What do you think is the one thing that people treasure the most after they have cut their birthday cake, completed a wedding ceremony, or had their first baby?
Well, for most photographers, the answer is rather simple. These are the photographs taken by our fancy gadgets capturing those precious shots so that they remain a part of our clients’ lives forever. Would it not be amazing then, if you could make these photos even more compelling?
A few years back, building photo albums used to be a headache because of the few album design software packages that were available. Even those products that were accessible then were too complicated to be used by amateur photographers. Today, we thank the many dedicated software designers who have made it possible for anyone to design amazing photo albums and collages.
In reality, creating albums is not something that many photographers like doing because it can be really time consuming. Also, most album designer programs do not really provide you with the features that make your job that much easier. It can take a whole lot of time looking for the perfect template or realigning pictures.
Moments software is a full featured design software for both beginner and professional photographers. It has a clean layout without unnecessary distractions. It is an example of affordable design software for those on a tight budget. You have full control of any design you are making, whether it is a cover or the album’s last page. You can select from various styles.
Make your photos even more captivating
Most of us might think there isn’t much to do when you are a professional photographer capturing moments with a DSLR taking in all there is in one perfect shot. However in reality, this is just the start of another long journey. There are simply innumerable transformations you can make. Here you will find a few great ideas of how you can use the right tools to add value to your services.
Today, the concept of personalization is very important and is something which many customers ask for. Adding special or unique quotes that match the clients’ personalities is an excellent way to give them what they need. Whether you are looking for serious or humorous personalization, it is all possible. There are different types of font styles, colors, and sizes available so you do not have to stick to one every single time you are creating a design. With just a couple of clicks, using Moments designer, you are able to add a filter so the picture stands out from others. Check out the snow overlay effect:
A picture with beautiful calligraphic text gives the album an abstract aura. Incorporating text that adds to the instant captured can really make your client happier and give them something to remember their special day. Short, meaningful quotes can make the photos more intuitive and connect rather well with the audience. You also tell more of a story through these photos. However, you need to make sure the text connects with the photograph and is not too wordy. Otherwise, your entire album may fall apart. As you may have already found out, it is not easy to come up with the perfect words for each and every photograph.
However, given enough thought and time, one can definitely craft some really beautiful words that touch the heart of the client. Remember to add your feelings regarding the photos. Add quotes that expand on the photographs you took. A few good words can take the album to the next level by giving it more meaning and depth. You may also try to add the lyrics of a song or a poem.
Album Styles
Creativity has no bounds and photography is just one field that shows what creativity is capable of achieving. One of the ways in which your creativity shines is how you present your services to your clients. Surely, photos of special moments collected and arranged in alphabetical order are not going to do much toward impressing your clients. So what can you do to make your photos better and get you to successfully compete in the market?
One answer is album style. There are many album designs you can use to make your photo collection a true wonder. Whether it is an Artisan type, Fine Art or Press Printed, every design has a unique story to tell. You must make sure that the design you choose reflects what your clients desire and showcases the beauty that lies behind those moments.
Although a software package will do most of your work in a matter of clicks, it is ultimately up to you to use your skills and come up with something truly unique. For example, an intricately handcrafted design which has a double page spread without any visible gaps between the page sets can be a perfect way to represent such personally fulfilling occasions. It can serve as the perfect design for weddings and other ceremonies such as anniversaries. For an Indian wedding for example, designs that portray vivid colors can really add to your portfolio since such weddings usually have a significant range of different backgrounds and colors that need to be captured in a single shot.
Page Arrangements
Being a professional photographer, you must know that every bit of detail matters. After all, photography is to a large degree about attention to detail. You must get every piece in the correct place in order to give your client what they are looking for. One of these details is the arrangement of pages.
Even though the album design may determine what the arrangement may look like, it is your duty to see which will be the best option in the end. Various page arrangements work with certain album styles. Don’t forget that you have to tell a story through these layouts and designs.
You may have 8×10 portraits or much shorter pages with photos showing the bride with the groom entering the venue in the beginning. There should be a seamless transition from one page to the next. There should be a sense of continuity, as if watching it all happen in the real world. This is not a difficult task to accomplish. Once you get into this stage of your work, you will be pleasantly surprised how smoothly everything works out.
You can try putting in a photograph of the bride and the groom standing together in front of a vividly colored background and add little isolated shots of the bride and the groom in between to give a more dramatic effect. You may also try more classic options such as shades of grey portraying the bride or the groom looking out a window while holding a bouquet.
In the end, it is your blank canvas and you are permitted to do whatever you can to add to the occasion captured. So give it your best “shot”.
The first time I used the software, I found myself getting work done in a shorter time than I would do using several types of software. I cut the time I usually spend designing in half.
Pros
+ Saves time
+ Simple and easy to use UI
+ Easy and effective drag and drop
+ Affordable
Cons
+ I’m sure there are many, but the product is in active development and I’m sure a lot will iron out over time. The scope of this review is just to build awareness that there are other album design software out there besides more popular ones that do the same job, with a smaller budget, which is important for beginners and amateur photographers. You can check Moments Designer and download an evaluation version on the product page.
Sponsored by ByteIgnite
