words + photos : monday
Tags:Hello words + photos.
For me, this is really the heart of scrapbooking. When I look back through all my layouts the ones I love the most are the simple ones that really focus on just the photos + the words. As so many of us know, it is way too easy to get caught up in the latest & greatest product, the desire for more, and never feeling like you have "just the right thing" to complete your project.
This week I am going to consider the following:What if I used all my creative energy towards the words + the photos and forgot about the rest of the stuff for one week? Imagine if all that creative strength went into my story (or the way I take my photos) rather than worrying about matching patterned paper and choosing embellishments?
What if I just told the darn story?
Is it still scrapbooking if no "extra-stuff" is present? Of course it is.
Now there should be no doubt that I love to play with products. I love to be inspired by new (and old) stuff and enjoy the creative process of working with patterns and embellishments. By taking a week out to focus on the words + photos I am challenging myself to really pay closer attention to the way in which I tell my stories.
Want to play along?
To begin this week I want to introduce you to my favorite layout. What I love most about it is that it completely tells a story from point A to point B. There is a balance between the words + photos and the only other product on the page are some chipboard letters.
[ from my book Life Artist ]
I love this layout for the design and the concept. It is organized and graphic. There is nothing extra distracting from the subject at hand. The photos show a variety of different angles and distances. These photos are not perfect (especially the one of the three of us which was taken while holding my arm out and pointing down) but they capture our routine authentically and accurately. The colors, the chaos, the winding down, the emotion - it's all there in the photos with support coming from the words.
This is a layout I will look back on in ten years and treasure.
Another thing I love about the above layout is that it is a concept that can be repeated. If I was to complete another page on this same theme this week the story would be similar but different. The PJ's are different now (he has outgrown all the matching sets and now wears big boy pants + white t-shirts to bed), he is doing more things on his own, etc. This is an evolving story. A part of our story I want to tell.
Here's another favorite from a few years back:
[ from my book A Designer's Eye for Scrapbooking ]
Again, the focus is on the photos and the words. The photos are the "decoration" as well as the content. They could tell almost as much of the story even without the words. Choosing which photos to take and which to use (and/or enlarge) are a big part of the way in which I tell my stories.
The enlarged photo of the boots was printed on cardstock and the title was added in Photoshop.
And here's a new layout using 4x6 photos:
Each photo was printed using the "white border" option on my small portable Kodak printer. The words for this layout came directly from a blog post back in February 2007. As you may be able to see, I took photos of photos and photos of displays (as well as of the monuments + friends). So many things to capture in DC.
Again the emphasis here is on the photos + the words with just a bit of patterned paper and embellishments - those extras were added mainly because I had left too small of a space for any white bordered photos to fit where the "travel log" embellishment piece was placed.
I created variety with the photos by not lining them all up from one level to another. Also notice that there are no white borders around any of the edges of the layout - any photo that came in contact with the edge had the white border removed along that line.
Over the next couple of days I will go into more detail about the way I choose my photos and the way I choose my words. Come by tomorrow for my philosophy on taking photos and some fun ways to play with printing your photos (and a cool giveaway).
[ The full words + photos series can be found here: monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday. ]
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85 comments
This is the best thing ever! I have such a love for photography and scrapbooking, but often times I get so intimidated by all the product out there. It's easy to forget the purpose of our scrapbooks. TO tell the story! I will definitely be doing this. Thanks, Ali!
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Love the concept in the last layout where you cropped the photos so no white space touches the edge of the layout. An interesting concept I would not have necessarily noticed if you hadn't pointed it out. I would have know I liked the layout, but I wouldn't know why. Thanks for sharing your process! Ever inspiring as always!
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i am needing this right now.
i am trying to see how much scrapping i can get done w/o going out and buying any more scrap supplies.
off to order some prints of photos!
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Sometimes I get so sick of all the embellishments and feeling like I never have it right, that I don't even want to walk in my scrapbook room. It's like I feel guilty if I don't get "the look". Really, all I need is the story, and a few (or a lot) of photos. Those are the things I'll treasure in the not-so-distant future, not the the latest and greatest from the manufacturers. Thanks for reminding me of this, Ali. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a scrapbooking room to go to.
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hmmmmm - you mean the "story" is why we do this!!?? Good points.
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Oh my gosh, this is just a complete carbon copy of how I've been feeling lately!!!!! I've had to remind myself to not buy more until I've used more, gotten frustrated at not being able to decide how to use this or that, etc.
But then finally realized... it's not the embellishment, ribbon, or chipboard that I'll be treasuring 10 years from now, it's the STORY AND PICTURES!!!!
So thank you, thank you for keeping the focus on the important stuff, and teaching/helping along the way.
THANK YOU!!
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I just love your simple approach. As a graphic designer, I really subscribe to the 'less is more' philosophy!
One quick question if you have time. I read on your blog a while ago that you limit yourself to a small palette of cardstock. One you mentioned is plain kraft colored CS. Where do you get it? I can not for the life of me find plain kraft cardstock!
Thanks for all the inspiration,
Kathi
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Ali - this is just what I need right now. Back to basics. i like to play in some online scrapbooking challenges - but I took a break from it - because it seemed more about creating the most "trendy" layout instead of telling the story. This week I will try to leave the "trendy" at the door and concentrate on the words + pictures. As always I love your style and your inspiration is always amazing to me.
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In the same line, I realized looking back at LOs that my favorites are the multi-photo ones... (unlike what you see in most magazines). Your point of view is VERY inspirational. Thank you!
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I am really looking forward to you sharing some of the "secrets" to your process...especially the "choosing words" part...it seems that is always the hardest part for me. You are always so inspiring!
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Now this is scrapbooking that I can "DO"! All the embellishment stuff...that's why I make cards! Thanks for sharing!
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This. is. just. what. I. needed. to. hear! As I sit here trying to figure out how to do the title and if I should add more to the LO or not! You are truly speaking to me today and I'm here to follow along on this path. Thank you for truly being an inspiration and an encouragement, Ali!
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Love your point here. Exactly why I loved making JS's ABC book for my 3 yr old on Shutterfly. Her templates took care of the color coordination and fun look, I got to focus on the photos and words. And---the real rarity, now we have a finished book in our hands just a week later. That's what I've been missing in my scrapping---the sense of completion!
The boots lo is one of my favorites of yours---but I find myself frozen, not ordering prints because I think I have to wait until planning a layout to know what size or PSE work I want to do...and then I have to wait for printing. I know you order prints as well as home print. How do order prints without having planned pages??
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i know this is off topic--but i miss your beautiful banners.
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Thanks Ali!
As always, very inspiring!
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Love this so much - love these layouts!!
Thanks always
Nicky
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Oh, I love this idea. It will definitely be difficult to play along as I am so flaired in my scrapping. I'll definitely try. Thanks for doing this!
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i love this idea...i'm going to give it a try!
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Oh my gosh, Ali thank you so much. Many times I wish I lived in the States so I could attend classes from all the people I love in this industry. I took one look at your blog this morning and felt utterly grateful and blessed that you give yourself, time, and knowledge to those of us who can't often get to your classes. THANK YOU
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Wow, this is so cool. Love how you explain your philosophy. I get it and love it. Thanks for sharing with us!
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