A print is not a screen. Light bounces off paper instead of shining through it, and that changes how colours, darks and fine detail look. Knowing a little about paper and size helps every book look the way you hoped.
Quick tip: star photos on your phone as you take them. Picking takes half the time at the end of the month.
The book comes, and for one evening nobody looks at their phone.
Marcus, father of three
Keep it simple
Most of this is invisible when it is done right. You only notice it when it goes wrong.
If in doubt, print a single test page first. It is cheaper than a whole book.
- Keep one photo per day at most
- Include at least one place, not just faces
- Back up before deleting anything
What to look for
Do not forget the in-between moments: the car park before the party, the coats piled on a chair, the walk home in the dark. They are the parts of a day that nobody photographs on purpose and everybody recognises straight away.
When a month has a big event in it, such as a wedding or a first day at school, let it take over. There is no rule that says every week needs equal space. The book should feel like the month felt.
Picking is a skill. Like any skill, it gets faster.
Priya Nair, Paperleaf print room
Try it this month
Keep the rejected photos somewhere safe for a while. Tastes change, and a picture you passed over may be the one you want next year.
It helps to know what the book is for before you start. A book for grandparents wants faces and clear captions. A book for yourself can hold the odd corner of the garden, the shadow on the wall and the plate of food that only makes sense to you.
Good to know: every Paperleaf book has room for thirty photos, so there is no prize for keeping more.
Start with what you already have
Think about how the photos sit next to each other. Two busy pictures side by side can fight; a busy one beside a quiet one usually works.
Watch the light at different times of day in your own home. Most houses have one window that is lovely for an hour every afternoon.
- Hand the camera to someone else
- Back up before deleting anything
- Star photos as you take them
Make it a habit
A good caption answers the question someone will ask in twenty years. Who is that? Where were we? Why is everyone wet? Write the answer while you still know it, even if it feels too obvious to bother with today.
If a month feels thin, look again at the photos you took without thinking. The best ones are often hiding there.
Picking is a skill. Like any skill, it gets faster.
Priya Nair, Paperleaf print room
Thank you for not telling me to buy a new camera.