| If you're looking for a wedding album you may be | | | | Wedding photographers may apply different |
| getting a bit confused about what's available. You'll | | | | marketing terms to products, one persons |
| hear albums called by many names but there are | | | | 'storybook' may use photographic paper, and |
| really just two main choices, flush mount or matted. | | | | another's may use digital press. 'Flush mount wedding |
| 1. Flush mount albums: | | | | albums' tend to be on photographic paper, 'Digital |
| You may have heard flush mount wedding albums | | | | coffee table books' or 'digital albums' are more likely |
| referred to as 'storybook', 'magazine type', 'digital' or | | | | to be printed using digital press. The only way you |
| 'coffee table' albums. These are all basically the same | | | | can be sure of what you are getting is to ask the |
| thing, an image, or a layout of several images, printed | | | | right questions: 'Will my album be on photographic |
| on to a page and bound into an album; the image | | | | paper', 'Will the images be mounted on a card backing |
| goes right to the edge of the page with no border. | | | | before binding' etc. |
| Flush mounts are very versatile, imagine some of the | | | | Advantages of flush mounts: |
| ways that a glossy magazine page can be laid out | | | | - Limitless design options. |
| and you'll get the idea. Have a look at the websites | | | | - A modern contemporary look. |
| for Graphi in Italy, Finao in the US or SIM200 in the | | | | - Possible cost savings, compared to matted albums, |
| UK to see some of the options, all of these | | | | especially on second albums and parent books. |
| manufacturers deliver worldwide. | | | | 2. Matted albums: |
| Albums can be designed by your wedding | | | | These are a more traditional type of album, |
| photographer or directly by the album manufacturer. | | | | photographs are mounted behind openings or |
| Pages are laid out using design software and may | | | | apertures, bevel cut into boards (or mattes) and |
| use one or more images per page. There are endless | | | | assembled into pages. This is the sort of album your |
| possibilities for different designs: Panoramic photos | | | | parents may have had, though several manufacturers |
| can be laid out over two pages with no break at the | | | | have given them a modern facelift. |
| spine, one image can be used as a background and | | | | The more expensive versions will be laid out page by |
| another laid over the top, borders and effects can | | | | page, then each matte will individually cut and bound |
| be applied to each image individually. If you are using | | | | into the album. Photos are mounted behind the |
| a good designer you should end up with a beautiful | | | | mattes, framing each image in it's own aperture. As |
| and completely unique record of your day. | | | | with a flush mount you can have one or more |
| One of the big advantages of flush mounts is the | | | | images on each page, though the design options are |
| ability to produce copies at reduced cost. Once your | | | | more limited. Top manufacturers include Jorgensen or |
| album is designed and stored as a digital file it can | | | | Seldex in Australia and Queensbury in New Zealand |
| easily be reproduced at different sizes with different | | | | (Yes, you really need to go that far to get the best |
| covers. This makes them ideal for parents' copies and | | | | matted albums). Prices can be quite a lot higher than |
| even miniature versions for friends and family. | | | | flush mounts. |
| Different types of flush mount albums: | | | | There are also cheaper versions available, where the |
| While the design process for all types of flush | | | | photographs can be slipped into pre-designed |
| mounts is the same, there are variations in the way | | | | openings. These can be a good choice if you are on |
| that albums are printed and bound. High quality | | | | a budget, but means you have no opportunity for |
| albums are printed on photographic paper and | | | | individual design. |
| mounted on board before binding them into an album. | | | | Advantages of matted albums: |
| This makes the albums very robust and the | | | | - Prints don't touch, held apart by mattes, so less |
| photographic paper gives a fantastic range of colours | | | | likely to stick in damp conditions. |
| and tones. | | | | - A more classic or traditional look. |
| Other albums (often called 'books' rather than | | | | - Less influenced by current fashions, so they may |
| 'albums') may be printed using a digital press system. | | | | age better. |
| This gives a quality similar to litho printing in a good | | | | Choosing between a flush mount or matted album is |
| quality photography book. The pages are thinner than | | | | a matter of personal choice, they can both look |
| photographic paper and are not mounted on board, | | | | great. Have a look on the internet and ask your |
| so more prone to damage in the long term. | | | | wedding photographer to see samples, you'll soon |
| Both types can give excellent results, though I would | | | | get an idea of what you like. Prices can be high but |
| always recommend photographic paper for a main | | | | you'll want this to last a lifetime, so keep an eye on |
| album. | | | | the quality too. |
| How do you know which type you are getting? | | | | |