Gone are the days of developing photos and choosing which ones should be permanently stuck onto the pages, unknowingly dooming those precious memories to fading, cracking, and yellowing over time. Now, we are able to easily create photo books made from materials that will protect and preserve your photos so they last more than a lifetime. Although family photo albums have evolved over the years, one thing has remained the same: they’re a fantastic way to honour, celebrate, and cherish life’s special moments. They allow us to not only relive these moments ourselves, but also pass them down to future generations.
Photo books can be created for absolutely anything—weddings, landscapes, portraits, animals, and even collections of poetry—but this blog post is going to focus on family photo book ideas. We’ll first take a look at the three types of photo books Posterjack offers—softcover, hardcover, and a layflat option—then we’ll dig into several family photo book ideas which we hope will inspire you to create your own custom photo book! And lastly, we’ll provide you with a few tips on creating your photo book with us. As always, we are here to help should you have any questions or need assistance along the way, so please don’t ever hesitate to reach out!
About Posterjack’s Photo Books
Our Photo Books are made to look beautiful and last a lifetime. When you hold a Posterjack Photo Book in your hands, you’ll appreciate the quality and fall in love with the way it looks as you turn each page or admire it displayed on your coffee table or shelf.
We offer three main photo book styles—Softcover, Hardcover, and Layflat—that come in several sizes with the number of pages being fully customizable.
Your photos are printed using HP Indigo inks, which are water-based and non-toxic, and our proprietary printing software, so your images are sharp, accurate, and vibrant.
With our Hardcover and Softcover Photo Books, you can customize your photo book to have as few as 20 pages or as many as 120 pages, which are made with a sturdy 100-pound photo paper.
Posterjack Hardcover Photo Books come in five different sizes, while the Softcover Photo Books come in six different sizes, and both are professionally-bound and made right here in Canada.
If you're looking for an ultra-premium photo book option, you'll love our Layflat Photo Books. Your photos are printed on thick 200-pound matte photo paper and because of the design of the book and how it lays flat when open, you can print a single image across two pages.
Our Layflat Photo Books are available in multiple sizes and you have the choice of three gorgeous cover styles: photo wrap, linen, or leather.
If you need help deciding which type of photo book is going to be best for you, keep reading. We've included some buying tips near the end of this blog post.
Family Photo Book Ideas
The great thing about creating photos books is you can customize them to be exactly how you want them. Your photo book can have fun, bright colours or be timeless and elegant. The pages can display a collage of photos or feature just a single image. You can showcase photos in colour, black and white, or a mixture of both. You can even customize your photo book to include headings, quotes, notes, and dates, all of which can be in whatever size and font you wish. As for themes, here are several family photo book ideas to help inspire your next creation.
Family Cookbook
A photo book full of special family recipes can be cherished and passed down for generations. To help make it extra special, consider including photos of the loved one whose recipe is being featured or a photo of their original hand-written recipe. You can also add photos of the actual ingredients needed and of the finished product. To make it even more fun, include images of the special menu item being eaten!
Yearbook
Remember the yearbooks from when you were in school? Why not make your own and make it an annual family tradition! This is a great way to print a variety of images you captured throughout the year. You can include photos from a family vacation, camping trip, school performance, sporting event, or just a great day you had at home! Making a yearbook is also a fun project to do if you homeschool your kids. You can even include photos of your kids’ artwork!
Making a photo book that collects memories from the year also makes a special gift for parents and grandparents. You could make a single photo book that includes all family members, or create a photo book collection which has a book for each family member. This can be a fun project for kids to participate in, especially if they are allowed to include some of their own special photos.
Preserve an Old Family Photo Album
With their damaging sticky adhesive pages and plastic covers, the old style of family photo albums are a thing of the past. In fact, if you have this kind of photo album still, it would be a good idea to rescue those photos before it’s too late! There are several methods to preserving old photos, but one of the easiest ways is to scan or take quality photos of the old photos to create digital copies and then you can use those to create a new family photo book, using materials that are designed to last a lifetime.
Related: How to Photograph Artwork for Prints
Family Vacation
Thanks to everyone having a smartphone these days, you’ll likely have a vast collection of photos when you return from a family vacation. You can create a single photo book for the trip or another idea is to have each family member create their own family vacation photo book. This can be a cool idea since each book will have its own unique perspective of the trip, as each family member will have their own collection of photos. If you design the books so they’re the same size, they will group together nicely and look great displayed on your shelf.
Family Photo Shoot
Whether you’ve hired a professional photographer to capture family portraits or you’ve asked a friend to come along to a trip to the park to get photos of your family, a collection of images from a family photo shoot is great to turn into a book. You don’t need hundreds of photos to create a photo book. Remember, a Posterjack Photo Book can have as few as 20 pages, so a family photo shoot would translate beautifully into a book.
