]]>
]]>
This month, we feature an album we recently made for a destination wedding that took place in Africa. The wedding colors were primarily bright yellows and greens with red and orange highlights. While the vibrant colors were wonderful for their wedding day, the couple wanted something a little more subdued for their home environment, which is primarily rustic and wood decor with browns, beige and lime tones.
For a view of went into their album design, we are excited present our first inspiration feature of this kind for album and decor coordinates.
© Wedding Creativo
Matted: loose photographic prints (4x6, 5x7, 8x10, etc.), are inserted into pages that are made of matte board, which are thick (varying depending on the book maker) and have cutouts where the photos are mounted. If you have traditional matted portraits on display in your home the concept and materials are similar with the photo going in the matte which is framed. In this case, instead of framing matted images they are bound in an album.
Flush Mount: designed layout spreads are printed on photographic paper (or in some cases, specialty fine art paper), and mounted "flush" to hard-back pages. They have some aesthetic similarities as the traditional matted books, but with the customizable layouts can offer a more contemporary or modern look similar to digially printed books (see next). It is kind of the middle ground between traditional and modern techniques.
Digital Printed: images are printed directly onto the pages with digital offset printing. These kinds of albums are also known by various labels including "magazine," "coffee table," "book bound" and "hinge-bound." Depending on the album maker, the thickness of the pages and covers can vary greatly. For example, the mass-produced consumer-grade versions available on DIY photo websites use very thin pages, almost like magazines, and usually have very limited options for covers. However, in the last decade several professional album companies that work directly with photographers have also made professional-grade versions available, which have also become very popular. The paper quality, printing, layout designs and cover choices available with professional-grade versions are far superior to what you will find on consumer websites.
Do you still have wedding photos or other important occasions with photos just sitting on a disk or in a box somewhere? We may have a great solution for you to finally have those pictures rightfully on display, so pease contact us to find out what we can do for you.
Fine Art Flush Mount book: first and foremost, NO CENTER GAP! The images are printed on premium fine art papers and mounted flush to hard back pages. Paper options include matte watercolor, matte linen, matte recycled eco-watercolor, and shimmer pearl. Cover options include metallic image wrap, canvas, and dozens of leathers and fabrics.
Hinge-Bound Magazine book: since it is a magazine style album, the images are printed directly on the pages, and paper options include standard smooth paper and premium shimmer pearl. With the hinge binding, there is a small gap in the center crease, but this allows these lighter pages (compared to flush) to lay flat. This style is more cost effective than the Fine Art Flush Mount, which can make the Hinge-Bound a good option for duplicate copies or smaller brag books.
Filigree in ancient times referred to the general design work of the jeweler, but today it more specifically refers to delicate lace-like metalworking with silver or gold. It seems to derive from jewelry work, but and can be seen on other items from dining platters and silverware to decorative art pieces.
These intracate designs were found throughout history from ancient times among such cultures as Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, Sardinian, and across Asia, especially in Calcutta. Into later times it continued to be prevalent in Celtic, French and Mediterranean designs. It seems to be pervasive throughout time and cultures, and it is no wonder so many people are still drawn to the classic look today.
Here are some inspired Filigree design examples:
www.fancyflours.com
www.purseblog.com
www.wilton.com
My parents, Art and Rose, and ancestors before them, will always be my greatest inspiration. My mother gave me this advice, which was passed down to her from my grandfather: "whatever you do in life, nothing is worth doing unless it is done well." I hear this is a common message passed down from my German ancestors, but I'm sure it is a universal tome.
I never met my grandfather Victor since he passed away only a few years after my parents got married. But strange enough, I find he is the grandparent I have the closest connection to, and I have my mother to thank for that. She shared plenty of stories and pictures with me throughout my life. Victor was a talented professional interior designer and spent his spare time doing photography. It was not his career, but he was so serious about it that he wanted to photograph my mother's wedding. She refused and told him, "your job that day is to be the father of the bride."
I have hundreds of Victor's original 35mm slides, which are mostly Chicago cityscapes in the 1940s and 1950s, along with family and travel photos. I am in the process of archiving his work...in my spare time...so this has been an ongoing project for years. My mother recently found an old scrapbook made by Victor during the 1920s, 30s and 40s. It is filled with his essays, poetry, photos, ticket stubs and other memorabilia. It is facinating, and I'm planning on preserving it digitally at some point, but for now I'm just enjoing getting to know him better.
By the way, I found some color slides from my parents wedding in my grandfather's collection, so apparently he did sneak in a few shots while performing FOB duties. A mark of a true photographer...he could not let the opportunity pass him by. Anyway, here are some photos from my parents' 1958 wedding, which my mom said "some nice young fella" photographed. Oh, and I must mention that my mother MADE HER OWN WEDDING DRESS (and my oldest sister's later on). Creativity is in our blood. :-)
my grandparents and parents: Victor, Edith, Rose, Art, Bertha and Frank
You can see more pictures from my parents wedding in a sample anniversary album design in the "albums" section.
