A wedding album is a timeless way to showcase and preserve the most cherished moments from your big day. Shutterfly is a user-friendly online service that allows you to create beautiful, high-quality, and affordable wedding albums. With Shutterfly, you can choose from various book styles and sizes, including an entire section dedicated to wedding albums. You can decide to do it yourself using advanced editing tools, speed up the process with autofill and design suggestions, or let an in-house designer make it for you for free. Shutterfly also offers different printing options, such as deluxe lay-flat pages and 6-color printing, which enhance the overall presentation and visual appeal of your wedding album.
What You'll Learn
Choose a photo book style and size
Choosing a photo book style and size is the first step in creating your own wedding album with Shutterfly. This step will depend on how many photos you have from your wedding day. Shutterfly offers six size options, ranging from 8 by 8 inches to 12 by 12 inches. You can also select from three page styles: standard, standard layflat, or deluxe layflat.
The size and style you choose will depend on your personal preference and the number of photos you want to include. If you have a lot of photos, you may want to opt for a larger size or consider adding extra pages, which cost around $2 each. If you want to include several large photos or photos that span across two pages, the deluxe layflat option is a great choice. This option provides a seamless look with barely any crease and thicker pages that feel more luxurious.
In addition to size and page style, you can also choose the type of cover you want for your wedding album. Shutterfly offers hardcover, softcover, and premium leather cover options. A timeless leather-bound photo album cover is always a classic choice. You can also opt for a plain and protective cover if you prefer a more simplistic look.
Shutterfly provides dozens of unique designer wedding photo book templates to match your wedding style or theme. You can browse their full library of different sizes and styles to find the perfect fit for you and your partner.
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Select your favourite photos
Selecting your favourite photos is an important step in creating your wedding album. You want to ensure you love every photo in your album, and that they capture exactly how you felt and what you did on your wedding day.
First, gather all your wedding photos. You can upload them from your desktop, mobile device, the Shutterfly app, Google Photos, Instagram, Facebook, or Shutterfly Art Library. Then, include all the photos you like, before narrowing them down based on quality. If a photo is out of focus, it will appear even more blurry when enlarged and printed, so be mindful of this. Review photos with the same subject matter carefully, and select your favourite from each set. Shutterfly's photo editing features can help you improve your pics—you can crop, resize, add backgrounds, and make other embellishments in the Edit view.
If you're struggling to curate your photo collection, you can crowdsource the task. Post your photos on social media and poll your friends, or ask a close friend or family member for their opinion.
When selecting your photos, it's a good idea to include a mix of both posed and candid shots. While posed photographs can be creative and stunning, candid shots usually capture the raw emotions of the day. A balance of both will accurately reflect the mood and feeling of your wedding.
Finally, keep in mind how people will react to seeing their photos in a book. You want to make sure the pics are flattering, and that people will be happy to see them printed.
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Pick a layout method
Picking a layout method is the fifth step in the process of creating a wedding album on Shutterfly. There are three ways to make a photo book: the DIY method, using templates and pre-designed layouts, or using the Make My Book service.
The DIY method offers advanced editing tools and complete creative control over the design of the photo book. This option is ideal for those who enjoy projects and want to create a highly personalized album. With this method, you can add thin borders to pictures, include text, and use sizing guides to align photos.
The second option is to use templates and pre-designed layouts. Shutterfly offers a wide range of themes, styles, and customization options to choose from. You can select different layouts for each page, with options for one-photo layouts or multiple photos on a page. This variety helps create visual interest and emphasizes photos differently.
The third option is to use the Make My Book service, where Shutterfly designers will create the photo book for you. This option is suitable for those who prefer a quicker process or are not interested in a DIY project. After choosing the size and style, you will be prompted to upload your photos and answer questions about your preferences, such as the order of photos, layout density, and book design elements. The designer will place the book in your account within 24 hours, and you can then review, edit, and add finishing touches before placing your order.
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Design your photo book
Shutterfly offers a range of tools to help you design your wedding photo book. You can choose to go the DIY route and use the advanced editing tools, or you can speed up the process with autofill and design suggestions. You can also let an in-house designer make it for you for free.
First, select a book size from the six options, ranging from 8 by 8 inches to 12 by 12 inches. Then, choose the cover and page type. You can opt for a genuine leather cover and deluxe lay-flat pages for a more premium feel. Deluxe lay-flat pages open up more layout options and allow for pictures that span both pages with barely any crease. You can also upgrade to professional colour printing for higher-quality images.
Each book includes 20 pages, and you can add more for a small fee. You can then upload your photos and add text and embellishments. Shutterfly allows you to upload photos from your desktop, mobile device, or social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. You can also add text to create a narrative and personalize your story.
Once you're happy with your design, review your photo book for any mistakes or typos before adding it to your cart.
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Add finishing touches
Now that you've designed your wedding album, it's time to add those finishing touches to make it extra special.
First, consider the practical additions. If you plan to include mementos from your wedding, a memorabilia pocket is a great way to safely store these keepsakes along with your photos. You can also add a gift box or dust jacket to complete the experience and keep your album protected.
Next, think about the finer details. You can add text, quotes, and details about your big day to your album. Try incorporating your wedding invitation, notes from loved ones, or even petals from your bouquet. If you're feeling creative, experiment with different fonts, colours, and layouts to make your text stand out.
Finally, don't forget to review your album before placing your order. Check for any mistakes or typos, and make sure you're happy with the placement and appearance of your photos.
With these finishing touches, your wedding album will be a one-of-a-kind keepsake that you can cherish for years to come.
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Frequently asked questions
First, select a book size from the six options, ranging from 8 by 8 inches to 12 by 12 inches, as well as the cover and page type. Then, upload your photos from your computer, mobile device, or social media accounts.
It depends on the size of your album and how many photos were taken on your wedding day. You want to ensure that all your memories are preserved.
Include a mix of both candid and posed pictures with friends and family, as well as photos of the wedding décor.
Shutterfly offers three ways to create photo books: using their website photo book service on your computer, letting their designers create it for you for free, or using the Shutterfly app on your mobile device.
Prices start at $22, and there are often promotions and discounts available.