Well, not really 'found', partially 'created'. Many of you may already know about blurb.com. It's a site that facilitates book publication. Anyway, this summer we spent time with the In-Laws and Jrex's sister and her family. Using my photos, as well as Dad K's, I created a photo book (with both of us on the cover as co-authors).
It took a long time to find the correct images. Of course, blurb provides layouts, but I eventually got a little frustrated with them and created my own layout in Photoshop. However, I think for any non-anal, non-designer types, blurb's layouts are a great solution!
I'm publishing three copies: one for us, one for the In-Laws and one for Sis. Voila! I look thoughtful and we save a couple hundred bucks buying individual gifts for each person.
The funny thing was how 'political' everything got. Selecting flattering pictures. Finding a blend of my style of casual, natural people shots, while including the requisite number of posed, stiff, centered people shots to cater to my In-Laws generation of Koreans. Writing up the story of hiking in order to reflect Mom K's enthusiasm while completely downplaying Dad K's lack of breathing ability (smoker + steep climb=sloooooooowwwww). Making sure to include enough of his photos to flatter him. He's got a great eye for landscapes, but he tends to center any human being. AND he doesn't know how to use his wonderful Nikon D60, so all his photos were tinted blue. Fortunately, I know how to do color correction, so they look great in the book.
I think I've navigated the relational shoals and created something that will honor and bless my father-in-law. Now I just have to figure out something for my own father...and Kindles are backordered for the next 11 weeks. Sigh. Anyone got any great gift ideas?
3 comments:
Ever since LN's birth, I've pretty much given a photo calendar as end of the year presents (since I don't do Christmas presents for adults..) for my family. It is perfect.
What a great idea for a gift! I think it means so much more than giving yet another tie.
For my dad's birthday, I gave him tickets to Cirque du Soleil.
I have not ever heard of Blurb, so I will definitely check it out.
I did photo books with MyPublisher.com and was VERY pleased. I used photos from our first family vacation to the beach this summer, with both candid shots we took and the professional pics we had done.
Since Personal seems to be the theme for a lot of people, think of what he really loves. Maybe find a book he loved and doesn't have or something with a lot of personal, sentimental meaning. But maybe without as much sap as I would. :-) I'm sure you'll come up with something spectacular!
Is there any way to share your book after the holidays? We could share ours, and it's been soooo hard not to, because the people I'd share it with are the recipients.
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