I feel like I’m coming back to life after sleeping for three days straight. I spent a little time in the studio working with our albums yesterday, and I had to share this with you.
I had a conversation with our head album designer a few months back. I wanted to do something different, unlike anything we’d ever done in regards to our album design layouts. This new thought process was inspired by a single book I came across. Have you seen it? It’s The Kennedys Portrait of a Family by Richard Avedon.
The design layout in Avedon’s book is simple with lots of full bleeds. What is a full bleed? This means the image fills the page and runs off it. But it’s not just the placement of the images. It’s how Avedon combined the images with simple text and color. This weaving of the three takes my breath away. A former bride told me about this book, and ever sinc, I can’t get it out of my mind. It has seeped into our business bringing a fresh wind of inspiration.
Amy, the head of our wonderful designers, took this project on with me. (She is the brave one here! :))
We decided to try Katie and Mike’s wedding because it was a wedding with vintage flare and original vows written by the bride and groom. This would be the perfect imagery and unique text to try a design layout with Avedon’s inspiration in the back of our mind. Needless to say, I’m thrilled with the final result. And even better, Katie and Mike are thrilled too! They don’t want a single thing changed.
Take a look at their album and tell us what you think of this Avedon inspiration! It requires more album pages than we usually do so you can accommodate this type of design. The trick is to do the design so nothing feels rushed as you look through the pages. You have a sense of ease with each new page. The album layout is our final service in helping a couple remember their wedding. The very book needs to breathe grace and beauty.
As you watch the slideshow, feel free to pause it at any time to read the beautiful vows that Katie and Mike wrote to each other. But get a Kleenex because their vows will require it!
To see their album layout, click on Katie and Mike’s Wedding Album.
Thank you Katie for letting me try something new with your wedding. Your wedding was an event to be remembered.
p.s. Check back tomorrow for a Friday Housekeeping day on Upcoming Workshops, the Forum and Photo Contest results!
xoxo, Me Ra
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This makes me want to renew my wedding vows. What a timeless and lovely wedding story! I have sweet pictures in a book…. This is something way different. This book truly tells a love story.
Avedon is one of my all time favorite photographers. The simplicity of his trademark white backgrounds and black & white photos. The ability he has to capture the true personality of the subject. Just amazing.
Wow..that is just beautiful. I LOVE how their own words and feeling are throughout the book. It makes me want to pull out my wedding pictures and do something with them.
beautiful. and with the vows? perfect.
I am sitting here on a wonderful morning. Hot coffee, cupcake & taking a break to read some blogs. Still, I have tears running down my cheeks. I do not know this couple but the beauty of the book has touched me.
Thank you for sharing.
Wow! What powerful vows. You KNOW the DEPTH of their love by the emotion on their faces and in their words. Wow….
glad you’re feeling better. i’m just starting to come out of the fog as well. sharon is still there. i’ll light the lighthouse for her. 🙂 take care.
Absolutely breathtaking! I didn’t even read the vows the first time thru and I found myself tearing up. Thank you for inspiring me to keep practicing and experimenting with my photo’s.
oh how pretty – I like how their vows are written in there – beautiful bride too!!!!
Good night nurse! When I see amazing albums like this and such wonderful photographs it makes me want to dig our wedding “albums” out of the basement and pitch them. I love our marriage, but let’s just say it’s a good thing our albums didn’t set the tone. Aaaaaaaaamazing job, as always.
You captured their day so beautifully. Full of emotion and grace. Their vows are so moving. Wondering if on page 45/46 the word “inconditionally” is meant to be “unconditionally”?
What a gorgeous album that shows off your signature elegant photography.
Absolutely stunning.
Stunning and emotionally captivating.
OMG – It is so beautiful. Brings a tear to my eye and I don’t even know them. I’m sure they are so grateful that you captured the special moments of their day.
Jenny
http://www.shutterbugkeepsakes.com
I am happy to hear that you are feeling better!
That album is absolutely stunning!!!!!!!!
Completely beautiful and inspiring.
wow. Those images and reading the vows took my breath away! I can only imagine what it was like to have been there.
I love the simple layout (it doesn’t look like a yearbook). The vows are a really special touch since they probably took a lot of time, thought and love to write them. I am sure they are going to love and cherish this!
That was just amazing. I would have cried if I were the bride. It is so moving. I feel like I was there and that I know them. LOL
I love that book…and Avedon’s timeless photos of a legendary family 🙂
Simply amazing…just stunning. Thank you for sharing!
His vows were so powerful and heartfelt. The photo album is a great complement to the beginning of their beautiful lives together.
Love the book! I watched 3 times!! During my 2nd viewing I noticed that there was a page dedicated to Katie, with a single picture and her printed name, but not one for Mike. Was that intentional and if so, what was the reason behind it? Just curious.
So beautiful! I love the vows that they wrote from the heart! The pictures and the vows together brought tears to my eyes.
I am not sure if it was intentional but there may be a typo on slide/page #23. Is inconditionally supposed to be Unconditionally?
AMAZING Job!
Leslie made me laugh tonight when I read her “Good Night Nurse” response! Oh Leslie, I just adore you!
Thanks for all the great feedback on this album layout. Trying to mirror an influence of Avedon was kind of like seeing that something shimmer. Amy, our head designer, has been amazing through the process. She is such a shimmering gem! But it’s also good to hear that the album settled in with so many of you too! What a wonderful confirmation!
And thanks for the typo heads up! It has been noted!
Love you all!
Beautiful album!! I wish we had written our own vows but I can’t pin Brian down to do any of those kinds of thing… he’ll share his real feelings with me privately but would be uncomfortable doing that in front of everyone else we know. 😉
Also, on the second or third “vow” page, there is the word “APART” in large bold letters… and the phrasing should actually be “a part” of your life. “apart” means separate, “a part” means together. 😉
LOVE your work, Me Ra! You and Brian captured the most beautiful parts of what must have been an incredibly beautiful ceremony with a beautiful couple. I need a time machine, I wish someone like you had taken my wedding pictures!!
Wow… that seriously was touching!
i LOVE the vintage feel and their album was so awesome!!!!!
I hadn’t checked in on your blog in a while Me Ra! Just wanted to say another THANK YOU to you and Brian for doing such an amazing job on our pictures. Mike and I can’t wait to see the album “in person”. The slide show still makes me cry! (I didn’t even NOTICE the typo and I have watched it a billion times. Thank you to whom ever mentioned that!) I hope your summer is going fab and that business continues to boom for you two. Give my best to brian. Lets chat soon!
Katie
Absolutely wonderful. I love it!