Firstly let me say that I’m not looking for a “right” vs. “wrong” answer in this. Hopefully this won’t turn into a debate…lol. I’m just curious as to how you ladies view this.
Wedding albums…the big/fancy physical ones that photographers charge an arm/leg for. How many of you have them? And those of you getting married in the future, how many are you planning on getting them?
Hubby and I are getting ALL our pics digitally only. We also own the copyrights so if we want to print them out or make albums in the future, we can do that without any issues. We did not (and not planning on) order any albums at all b/c in our opinion, they’re a waste of money. B/C we feel that after the initial few viewings…no one ever looks at them and they just sit and collect dust. Having the pics digitally, they can still be viewed by families, future kids, grandkids etc.
I went to a bridal shower over the weekend, and somehow weddings pics came up. When I stated that above, there were 2 desi girls there whose reaction would’ve made you think that I’m doing something againt nature! They kept repeating how the albums are for the parents to preserve memories blah blah blah. I wanted to ask the girls "well, let’s get your mom on the phone and ask her when was the last time she looked at your wedding album?! But it was a bridal shower and I didn’t want this to become a big deal or cause a scene…so I backed off and let everything slide.
The way hubby and I feel about the physical weddings albums…this is really a “weird” view of this? All the pics are digital so its not like the “wedding memories” aren’t being preserved. And of course there is video of the event. So why the big emphasis on physical albums.
On a side note, 1 of the girls at the shower, she got married almost a year ago and she still has not even ordered her album b/c she “doesn’t have time” to go through the pictures and pick the ones for the album. Yet according to her, she will still order them when she “get the chance” b/c it’s needed for the parents. I’m sorry but to me that makes absolutely no sense!
Again not wanting to start a debate b/c there is no “right” or “wrong” in this. But realistically, how often do our parents and in-laws look through the physical album of our wedding? In this digital era, are they still necessary?
I had them and will probably have them in the future.
I still find albums beautiful and timeless. The pleasure of going through pictures like that is not the same online. At least not to me. Your wedding album is a part of your wedding...and for some reason it never really feels complete until the album is done.
I want my parents to have one and me to have one. Its easy for them to show their friends and family and for me...I just love the feel of it.
instead of a fancy album, I had made a photobook myself at the local drugstore. (It was actually free because of my loyalty points...score! LOL)
I included certain pictures that I felt were the most meaningful and added captions to some of the photos as well. I had two copies made, one for my home (with the inlaws) and one for my parents home. From time to time, I look at my photobook and recall the people that were with us on that day that are not here anymore and remember how happy everyone was.
As for the one at my mom's house, lord knows where she put it. ha ha! I hope she didn't lose it!
Im having one well a set of three; a large one, parent copy, and pocket version. Storybook style albums. Photos are hugely important to me as I enjoy looking back at them, my mum and dads registry wedding album till this day makes me smile and mum has memories of them, unfortunately she didnt have an album for the reception and nikaah :(
Thanks for all the responses! Good to hear other pespectives.... :)
I came home and told my hubby about the girl's comments. Hubby said instead of the albums, he'd rather spend that same amount and buy brand new iPads, load all the pics on there, and give those to our parents.... :)
I think part of the reason I feel this way about physical albums is b/c in the last few years, my parents have totally leaned towards all pictures going digital. I know these days, my parents don't print out anything. Even with our old family albums (parents weddings pics, our childhood pics etc.), my dad scanned everything and gave us siblings a disk with everything in it. I know for a fact that the physical albums themselves sit on a shelf in their closet. I honestly can't remember the last time I looked at the physical albums. But we look at the digital pics more often.
But I can also see how some may prefer having the actual physical album. :)
If your parents are comfortable using technology, go ahead with the digital album option.
I know my mom doesn't want to be on the computer unless she is checking her email or bank account. Therefore, a physical album holds more value to her. :)
Big albums make great home decor pieces, just like books, especially those nice and big fashion and interior design books with wonderful images. I'm quite fond of such interior decorating so I'd certainly be making a wedding album as a customised home decor accessory, just like how its done in my parents house. Besides, everything is so diglitised and I use so much technology in my every day life, to me, the whole experience of sitting on your sofa and going through a family album, alone with friendsor family, can be quite theraputic and a great way to entertain the guests.
I do like the idea of a coffee table wedding book Jolie. Wish I actually had a coffee table. lol.
My sister did something similar with her first trip to Pakistan with her kids. She made a huge scrapbook for her coffee table, and I love going through it everytime I'm there.
for my family (even in this day and age with half my family on facebook) yes…the physical album is important to them…my mom and other family members hate viewing photos on a computer (vision issues) so i think the least i can do for them is give them a physical copy…
its not really a big deal…you either want it or you dont! Its not the end of the world if you dont, but since its part of the photography standard package sure why not!
also i found this…kinda cool its a package from an Irish Photographer…includes an Ipad!! hahahaha
Our Packages start at €1,995 and include the following:
**An Engagement Studio Portrait taken in Priory Studios, Dublin. The Portrait is mounted and framed ready for guests to sign their warm congratulations. **
Our wedding day photography coverage includes two photographers who will capture both the Bride and Grooms morning preparation, the ceremony, bridal party at a scenic location, families and group photographs at the church or venue and reportage shots up until you sit down for your meal.
**A private online gallery to enable you to share your wedding photos with your family and friends. **
**A slideshow containing all of your wedding photographs presented on an Apple iPad which is yours to keep **
**Or **
LOL! My dad is very comfy with technology (he loves to learn new things)…but my mom isn’t. So she’ll nag my dad into showing her stuff online. I think she only knows how to look up limited sites (ex. Macy’s) and look up stuff there. With dramas on YouTube, your mom is ahead of mine on technical skills! Mind you…my dad and us siblings have offered to teach her BASIC stuff plenty of times…but she refuses to learn. She’s very set in her ways.
A little off topic perhaps, but going through albums with little kids is a great bonding activity. For all the mums and dads, aunties and uncles out there, if you really need to have the little ones sit down in one place for an hour or so but can't think of any interesting enough activity, I suggest get a family photo album out and go through the pictures with them, they sure asks a lot of questions but its so much better than seeing them climb the furniture.
A little off topic perhaps, but going through albums with little kids is a great bonding activity. For all the mums and dads, aunties and uncles out there, if you really need to have the little ones sit down in one place for an hour or so but can't think of any interesting enough activity, I suggest get a family photo album out and go through the pictures with them, they sure asks a lot of questions but its so much better than seeing them climb the furniture.
I have loads of albums but I stopped buying them when I bought my first digi camera a decade ago...I think I should make prints of all the nice pictures and buy new albums. My kids love going through the old albums btw.
It's definitely a consideration what parents will also feel comfortable with. I would like to have both, just because my both sets of parents are good with technology and the album because I love physically looking at photo's.
Don't mind what silly girls say. It's always down to the individual. Also there's no need to spend so much ridiculous amounts of money on expensive photo albums when you can do them online. There's always deals on groupon or wherever!
How coool.!! Ipads start off at like 400ish pounds i think for the wifi version.! And some albums cost that much aswell, do u have a website for these people i wana show my fiance and annoy him lol as hes recently bought a new ipad haha x
Its not the end of the world if you dont, but since its part of the photography standard package sure why not!
but thaaats about it.
Mind you…my dad and us siblings have offered to teach her BASIC stuff plenty of times…but she refuses to learn. She’s very set in her ways.
haha x