As mamas, we take so many photos of our kids and families. But have you ever flipped through your photo gallery or family album and felt like the photos don’t quite flow together? Maybe one is too dark, another is overly bright, or the colours just don’t match. The secret to making your family album look like a professional masterpiece isn’t fancy equipment or hours of editing – it’s all about creating a cohesive look.
Here’s how to achieve that dreamy, polished style for your family photos, even if you’re editing them on the go with your phone.
1. Focus on the Mood
The mood of your photos plays a huge role in how your album feels overall. When putting together your family album, you can choose to keep a consistent mood across all your photos or vary it throughout the spread to reflect different moments and emotions.
- Consistent mood: Opt for a similar vibe, like warm and cosy, or light and airy, to create a seamless flow across your album. This works well for a polished, professional feel.
- Varying moods: Mix up the moods to tell a more dynamic story. For example, balance joyful, playful moments with quieter, intimate ones. This approach can add depth and interest to your album.
Think about how you want your album to feel overall and edit your photos to enhance that mood.
2. Use Presets to Tie It All Together
Presets are the ultimate time-saver for busy mamas. Think of them as a one-click magic wand that instantly transforms your photos and gives them a consistent look.
Here’s how to use presets to make your family album cohesive:
- Pick a signature style: Do you love warm and cosy tones? Or maybe bright and airy edits? Choose a preset pack (like Mamastalgia’s presets!) that matches your vibe and stick with it across all your photos.
- Apply the same preset to all photos: This ensures the colours, brightness, and tones in your images flow seamlessly.
- Make small tweaks: Not every photo will look perfect with just one click. Adjust exposure, contrast, or shadows as needed to keep things looking natural.
3. Edit in Batches
Batch editing is a game-changer when you have a gallery full of photos to tackle. Instead of editing each photo from scratch, Lightroom Mobile lets you copy your edits from one photo and paste them onto others. Here’s how:
- Edit one photo to your liking using a preset and manual tweaks.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner of Lightroom Mobile and select “Copy Settings.”
- Select the rest of your photos, tap “Paste Settings,” and watch your album transform!
This not only saves time but ensures all your photos have a consistent look.
4. Vary Your Cropping and Framing
Using a mix of cropping and framing styles can make your album visually engaging. Try these tips:
- Alternate between close-ups and wide shots: Capture the small details like tiny hands and feet, then pull back to show the whole family or the scenery.
- Incorporate negative space: Leave some empty space around your subject to create breathing room and a clean, modern aesthetic.
- Experiment with angles: Include shots from above, at eye level, or even low angles for variety.
This diversity in framing keeps your album dynamic and visually interesting while still feeling cohesive.
5. Pay Attention to Colour Tones
Colour tones are key to creating a cohesive vibe. If some of your photos have cool blue tones while others are warm and golden, your album might feel mismatched.
- Adjust white balance: Use the temperature slider in Lightroom Mobile to make all your photos lean slightly warm or cool, depending on your style.
- Enhance with presets: Good presets will naturally balance out your colour tones, but you can always fine-tune them manually.
- Avoid oversaturation: Subtle, natural colours are timeless and help your photos feel connected.
6. Tell a Story
The best family albums don’t just look good – they tell a story. Arrange your photos in a way that captures the narrative of your family moments. For example:
- Start with a wide shot of your whole family to set the scene.
- Add close-ups of little hands, feet, or playful expressions to bring in emotion.
- Finish with candid moments that show connection and personality.
When your photos flow together visually and emotionally, your album will truly stand out.
7. Print your Album
Choosing a printer is a big deal! Many professional printing labs require you to be a professional lab to access them. Here are some beautiful album printing options available to all:
- ONCE UPON: An easy way to print your photos
- MILK Books: High quality and precious: designed for life’s greatest moments
- Wooden banana: Only available to professional photographers, but well worth investigating if you fall into that category.
When your photos flow together visually and emotionally, your album will truly stand out.
Ready to Create your Family Photo Album?
Of course you are going to need to have photos to put in it! Want to take the challenge over the next 12 months to capture heartwarming photos of your kids which you are going to want to remember forever and ever? Join project Recollect –
Get started today and create an album that tells your family’s unique story beautifully!