A Book of Firsts
A photo book doesn’t need to only include photos captured recently. A fun family photo book idea is to create a collection of firsts, such as:
- First vacation
- First holiday (Christmas, Easter, birthday, etc.)
- First home
- First pet
- First date
- First sleepover
- First time losing a tooth
- First soccer game
… and so on. A photo book of firsts give you the opportunity to feature a variety of photos from over the years but keeps an organized theme.
Holidays and Events
“Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.” —Unknown
Family photo books can be a special way to celebrate and honour the friends you have that you consider your family. Ideas for these photo books are endless too! Special holidays and events are great to feature, since you likely have a lot of photos to choose from, and because holidays and events are also moments in our lives when we’re happy and creating special memories. Weekend getaways, holiday meals, group sporting events, or even just a fun night out could all make for a great photo book, both for yourself or as a gift for your loved one.
Tips for Using the Posterjack Photo Book Designer
Photo books make your cherished memories last forever, and, as you can see from the various ideas we've just listed, the options are endless! Our photo book designer is easy to use but also offers a myriad of options for customization. Here are a few tips to make the process go as smooth as possible:
Go into it with a plan. Before you create your photo book, decide on how many pages you want it to have. Although it’s possible to edit your book to have more or less pages after you have started, any formatting applied to the original choice will not be applied to the new pages.
Save your progress. Creating a custom photo book can be a big project and will take time to put together. Make sure that you’re signed into your Posterjack account and that you save your progress as you create your book. This way, you won’t lose your work if your computer crashes and you can return to your work at a later time to continue creating your project.
Double-check your project. Before submitting your order, make sure to double-check every page to make sure there are no mistakes or typos and that your photo book is exactly as you want it. After you submit your order, the project is sent directly to print, so you are unable to make any changes after you’ve completed your order.
Never hesitate to ask for help. Although we try to make the process of creating a photo book be as easy as possible, there are many features and options available. If this is your first time creating a photo book, it can feel overwhelming or even a bit confusing. If you are having difficulties, please reach out to us and we will be happy to guide you through the process.
The Perfect Family Photo Book
So, which type of photo book is right for you? Here's a quick guide to the key benefits of each photo book style, along with tips to help you choose the best option for your needs.
Softcover Photo Books
Softcover Photo Books are lightweight and flexible, making them a convenient option for a casual and portable keepsake.
Key Benefits
Affordability: Softcover books are budget-friendly, making them perfect for creating multiple copies to share with family members or as gifts.
Portability: Their lightweight and slim design makes them easy to carry around and share during family gatherings.
Smaller Size Options: Softcover Photo Books come in smaller sizes, such as 6”x6”, making them great for creating fun mini albums, like a collection of birthday celebrations or family vacations.
Why Choose Softcover?
Softcover Photo Books are ideal for families who want an affordable way to capture and share precious memories. They’re perfect for smaller collections of photos, such as themed books focused on specific family events or milestones.
Hardcover Photo Books
Hardcover Photo Books offer a classic and durable way to preserve your family memories, with a sturdy cover that protects your photos for years to come.
Key Benefits
Durability: The hard cover provides excellent protection, ensuring your family photos are safe and long-lasting.
Professional Look: Hardcover books have a high-quality, elegant appearance, making them great for displaying family stories or for gifting to loved ones.
Longevity: The durable construction ensures that your family memories will stand the test of time, even with frequent handling.
Why Choose Hardcover?
Hardcover Photo Books are perfect for families who want to preserve significant events, like weddings, family reunions, or annual traditions. They offer a timeless, elegant way to celebrate and remember those special moments.
Layflat Photo Books
Layflat Photo Books feature a special binding that allows the pages to lay completely flat, making them ideal for larger group photos or collages.
Key Benefits:
Seamless Layouts: The lay-flat design is perfect for showcasing family portraits or full-page spreads without interruption.
Premium Quality: Layflat books are made with thick, high-quality pages that won’t bend or curl, offering a luxurious feel and superior durability.
Cover Options: Layflat Photo Books offer stunning cover styles, including photo wrap, leather, and linen, available in a variety of colours. These beautiful covers make them a centerpiece for any home.
Why Choose Layflat?
Layflat Photo Books are the ultimate choice for creating a stunning visual presentation of your family’s most important moments. Whether you’re capturing a family vacation or a special celebration, the seamless design allows you to tell your family’s story in an unforgettable way.
Preserve Your Family's Memories with a Custom Photo Book
Creating a custom photo book is an exciting way to preserve your most cherished memories. Whether you’re designing a family yearbook, commemorating a special vacation, or creating a collection of “firsts,” our high-quality photo books are designed to make your memories last a lifetime. From the affordable and flexible Softcover Photo Book to the elegant Hardcover and the premium Layflat option, we offer something for everyone.
Ready to get started on your family photo book to bring your memories to life? If you need any help along the way, we’re just a click away! Let’s make those memories unforgettable together.
