By Gary Barrett, three-time Wedding Photographer of the Year
Your wedding photographer has delivered your photos on a USB or a download link. You loved looking through them the first week. Then the USB went into a drawer, and the photos haven't been seen since. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. It's one of the most common things couples tell us.
The good news: turning those files into a luxury wedding album is simpler than you think. Here's exactly how it works, step by step.
1. Check you're allowed to print your photos
Most photographers allow couples to print the photos they deliver, but it's worth a quick look at your contract. We design albums using your photos exactly as your photographer delivered them. We don't edit photos taken by another photographer, out of respect for their work and copyright.
2. Find the original, full-size files
This is the step that makes the biggest difference to the finished album. Use the original high-resolution JPEG files from the USB or download link. Each one should be several MB in size.
- Do send the photos from a computer, straight from the USB or download folder.
- Don't send screenshots, photos saved from WhatsApp or social media, or files sent from a phone. They are usually low-resolution copies and won't print sharply at album size.
3. Choose how many photos to include
A simple rule: multiply the number of pages by 2, or by 3 at most. A 40-page album suits about 80 photos, up to a maximum of 120. Fewer, stronger photos almost always make a better album.
My own tip, after a lifetime of photographing weddings: tell the story of the day in order, from getting ready through to the last dance. Mix wide shots of the room with close-ups of hands, flowers and faces. And if two photos look almost the same, keep the better one.
4. Pick your cover, size and pages
Our wedding albums have thick 800gsm pages that are hard to bend, and come in two sizes: 12x12" (30x30cm) and 18x12" (45x30cm), with 20 to 80 pages. Cover choices:
- Leatherette - a classic, vegan leather-look cover in a choice of colours
- Linen - soft, textured fabric with a natural feel
- Velvet & suede - rich and tactile
- Acrylic photo cover - your favourite wedding photo on a glossy acrylic front
You can also have your names and wedding date laser engraved on the cover, add a matching album box, and order a pair of smaller parent albums as a gift for your families.
5. Send your photos - we design the album for you
You don't need any design software or skills. Here's what happens after you order:
- You get an email with a secure link to upload your photos.
- We design your album and email you the first draft within 3 working days of receiving your photos.
- You turn the pages online and ask for any changes. One full set of changes is included free.
- When you're happy, you click approve. Your album goes to print within 24 hours.
- Your finished album arrives within 3 weeks of approval, with free delivery across Ireland, the UK and Europe.
Don't leave your wedding photos in a drawer
Your photographer captured the day. An album is how you'll actually look at those photos for years to come, with your family, on your anniversary, and with your children one day.
Browse our luxury wedding albums or email us at info@weddingalbums.ie with any questions.