Organising and having a family photoshoot is one thing, but what do you do with all of those beautiful photographs afterwards?

You could frame a couple and set them on the coffee table, or hang them on your wall...but we love the idea of creating a beautiful, tactile photo book to preserve your special memories - that way, whenever you're feeling particularly nostalgic, you can make a cup of tea, settle down on the couch, and page through your favourite moments with your favourite people.

How does that sound?

If it sounds as good to you as it does to us, here are our top 5 tips on creating a stunning photobook of your own!

1. Use high-res photos

The easiest way to make sure that the images in your photobook come out crisp, clear, and beautiful is to make sure they're the highest resolution possible.

Most photographers send through high-res image galleries, so using your photographs straight from there would be ideal! But if you'd like to include other photos of your own, make sure they're at least 1.5MB in size (or larger). This means you'll be able to make them as big as you like in your page layout, without compromising on image quality!

2. Curate your images first

It might take a few passes through your initial image selections to narrow it down to your absolute favourites, but it’s all part of the process! Having your photographs already whittled down before you pull them into the photobook software makes designing and filling your page layouts so much easier.

Pick the images that mean the most to you, or make your heart sing.

Keep your budget in mind when making selections and designing your page layout - more images mean more pages, which is an extra cost.

Your photobook can be as long or as short as you want, so have fun with it!

3. Don’t be scared of full page spreads!

It might feel like a waste of precious page real-estate while you’re designing, but there’s no better feeling than opening up your album and seeing one of your favourite photographs in all of its full-page glory - this goes for large group shots, panoramas, or juts your favourite images that make you go wow every time you look at them.

If you’re planning on doing a double-page spread, we highly suggest going for a lay-flat album to make sure nothing gets lost in the crease!

4. Create a story

Going through a photobook is like reading a story.

Just like a story, your photoshoot (or family holiday, or special occasion) has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Following that timeline with your images brings back all of the special memories and emotions associated with that day!

Feelings and fond memories are some of the key things to keep in mind when designing your own albums. Looking back on the journey your photographs take you through should bring a smile to your face, and keep you warm on cold, rainy days.

5. Remember - this is for you!

The most important thing to keep in mind when you sit down to design your photobook is that...your album is completely for YOU!

These are all of YOUR memories. Even if someone else thinks a certain photograph might not be good enough to include, if it’s special to you, then throw it in there!

An image doesn't have to be perfect to be included in your photobook. What matters most is how it makes you feel - is your son pulling a funny face that makes you laugh every time you look at it? Has your husband turned his head away from the camera while he snuggles the kids?

No matter what anyone else says, if an image is special to you, then that's all the excuse you need to include it in your album.

Our Fynn Photo Books offer is a do-it-yourself, easy-peasy way to get your photos off your computer and onto your coffee table!

If you've been meaning to sit down and put some of your cherished memories into a beautifully-printed photobook, here's your sign!

Visit this blog post for more information about our Fynn Photo Book software, and a step-by-step guide on how to use it.

PS, yes you can include images from Instagram!

You just need to pop them into smaller image blocks.

Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp all compress images when they are uploaded or downloaded, which does make them tricky to print, and can cause resolution images.

However! If you choose a layout (such as the one pictured alongside), you SHOULD be able to include your pics from your social media platforms in your book, yay!

Please keep an eye out for the orange exclamation mark, which will let you know if the pics are too small to print.

Ready to get started? Click here to start your order.

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