It’s time for another photo book Q&A…and being January…this happens to be a timely one! 😉
Q: I really, really, really want to stay organized and on top of my photo book this year. Any suggestions?
[divider] A: YES! Ah, the new year. Ambitious goals that you really want to stick to…Here’s the thing…to really make sure you follow through, it has to become habit. So really spend the next 30-60 days paying attention to your intentions and goals. Do them, even if you feel like you’ve got it covered. Form the habit now!
[divider] Here is my go-to plan for staying on top of your photo book this year.
[divider] 1. Shoot at least weekly.
I applaud all of you who can shoot everyday. It’s just not right for me and my schedule. That being said, I make sure I get out my camera at least once a week…usually it’s 4-5 days a week. If you want a book that documents your life, your year; you’ve got to keep the camera accessible each week to capture the variety.
[divider] 2. Have specific projects or goals to work on throughout the year.
Working on a specific project or themes each month really helps you focus on what to shoot. There are numerous projects and themes out there. I’ve seen Project 52 themes, Letters to our Sons/Daughters, or getting in the frame with your kids. Select which one is right for you. And be sure not to overwhelm yourself. 😉
[divider] 3. Capture high and low.
I’m not talking about your position here, although that’s a great tip too! Great annual photo books balance the beautiful and candid moments in life. It’s definitely great to have photos that you want to feature large – photos that you are proud of as a photographer. But it’s also important to get those moments that may not in best light or best composition, too.
[divider] 4. Use Lightroom.
I love using this program. It has great organizational abilities plus you can edit your photographs – seamlessly in one program. If you do not have Lightroom and have an apple computer, iPhoto is a great solution to get started. The editing software is not as sophisticated as LR but it will definitely be what you need to stay organized and touch up your photos.
[divider] 5. Import your photos once a week.
I like to import my photos on the evening that I shot something. At the very least, make sure you import your photos off your card once a week. Don’t forget that ever important back-up (either online or on an external … or both!).
[divider] 6. Rate and edit your favorites on import.
After every import, I immediately go through and rate with 3 stars the photos that I love. Then I filter the photos to show only the 3-star photos. At that point, I figure out which ones to edit. If I have time, I’ll edit them all. If I end up having a lot of 3-stars, I’ll pick my favorites and edit those.
[divider] 7. Keyword.
On Sunday night, while I’m watching a TV show, I go through my photos and keyword the ones I want to go in my photo book. I use the keyword ‘photo book’. The key here is to pick something you’ll remember. You can also keyword where you were or who is in the photo.
[divider] 8. Create Smart Collections.
This is the crucial step. Create a Smart Collection to collect all of the keywording and tagging that you’ve been doing. Unfamiliar to smart collections? Check out this video.
[divider] 9. Once a month organize your photos.
Once a month, go through your smart collection and make sure all of your photos that you want for your photo book are cropped appropriately and edited the way you want. If you keep up with the steps above, this should not take a lot of time!
[divider] 10. Spend one night a month working on your book design.
Finally, take at least one night to import your photos into your book and work on the layouts. Even if you don’t get finished completely with the month of photos, you’ll have a good start and be way ahead of the game when the end of the year approaches.
[divider] Now it’s your turn! What is your favorite tip to staying on top of your photo book design?
