Natalie Gibbs Photography - Christiansburg, Virginia » Products

Wedding Albums, part 3: The Matted Album

Natalie — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:00:45 +0000

Want something beautiful and classic to commemorate your wedding day? A matted album might be perfect for you. Click to see more!

Photographers talk a lot about books that are "not your parent's wedding album." Or books that are "modern" and "fresh" and "contemporary." But sometimes, a couple wants a book that is just CLASSIC. And here it is: the matted album. The quintessential heirloom wedding book. I never thought much about matted albums until I had a couple ask about one. This year I finally got around to designing a sample, and I have to say, this album has something special about it. I loved being able to order all the prints separately and hand-mount them to the page. Feeling the texture of the mats and the slickness of the prints and knowing that the photos in the book are ACTUAL PHOTOS and not just huge 2-page snazzy designs is really nice. The album design still allows for multiple photos, multiple sizes, and even full panoramic spreads (although there is a split gutter). And best of all, the raised mats around each picture give the album an extra dimension (literally) that the other books just don't have. Yes, it's traditional. But it's kind of great, too. It's perfect for the couple who wants something understated but classically beautiful. Something that will NEVER go out of style. This sample features Patrick and Meredith's gorgeous wedding at the Hahn Horticultural Gardens.

The sample above is a 12x12" book with 30 pages. Smaller versions are available too! The turquoise book you see below is a 9x9" matted portrait album, which you'll see more of in a future post.

Wedding Albums, part 2: The Press Print

Natalie — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 01:44:45 +0000

Welcome to part 2 of my album series, featuring the modern press-print photo book. Click for more!

Press printed albums are exactly what they sound like: albums that are printed on a press, much like a magazine or bookstore book. They have a slim profile and feature thin, flexible pages like a coffee table book would have. The press-print books I use lay flat so that you can look at an entire spread at once, but there is a split down the gutter (unlike a flushmount, where paper is continuous across the book). Because the books are press-printed, the printing is not quite as vivid as a flushmount or matted album, but if you're just looking for something low key to have around on your coffee table, this is a winner. They have a very modern look, and are nothing like your parents' wedding album. The main advantage to press-printed books is the number of pages they can contain. A basic press-print like the blue one you see below can have up to 80 or more pages, and the purple book at the bottom of this post can have up to 300. For couples who have a really difficult time narrowing down their album pictures, a press printed album is often a perfect fit. This blue book is an 8x10" press-print with glossy pages and a blue soft leather cover. The photo is actually mounted as part of the cover (it's not the first page of the book). This is the type of book that is included in my base wedding package, and it makes a good parent gift book as well, especially in a smaller size. This particular sample features Bryan and Sarah's wedding at Montfair Resort Farm in Crozet, Virginia.

The book below is a higher end press print, and can hold up to 300 pages. Its design is simpler - usually only one photo per page - and the printing is a bit higher quality. Recycled pages and other eco-friendly options are available with this type of book, as well as about 30 different style options - everything from linens to damask fabrics to hand stitched leathers, from snaps to magnetic closures to raw, unfinished edges. My favorite feature: the vellum sheets used to divide each section of the book. The protective sheath is pretty handy, too.

Stay tuned for more products, including portrait books and matted albums.

Albums, part 1: The Flushmount

Natalie — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:10:35 +0000

Part 1 of my series of photo albums and books, featuring the beautiful, hardy flushmount! Click for more.

This summer I went on maternity leave, from both my teaching job and my photography work. While it was really, really hard to say no to weddings during that time, I used the time at home to work really hard on my album offerings (with a baby sleeping on me, most of the time!). I'm pleased to say I now have a whole new line-up of samples, all of which I LOVE. They're all very different, so I'm going to give each book style its very own blog post, full of pictures and information. First up, the flushmount! Flushmounted wedding albums are relatively new. They feature actual photographic prints that have been bonded to each page. This makes for thick pages, heavy books, and BEAUTIFUL, beautiful printing. The printing process provides really crisp prints with deep shadows and vivid color, and the prints should not fade or discolor over time. There are many, many flushmount album companies available right now. Some even sell directly to consumers. After trying several different companies, I've finally settled on one that I absolutely love. They are called Redtree, they're based in Kentucky, and they produce gorgeous, classy books with a TIMELESS style. It's hard to show in pictures, but this book is simply a joy to hold and touch and flip through. And I am absolutely *in love* with the cover imprinting (photo covers are also available). To be quiet honest, I was ready to give up on flushmounts until I got this book, and now I think EVERYONE needs one. These flushmounts feature gutter-less spreads, which means there is absolutely no break between pages. This makes them ideal for panoramic spreads. Imagine opening your book to see a full 10x20" photos of your first kiss as a married couple, surrounded by friends and family at your ceremony. Or a sweeping view of your reception, with lights and dancing and candles all around. These things are possible with the gutterless printing. My husband loves flushmounts because they "feel well-made." The construction is definitely top-notch. These flushmounts come in a wide selection of soft leathers (including suede!) and fabrics (silks and linens). They are hand-bound and made to last... definitely something to consider when you're investing in an album to have for the next 60 years or more. The downside: thick, heavy, sturdy pages mean you can't fit quite as many pages in your book. This book is 25 spreads, and it's kind of a whopper. I don't like to cram more than 3-4 photos per spread, so that means a BIG flush-mount might be good for your top 75-100 wedding photos. Any more than that, and you probably need to consider something with a little slimmer profile. That said, for most couples, your top 75 photos is PLENTY. Enjoy these photos of my sample book, from Kristin and Teddy's wedding at the Hans Meadows Inn in Christiansburg. An album like this in included in my top two wedding packages, and you can easily upgrade to it from the base package as well.

Photographer-tested, baby-approved!