for printing. Photo books are generally cheaper because of the printing process. An album, on the other hand, is a collection of single prints made on professional photo paper which may also come in a variety of different shapes. These albums may be traditional with separate images printed and slid into the book or each photo may be mounted individually to the page so that it is thick and won't bend. There are some companies offering flexible pages much like a magazine but they are not common.

Which is Better?

If you look at Austin professional wedding photography packages your photographer will have their preference. A photographer that only offers digital prints is likely not as concerned with the quality of their images because they know it's likely clients will go to the cheapest place and simply print out photos without caring for sizing or editing. Professional photographers albums generally come as part of the package or as the main choice for the wedding photography that the couple is buying; extras like digital galleries and flash drives tend to be optional rather than standard if you're looking at professionals.

Tradition

The wedding album is the traditional choice, mostly because it's about preserving your images and making your day special. There are lots of books, but there's only one wedding album. Basic album packages will vary between Austin professional wedding photographers and other locations. Additions like leather binding, specialty papers etc all drive up that cost. The images are made using archival ink and paper which is heavier and sometimes sprayed with lacquer to keep it looking pristine longer. Printed pages may be infused with linen or metals to keep their crisp shape and prevent damage while flipping through. These are far from the “traditional” wedding album of images stuck into plastic sleeves that have been around for decades. Most weddings borrow heavily from tradition even if they're trying to be unique so it's important that the album reflects that.

But asides from tradition, isn't it just the same as putting printed photos in an album yourself?

Putting a Wedding Album Together

Not so fast, your photographer has done their best to whittle down the number of images taken into those that are perfect and capture your wedding. If you're thinking of going it alone rather than trusting a professional wedding photographer to do your album you might want to think again. Depending on the day you may have differing numbers of images but the fact is your photographer has spent much time debating what they show you. Choosing, editing, organizing, and making those photos into something that represents your wedding is something you've already paid for. You want your photos to do the talking, to remind you of those little details and evoke your memories and this is the first step. Next, you'll want to decide on your options, most importantly the cover. Usually, you can match your cover to your wedding colors or use a specific image that reminds you of the day. Remember that leather and hardcovers will better protect any images inside and be more likely to last than a soft or paper cover. Next is the information on the cover. Many companies will offer foiled letters or embossed letters on leather and this can give a classic and expensive looking touch to what might end up as a plain, generic cover otherwise.

Once you've decided the content and the cover you'll want to make small decisions about the quality of paper, gloss etc. Those are really minor and often your photographer will have their own preference so you don't need to research it too much.

That's it! Your album will be put together and shipped.

Conclusion

If you're trying to hire an Austin wedding photographer and part of their package is an album read the information carefully. Sticking in images of your bridesmaids and a few shots of the wedding invitations isn't going to make an album, especially if it's not professionally created, because a real album captures the spirit and feel of the day. The last thing you want is poor images stuck together in any old book.

Hiring a wedding photographer is one of the most important parts of your wedding, and even if you've got the perfect Austin wedding venue you need great pictures to remember it by. Don't skimp on the album as it's the one traditional element you can guarantee being able to hand down for future generations.