15 creative photobook ideas
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With loads of inexpensive printing options and software on the market, it’s never been easier to turn your family snaps in to a coffee-table-worthy photobook. But if the thought of trying to edit and organise your thousands of digital pictures into something special is a little daunting, we’ve put together 15 inspiring ideas to get you started …
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1. N is for naptime
Source: modernparentsmessykids.com
Steph at Modern Parents Messy Kids created a personalised alphabet book for (and starring) her son – photographing objects, people and places that meant something to him to represent each letter.
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2. Anatomy of a weekend
Source: paisleepress.com
If cramming a whole year (or more) in to a photobook is more than you can manage, how about restricting it to just a weekend? Liz at Paislee Press documented her girls’ weekend in Vegas with a book of the group’s iPhone photos, featuring timestamps and captions to capture each moment.
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3. Feelings book
Source: deliacreates.blogspot.com.au
It’s a win-win: You get a gorgeous photobook full of your cherubs making unique and crazy faces, and they get a personalised book that will help them learn to name, process and deal with different emotions. Check out this project at Delia Creates.
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4. Baby timeline
Source: marthastewart.com
Facebook doesn’t have dibs on your timeline. This DIY idea from Martha Stewart involves recording baby milestones and photos in an accordion-fold notebook.
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5. Interactive photobook
Source: designaglow.com
For a Father’s Day gift, Ashley Campbell included blank pages in her photo book that featured a question or prompt – a place for kids’ handprints, drawings, and handwritten notes about why they love their dad. See more on this idea at Design Aglow.
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6. Blog books
Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com.au
If you have a personal blog, then chances are that you already have a pretty awesome record of your family life. But if it ever makes you feel slightly uneasy to have all those words and pictures floating untethered in the digital abyss, here’s a way to pin them down. Turn your blog in to a yearly book, like eighteen25 did.
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7. Ring binder album
Source: paisleepress.com
If you prefer DIY to high-gloss printing, here’s a cost-effective and flexible solution. Create your photo layouts at A4 size so you can print them yourself – then hole-punch and file in a cute binder that you can add to over time. This example is from Paislee Press.
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8. On the day I was born
Source: thecreativemama.com
Bree at The Creative Mama made each of her sons a personalised book before the birth of her youngest child. The book told their own birth story and celebrated the fact they were becoming big brothers.
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9. The book of awesome
Source: shutterfly.com
Inspired by Neil Pasricha’s The Book of Awesome, Angie S created a ‘year in review’ book featuring her family’s favourite things. Being piggy-backed anywhere = AWESOME!
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10. Instagram photobook
Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com
They’re teeny, square, scratchy and arty. Instagram photos are perfect for making in to little books – whether a digital version or this handmade one from A Beautiful Mess.
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11. One frame a day
Source: thecreativemama.com
Take one photo a day, write a sentence about it, and save it somewhere. If you can commit to this idea, it’s a winner. Erin from The Creative Mama admits to falling off the wagon a few times, but says persistence is key. She now has several amazing coffee table books documenting the beautiful ordinariness of everyday life.
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12. 10 reasons why I love you
Source: aliedwards.com
If you know your way around Photoshop, then grab this ‘I love you because’ template set by Ali Edwards and go to town. Make a book for every person that you love. Go on!
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13. A week in the life
Source: nettiodesigns.com
This Blurb book by Lynnette from Nettio Designs captures a week in her and her partner’s life – including photos, journal entries, daily outfits and even notes about what websites and TV shows they consumed.
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14. Instant camera scrapbook
Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com
Digital designers spend ages creating layered, handmade effects complete with scratchy handwriting and textured shadows. So why not get out your scissors and markers and make a ‘real’ version? Elsie from A Beautiful Mess used an instant camera, some file folders and colourful tape to pair photos with song lyrics written by her partner… Now all you need is a cool musician boyfriend to write a love song about you and you’re set!
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15. Your own family cookbook
Source: memoriesoncloverlane.com
You don’t need to be a TV chef to get a book deal. Sarah at Clover Lane converted her dog-eared folder full of family recipes in to a personalised cookbook. By combining the recipes with family photos, she now has an incredible, useful keepsake.
