Why You Should Buy A Family Photo Album

The wonderful thing about a Family Photo Album is that, unlike most material possessions, it only increases in value over time. Our kids grow so quickly, so having a perfect time capsule to preserve a moment in time from their early childhood, can quickly become one of our most prized possessions.

As a Los Angeles Family Photographer, I believe a family photo album is the perfect way to document those early childhood years. Read on to find out what makes family photo albums so great and which ones to invest in.

5 Reasons You Should Invest In A Family Photo Album

1. They tell a story

Looking at a collection of images that reflects back those early childhood days will feel like quite the experience. Especially as time goes on and those days become more and more distant. Rather than seeing one or two photos on your wall, a family photo album is a chance to relive your story (and remind yourself that you survived it!)

Imagine yourself in a few years, sitting on the couch and looking through your photos with your teenagers. (It feels unthinkable at the moment, right? But that day will come.) How amazing for you to share that experience with them and have them see first-hand what those early childhood days were like. 

That moment is absolutely invaluable.

2. They are portable

Moving to a new place? Changing up your home decor? Installing wallpaper? No problem! Your family photo album goes where you go in a totally hassle-free way. This may seem like an obvious benefit, but it’s something you might not think about until you’re having to pack things up.

3. They are private

Unlike any artwork that hangs on your wall, a family photo album is only for the people you want to share it with. Your album might contain sensitive photos that are not for everyone to see. With albums, sharing your photos comes at your discretion.

4. You can make copies

Will you have doting grandparents around? An aunt or uncle who will be there with you every step of the way? Order multiples of your album! In fact, many photo labs will offer a discount for additional copies. When my daughter was born, I made an extra copy of our newborn photo album for my mom. She came to stay with us during those first couple of weeks and appeared in our family photos. I made a smaller copy of our album for her to take with her. 

5. They are something you can pass along to your kids one day

This will seem impossibly far down the line at this moment, but one day your babies will grow up and move out of the house. They might even start their own family. Imagine having your family photo album to pass along to them, to share with their partner and children. What a magical moment that would be… 

3 Great Brands for Family Photo Albums

1. Mpix

This is the #1 photo lab I recommend to my clients for when they want to buy their own print products. Whether you’re ordering loose prints, framed prints, or a newborn photo album, mpix is a great option. In fact, as a Los Angeles Family Photographer, I use their professional lab for all my client orders. Mpix is the client-facing version of that lab.

2. Bay Photo

Bay Photo would be my second choice for ordering products. As a consumer, placing an order might take a few extra minutes of your time, but the quality you get in the end is well worth it. Their prints are excellent and will last you a lifetime.

3. Social Print Studio

Social Print Studio is a great online lab that offers both great products and a user-friendly interface. This is a more affordable option that offers a good compromise between pricing and quality.

4. Order it through your Professional Photographer

If you are hiring someone for professional newborn photos, then by all means, make sure you work with someone who offers print products! Photographers are notoriously picky about the products they offer, so you will surely end up with the best of the best. Plus, it saves you the hassle of having to design and order a family photo album yourself. 

What’s The Difference Between A Family Photo Album and Photo Books?

Photo albums and photo books are very similar products with a few key differences:

1. Quality & Materials

A family photo album is printed on photographic semi-gloss or matte paper. It will resemble a photo print in terms of sheen and aesthetic. Photo books, on the other hand, are printed on press paper. Think thick card stock paper. Colors and details will display differently in each material. Photo paper has the capacity of holding a larger variety of colors and tones, not to mention vibrancy. (Keep in mind the average person might not take notice unless you offer them a side-by-side comparison.)

2. Cost

Because of the different materials, a photo album will be more expensive than a photo book as it is considered a more premium product. But if you have budgetary restrictions, then a photo book – especially a lay-flat photo book – is still a great way to go.

3. Durability

With the proper care, both items can last you a lifetime. But photo books are more susceptible to your everyday wear and tear because they are printed on press paper. On the other hand, they are less expensive to replace should they get damaged.

What Kind Of Cover Should I Get?

Most vendors give you an option between a photo cover and a material cover like leather or linen. When clients ask me about covers, I tell them that a photo cover reminds people of a coffee table book in the sense that it’s an invitation to look through the pages. So it depends what the purpose of your album is and what kind of photos it contains. It might include photos of your kids running around with their tushies out, or doing bath time. If the images are more sensitive or if you have modesty concerns, then I would go with a material cover to maintain your privacy. 

Another consideration is stackability. If you’re planning on growing your family or documenting several years of your kid’s childhood, think of these family albums as a set. They would look great stacked on a shelf. And if you’re going to stack them, they may as well be material covers since you won’t be looking at the tops of the albums. 

The last consideration is durability. A leather cover is easiest to clean and maintain. And thinking about how your kiddos might want to look through the album frequently, a material cover will be sturdier and harder to ruin. Some people are more precious about their belongings than others. If you feel you’re the kind of person who might cringe every time your toddler grabs your album off the coffee table or bookshelf, then go with a material cover.

PSA: Back Up Your Photos!

If you work with a professional photographer (which you should!) then please be sure to keep two separate copies of all of your photos. I suggest one set of photos on a computer or hard drive, and another set on a cloud-based service such as Dropbox.

If someone accidentally spills coffee on your family photo album down the line, it won’t be fun to have to order and pay for a whole new album, but it doesn’t compare to the emotional cost of losing those images forever.

Remember this is the kind of item, and these are the kinds of photographs, that only become more valuable over time exactly because they are impossible to replace once the moment has passed. Make sure you have a contingency plan should anything happen to your album or your digital copies. You should be aware that most family photographers can serve dozens or even hundreds of clients per year and will not be able to store your photos indefinitely. 

More Products To Display Your Photos

If you’re considering a professional family photo session and are wondering how else you might display your images, check out my article on “My 5 Favorite Print Products” for other great options.

And if you want to take more photos of your kids and would love some ideas from a professional family photographer, check out 8 Must-Have Family Photo Ideas (Free PDF Included!)

Why You Should Buy A Family Photo Album

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Marjorie Cohen is a Los Angeles Family Photographer offering at-home sessions to families in LA County. Marjorie works with parents who want relaxed and natural photos with their children. Follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for her latest work!