To Have And To
Hold
You adore your wedding photos, but flicking through hundreds of images just isn’t replicating the magic you felt on your special day. Here, Bhria Vellnagel speaks with professional photographer Kevin McGinn about how to create a show-stopping wedding album.
Image Credit: Kevin McGinn Photographer
From the heartfelt image of your father walking you down the aisle, to the very last photo of you and your partner leaving the reception as newlyweds, a great wedding album will not only display these moments, but also help you recall the unique story of your special day long
after your own memories have faded.
Living in a digital age where almost every aspect of your life is shared on social media, many couples are favouring classic wedding albums to preserve the intimate moments of their big day. Here, Western Australia Wedding & Bride sets out to discover the details behind this book of love.
Through The Lens
McGinn says the perfect wedding album should allow you to easily relive the magic of your wedding day whenever the mood strikes you. “It’s likely that you will receive hundreds, if not thousands, of images,” he says. “[However digital] images will never beat the storytelling ability of a well-made wedding album.”
If you’ve decided prior to the wedding that you want to capture your memories in an album, it’s important to discuss any particular shots you have in mind with your photographer. However, McGinn explains that he doesn’t tend to shoot his images with a specific album layout in mind. “Rather, I will take an image and immediately know that it’ll look amazing in an album,” he says. “It’s awesome to show the couple these images [immediately, as] it gets them excited about how amazing their album will look.”
While it’s important to find a photographer you love, it’s worthwhile to research the types of albums they’ve previously compiled to ensure
you’ll receive your desired result. “I think it’s easier to leave the album to the couple’s wedding photographer, as they’ll understand the important moments,” McGinn explains. “Using a third party may result in having to spend hours uploading your images, [while your photographer] always has access to the images.”
The Perfect Filter
After the wedding, you’ll have the difficult job of sorting through hundreds of photos to find the special few that’ll appear in your wedding album. McGinn suggests selecting 10 to 20 images for each significant event, such as the preparations, group shots, and pictures of the venue.
If you’re overwhelmed by the number of images, many newlyweds will often entrust their photographer to choose for them. Having won
multiple awards for his outstanding wedding photography, McGinn has a wealth of knowledge that he imparts to his clients. “Often couples find it overwhelming trying to narrow down over a thousand images to just a hundred or so,” he says. “I have the experience to help each couple choose [the images] that will give a balanced representation of their wedding day.”
On Display
All of your hard work won’t just be for the album – you can also purchase large prints to showcase around your home. McGinn says wall art, including matte prints, canvases and acrylic displays, is extremely popular. “I once had a couple get an image printed onto wallpaper, which was pretty incredible,” he says. “I’ve teamed up with a supplier that can create mouse pads, coffee cups and other novelty items, which are always great gifts.”
Finishing Touches
Once you’ve chosen all of your images, you’ll need to work with your photographer to organise the perfect order. “Everyone is different, but I usually recommend a good balance of candid and formal images,” McGinn says. “Black and white images can have a big impact in albums.”
Flashback
To ensure your album makes sense to you long after your memories of the day have faded, it’s best to place your photos in chronological order. However, McGinn says he enjoys being creative with the placement of the casual images. “I will
often place the bridal party shots together, leaving the bride and groom images for their own spreads for great visual impact,” he says.
The Hue Of You
While it’s not necessary to give your album a theme, many couples will choose a consistent tone that reflects the colours used at the wedding, or to create cohesion throughout the book. McGinn particularly advises couples to steer clear of text, borders and other embellishments. “While [these elements] may have their place in scrapbooking, a formal wedding album should be all about the images,” he says.
McGinn says his favourite albums include coloured pictures with striking black and white feature images. “While visually impacting, a whole album of black and white will get old quickly,” he advises.
Bound To Last
To ensure your album will stand the test of time, you’ll need to ensure it has a long-lasting binding and a visually appealing cover. McGinn’s wedding albums are all made in Italy with high-quality leathers and fabrics, as well as archive-quality inks and papers. “The quality of your album is paramount to stand the test of time,” he says. “All of my albums have lay-flat binding, which means you don’t lose parts of the images in the middle.”
From classic hardback albums to soft fabric and leather books, there are countless options to choose from to complement your desired aesthetic. For a personal touch, add your favourite photo or include loving messages and advice from your nearest and dearest on the cover.
Creating a wedding album allows you and your family to reminisce about your special day for many years to come. By approaching a professional who will provide a high-quality and bespoke result, you can rest assured your wedding album will be an amazing compilation that you’ll be eager to flip through time and time again.