There's something about sitting down with a photograph album and just browsing through the pages, whether on your own or with friends and family. And even though digital technology has changed the way images are stored today, albums containing hard-copy photographs continue to be sought-after, particularly when it comes to events such as weddings.
Indication that hard-copy photographs are treasured is that when asked what is the first thing you would save in the event of a house fire many would immediately say the photograph albums.
Another advantage of the coffee-table photograph album is that it is instantly available and does not require power to operate! Albums can be superbly hand-crafted and provide an attractive way to both store and present photographs. Technology also enables them to be acid-free to ensure the enduring quality of the prints.
With the launch of affordable digital cameras have come CDs, DVDs, iPods and various memory cards and sticks as storage. But having hard copies provides backup in the case of data failure.
PHOTOBOOKS
Most professional photographers are using digital technology to create photobooks. Using a magazine-style format and computer manipulation, the albums become a form of stylised storybook, complete with customised title pages. The finish is superb.
Couples can also create their own photobooks using digital photographs taken by friends or family. To create them software can be purchased and the book created at home. People can use computers in photographic outlets that offer the technology or the outlets will compile the photobooks for them. The books, which are carefully bound, are taking their place as another way in which photographic heirlooms are created.
