Crafting the Perfect Wedding Album

Happy Monday everyone! Today's blog is short but important. Today we are talking about picking the best images for your wedding album. Over the past 12 years of doing wedding photography Sarah and I have designed hundreds of wedding albums. After a time we started to develop a philosophy when it came to how these albums should be built. Similar to our business philosophy, which is to revolve everything we do around love, our photo album method is to tell a love story. 

It is very easy to grab 30 or so of your favorite photos and drag them into a folder and hit the place order button. It’s fine to do that if that's what you want but realize that your photo album could be so much more. Your future granddaughter could pick this book off the shelf and see either a common book of old photos or they could be reading a fairy tale. The difference is that one book is made up of good photos and the other of course tells a story and has the potential to be a time machine! 

When you're designing your book remember that you're weaving a narrative. Additionally not as many photos fit into a standard album as you might think. In my opinion that is a good thing. You might have 700 photos in your wedding album and have to narrow that down to 30-40. That means that only the cream of the crop are going to make the cut. 

There are 5 main parts of a wedding day when it comes to photos. 

Preparation ( getting ready shots. Make-up, getting into the dress, first look with bridesmaids etc… )

Couples and bridal ( Immediately after the first look if you have a first look. If you do not have  a first look they will should be done immediately following the ceremony. )

Formals and bridal party (Bridal party shots followed by your more formal family posed shots ) 

Ceremony 

Reception ( Cake cutting, dancing, speeches etc…) 

I would recommend picking 4-5 photos from each part of the day and then fill the remainder of the book with couples shots as they are going to be the star of the show in this story book. 

Personally I like to pick the photos which are the most expressive whether or not they are the best photos because they are the ones that tell the best story. As an example a grainy photo of your grandfather laughing and having a moment with your fiance is worth more than a perfectly lit and staged photo of your rings. 

So, to sum this up I would say to keep the mindset of telling a story and imagine someone picking this book up in 30 years. Be in their shoes as you design and think about how they will read it. Will they be looking through old photos or will they be transported back to a special time and place in your life and in the history of your family.

Sarah and I are open for bookings in the Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky area as well as traveling sessions. If you’re interested in possibly booking a session just hop over to the contact page and shoot us an email!

  If you enjoyed this read, please leave a like and consider subscribing for more photo session advice. Follow us on Instagram at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

If you want to learn more about Sarah and I you can click the link below to check out our about us page and hop over to the contact page if your interested in setting up a shoot or a consultation!

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

I Was Born the Family Documentarian

Johnny & Pam in the family cabin.

Hello all and thanks again for reading! I started this blog as a photography advice blog. It still is that but it's grown into so much more. I am enjoying sharing more about myself and my art. It’s been a great way for people to get to know Sarah and I better as well as helping me put things into perspective. When you do photo session after session things start to blur together and at a point you can become lost to your creative development.

Two weeks ago I went to my grandparents Christmas party. I’'ll admit I don’t look forward to every Christmas event, but I am always excited for Christmas at my Grandmother's Cabin.

My grandparents live deep in the woods in a cabin built by my great grandfather. The cabin sits on top of a hill that I think should qualify as a mountain. The drive up is rife with cliffs and gullies and the road starts with a sign stating “ I’d turn back if I were you.” to warn drivers who’s vehicles can’t handle the trip to second guess their choice to venture up.

Grandma is an “outspoken” woman who loves nothing more than Canoeing, fishing, playing her guitar and sitting warm in her cabin by the fire. She was always an inspiration to me and had a huge impact on me as an artist.

My Grandmother Pam Livesay in her cabin.

Grandma Playing her guitar.

Grandpa is a Tennessee native who grew up in a log cabin built by his father with no electricity or plumbing. His childhood cabin is actually in the Appalachian museum today. He served his country as a machinist in the navy on a battleship during Vietnam

Grandpa pictured with his fathers shotgun.

My Grandfather Johnny Livesay pictured with his fathers shotgun.

It’s always a great time hearing about their adventures. Somehow they have traveled the country for almost 50 years together and can tell you the names of every river they have paddled and every town they have taken a pit stop in.

So anyway back to the point. I was sitting in my favorite spot after re-stocking the firewood. looking into the same wood burning stove I have stared at my entire life when I see a shot. A spark of inspiration. I knew my grandfather's knee replacement surgery was going to be taking place in four days and at his age he might be out of commission for months. Especially with a hard winter coming up in Ohio.

So when I was saying my goodbyes I informed them that I would be back in two days to do portraits in the cabin at 11 am. That is when the light coming in from the front window is just right. They knew they didn’t have a choice with me.

That morning I showed up with my equipment and spent an hour photographing my grandparents. These photos show the love they have for each other, and to me they reflect their personalities perfectly. I hope although you don’t know them now, these photos tell you something about them.

After years of being a wedding photographer in Ohio and being overcome with Family, baby, graduation photo sessions etc… It can be easy to forget to use your photography skills to document your own family. I am thrilled to share these photos with you and I know they will be treasured by my family for generations.

 Sarah and I are open for bookings in the Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky area as well as traveling sessions. If you’re interested in possibly booking a session just hop over to the contact page and shoot us an email!

  If you enjoyed this read, please leave a like and consider subscribing for more photo session advice. Follow us on Instagram at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson