Part Four: Choosing Images for a Wedding Album
There can be no invariable formula for choosing a collection of images because each couple will have their own style, favourites, key characters they want to include and priorities for an album – for example, an album could consist entirely of images which feature the bride and groom. Nevertheless, it is possible to give some guidelines so that couples have a starting point.
As a foundation, I will use the 50-page large Fair Trade album, using one side only (so 50 sides). With some juggling of sizes, this works for the smaller 10 by 8 album too. The Jorgensen and Spicer Hallfield albums are based on 24 side albums, so the ‘headings’ and ratios below can simply be halved.
I suggest the following general content (see note on order of images at foot of the table) with some inbuilt flexibility:
Number of sides
(total 50) |
Description |
Size and number of prints |
| 2 |
‘Frontpiece’ – image of couple with text – names of couple, date, venue.
‘Endpiece’ – last image should be one of your real favourites to add impact at the end of the album |
2 × 12 by 8. |
| 14-18 |
Posed and informal ‘feature’ images of the couple together at various points in the day, for example in the ceremony;
signing the register;
confetti shots;
portraits outside church/venue and in special settings. |
14 × 12 by 8 or 28 × 9 by 6 or a combination (two 9 by 6 images on a side in portrait or vertical mode or one 12 by 8 in horizontal or landscape mode.) |
| 4 |
Bride featured – eg preparing at home;
with father before entering ceremony;
portraits to show off the dress etc. |
Any combination – one 12 by 8;
four 6 by 4s (landscape) on a side;
one portrait 9 by 6 and two landscape 6 by 4;
two portrait 9 by 6s or 7.5 by 5s. |
| 4 |
Groom featured – eg portraits before wedding;
with best man and ushers;
talking with guests. |
Combinations as above. |
| 10-12 |
Family and group images – informal and posed – including images with parents and siblings and immediate family. |
Combinations as above. |
| 4-6 |
‘Detail’ and context shots – flowers;
car;
general view of reception room in pristine condition;
rings;
external views of church/venue. |
Combinations as above. |
| 6-8 |
Portraits and interaction shots of family and guests (some/most with bride and groom). |
Combinations as above – four 6 by 4s on a page recommended. | |
Order of images: after the frontpiece it is effective to have two sides of very strong images of the bride and groom before progressing into a chronological layout and finally ending with another powerful image of the bride and groom. We organise our wedding displays on the web in this way. | 
