The Power of Print and Albums
My Wedding Photographer Mistake
You shouldn’t debate a wedding album. When hiring a photographer for my own wedding, about six years ago, I had a very clear vision as to a style I desired. My wife-to-be and I both agreed photography was not something we wanted to cheap out on. After picking the photographer we felt would produce images in the quality and style we desired we met to discuss pricing and options.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]It wasn’t really a ‘pitch’, but a friendly suggestion as to the importance of print photography.[/pullquote]
We already had a good idea of the price range and were comfortable given our expectations, but what I was not suspecting was the ‘sales-pitch’ for a wedding album. It wasn’t really a ‘pitch’, but a friendly suggestion as to the importance of print photography. There was no pressure or guilt-tripping, but while listening to the prices of albums my eyes probably noticeably rolled. I was becoming quite the amateur photographer at the time and was pricy to the price of cheaper DIY albums. Why would I ever spend $500-$1000 on albums when I knew I could go to any one of a multitude of popular websites and make a beautiful photo book for under $50.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]It’s the classic story of the home contractor that lives with the half-finished bathroom renovation for five years.[/pullquote]
In the subsequent five years after our marriage, I learned two things. One, the $50 book is not beautiful, it does not hold up, and even at only $50 was really a waste of money. Two, I wouldn’t ever go back and print my own album after the fact. It’s the classic story of the home contractor that lives with the half-finished bathroom renovation for five years.
I never imagined that years later I’d be educating newly weds and clients on the importance of print photography. There are amazing album options these days, with beautiful hand-crafted albums for only a few hundred dollars. Unlike the DIY photobook, these albums are designed to last generations. Books of this quality are the books you leave to your children, and children’s children.
Here are the important things to ponder when considering if you should purchase an album/prints or not:
- You will never gather family around your iPad to share wedding photos…never.
- Remember Friendster and MySpace? Do you still have all your pictures from those old social media platforms? Nope! Remember how fast MySpace saw a demise? Another Mark Zuckerberg is in a dorm room with an idea that will topple Facebook quickly. Your Facebook albums will be right with your Friendster album… no where to be found.
- After your friend’s wedding how many times did you gather any of their devices to browse photos?
- What’s the point of wedding photography if you have no physical record to show for it?
- Look around your walls, do you have art hanging? People will be much more appreciative of the art your love and memories create. Family and friends always commented on my parents large-print framed wedding photo that sill hangs at their home.
Digital pictures are important and have a place in today’s world. I include digital photos in addition to print photos for every wedding because I’m passionate that regardless of a ‘package’ clients should have some prints, even if they are just 4×6 prints put in a traditional photo album.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Quality albums are important, quality prints are important, and sharing your happiest memories throughout your home is important![/pullquote]
The main takeaway here is there was a time when you asked anyone the first thing they would grab if their house was on fire, at the top of the list was always the photo albums. It’s doubtful that would even rank on the list in today’s digital world, yet digital ‘fires’ occur every day. Viruses, computer crashes, network breaches, malware, and toilet bowls have all led to the demise of electronic devices, and all your memories to go along with it. Quality albums are important, quality prints are important, and sharing your happiest memories throughout your home is important!