We spend hours taking the right pictures, editing them, and selecting our prizes, and then what do we do with them? Store them on a hard drive where no one else can see them.
Why not display your memories in a photo album? A good ol' photo album can easily travel with you, won't run out of battery power, and is an easy way to share pictures the best way, in person.
But what to look for in a photo album? Old photo albums damaged pictures because they weren't made from the right material or the setter used a glue that reacted with the photo paper.
Things to look for in a photo album:
Archival and Acid-Free Paper - Choosing this option will help prevent the photo paper from reacting with the photo album paper. Acid-free paper will help preserve the beauty of your pictures for years and years.
Space for Descriptions - This may or may not be a priority for you, but having space to write a short description of the photo will greatly help those down the road who try to identify the name of your uncle's cousin's mother from the family reunion. The downside is that if you're looking for a small binder, there may not be much space for descriptions.
Storage for CDs or Negatives - Having a backup of your pictures on disc or memory stick is essential. Having a photo binder that allows you to store not only the pictures but backup CDs or DVDs as well can be a great asset.
Leather Material - Okay, okay, your album doesn't have to be made out of leather, but choose a design that fits the decor of your home, your personality, or even the subject of the pictures. If you are storing wedding photos, you might want to consider a nice leather binder. If you want to display pictures of your pet rock collection, a simpler binder would do.
Photo Placement - Some photo albums will allow only horizontal placement of pictures within the album. Other albums allow for both vertical and horizontal placement.
Photo Dimensions - If your pictures are 5x7 inches but your photo album accommodates 4x6 inches, you've either got a problem, or a lot of trimming to do. Seriously, check and make sure that the photos you have are the correct dimension for the photo album you're purchasing. Perhaps most people have photos that are 4x6 because they are less expensive to print and easier to manage.
Strong Photo Album - Some people prefer to have a very well constructed photo album that can stand up without any support. Check out the binding of the album you're considering. You'll want a sturdy binding that will be able to last a long time.
Whatever your preferences for the binder may by, storing your photos in an album is a great way to easily flip through pictures of your favorite trip to Disneyland, or stop and muse over the magical time you had in Paris.
We spend hours taking the right pictures, editing them, and selecting our prizes, and then what do we do with them? Store them on a hard drive where no one else can see them.
