I have to be honest, of the various steps in making a photo book, editing the photos is not my favorite part. Occasionally I get sucked into the editing process and really enjoy fine-tuning and improving a photo through the various tools in Lightroom (my preferred editing program).
But for the most part, I do very minimal editing. I cover the basics with my go-to steps. Crop, white balance, adjustments in the basics panel (exposure, highlights, shadows, black and white sliders) are common adjustments I make with pretty much every photo. Some photos require additional editing in the tone curve, HSL panel, cloning, filters and the adjustment brushes.
While that explains my typical workflow, it sounds a little cumbersome but I can actually move through the various panels pretty quickly. Another tip, I’ve created presets based on common adjustments I make to most photos.
My video tutorial this month illustrates how I typically move through editing my photos. If you remember, the first video showed how I take the photos; the second video showed how I select the photos for a book. Today, I’m revealing how I edit – without any presets.
Make sure you stay tuned for next month where we finally see how these photos are translated to a book layout!
This month’s photo book video tutorial is a special behind-the-scenes on how I approach design – specifically when designing a photo book cover.
Covers are the outward face of your book and are really the place where you can be the most expressive! Because of this, it can sometimes be a little daunting to create.
Lucky for you, every Friday, I provide a photo book cover design for you to pin or to inspire your own creation.
In this video, I’m going to show you the 8 steps I took to create last week’s cover example.
I would love to hear from you! What other design aspect can I go behind-the-scenes and show you? What are you yearning to learn how to do? Let me know in the comments below – or – if you have 3 minutes, fill out my brief survey.
As you may have read, for 2014 I’ve set up a Photo Book Accountability Group. That’s right, this is the year where you don’t wait until the end to design your photo book!
In this video, I include a sample of how I addressed a particular question in her book. She was trying to connect how to create a template of the month section divider for her photo book.
If you’re curious to see how I can answer your photo book questions, email me, info@bookthisproject.com, and I’ll fill you in on the details. This product is only available until the end of the month so make sure you check it out now!
Maybe you’ve seen a couple of posts or images of Artifact Uprising books? Or read my recent review of my experience with them? Perhaps you’re curious to check them out but a little intimidated because you’ve never worked in the program before.
Don’t be! My video tutorial this month takes you inside the design program of Artifact Uprising. You’ll see how to create gorgeous photo books that are a snap to put together.
Here’s an image from the Artifact Uprising website.
[divider] I wanted to design an Instagram book but – and this may be a big shocker for some of you – I do not yet have a smart phone so taking photos with my phone and/or using Instagram is a little more challenging. I decided to reach out to my good friend, Nicole, and use the lovely photos from her Instagram feed. If you’re not familiar with her work…start now! Follow her on Instagram or Facebook. She always provides such inspiring images of everyday life. And our kids are about the same age, so I relate to so much on what goes on in her household.
[divider] In this month’s video tutorial, I show how easy it is to create a book with Artifact Uprising and reveal my best tip for working in this program.
Let me know in the comments below if you’ve tried Artifact Uprising yet! If not, why not!?!
Congrats to all of those who have finished a Project 365!
I prepared a free download for all The Photographer Within members with my favorite tips plus 16 layout ideas for designing a Project 365 Photo Book.
[divider_flat] Then I took those 16 layout ideas and transformed them into a BTP Photo Book Template. All you have to do is install the template, place your photos and order your book.
[divider_flat] Today, in this first monthly podcast of 2014, I show you how to design a Project 365 book using the LR Book Module.
I think you can tell how impressed I am with all of those who finished a Project 365!!!
If you completed a Project 365 (or starting one this year), leave a comment below and share your 365 blog!!!
It can be done – I promise! In my November podcast (below), I explain 3 crucial steps to designing a photo book, in a time crunch.
We are all so incredibly busy…but I think it is so important to find the time to actually sit down and design your photo book. Whether you spend a couple of hours a night for 5 days or 30 minutes for 30 days, you can do this.
The result is having a fantastic looking photo book to share with family and friends over the holidays.
Special Product
Also with this challenge, I have a special new learning product, on sale during the month of November. You will receive a 45-page pdf download plus a 220-page book template for Blurb’s BookSmart program.
The pdf contains 30 tips to help you design your photo book, a calendar mapping out a strategy, and a guide on how to use and adjust the template to your book vision.
Also included in the purchase is a link to a private Facebook group where you can share your progress, ask questions and receive encouragement from others designing their books.
Contest
If you purchase this product, participate in the challenge and have your book ready (or almost ready) to order by December 9, 2013, you can enter my contest to receive $100 (via paypal) toward your purchase of your photo book. Only 1 entry will be randomly selected. More details are in the pdf download.
You do NOT have to print with Blurb or use the template to enter this contest. The main requirement is to have your book designed and ready to order by December 9, 2013.
Leave a comment below letting me know you are committed to designing a photo book over the next month. I want to see your progress and your book!!!
If you are a newsletter subscriber, you know that we recently moved back into our house after a lengthy renovation. (If you’re not on my newsletter yet – sign up at the top of my sidebar –>.)
Even though it took over 10 weeks, we only renovated our bathrooms and added a bonus room in our attic. But it was a very needed bathroom so it was worth it!
To check out a couple of photos from our recently finished space + to see my main workspace, watch this very quick podcast.
I’d love to hear where you do most of your photo / photo book design work? Is you computer in a separate office or in the main space of your house? Leave a comment below – should be fun to hear where everyone spends their computer time!
This week I released the Pre-Workshop Lesson to my Intro to Photo Book Design Workshop. (There is still time to sign-up if you want a spot!) It is all about vision. Vision is one of the most important components to photo book design. Without it, it makes it harder to finish your book and with it your photo book is more intentional, specific and cohesive from beginning to end.
While I go into way more detail in my Intro Workshop, here is a brief description of five key elements to determining the vision for your photo book.
Here are five key elements I describe in this podcast:
Lately I’ve been writing a lot about vacation photo books. Today I want to include a couple of tips on taking vacation photos and designing your vacation book.
This may help you decide which photographs to use and what to do with them. Or if you are like me, perhaps you have one vacation planned for Labor Day weekend!
First, take a look at the vacation book I designed last summer.
[divider] Third, here is my August podcast. I apologize for the quality. I’m staying at my in-laws while our house is being renovated so I didn’t have my microphone – and – I have a bit of a cold!
Leave a comment below letting me know your favorite tip to use in your vacation photo book!
