Simply Scrapbooking #2 : Choosing Photos

Welcome back!  In Lesson #1, I shared my simple scrapbooking goal for this year. It's my secret to Overcome the Overwhelm, and just GET STARTED!  In this week's edition, we will talk about how to choose your photos. I hope you'll join me.

Which photos do I choose?

Looking through my January photos, I pulled a few that match in overall colour, and tone. This will really help share my story, and to choose fun details to bring it to life. 

Every once in awhile I choose a truly mismatched collection of pictures. But typically, narrowing my photos down to one subject matter is easier. In this case, I can immediately start reaching for my One of a Kind snowflake bundle, which is where the process gets fun!

On the contrary, if I had chosen a broader mixture of subjects, it would be hard to know what stamps and embellishments might work.  

I also find that laying them out on top of my paper pack helps me to choose a collection that flows seamlessly together. 

How many photos?

For a single 12 x 12 layout, I usually choose "a handful" of pictures ... typically between three and eight photos.  For a two-page spread, I would recommend between five and twelve photos.  Why this range?  I ask myself two things: 

1. Are these photos I can crop down to size, or do most of them need to stay full size?  If the backgrounds are cluttered or repetitive, I like to REALLY zoom in on certain details, by cropping down to a 2x2” or 3x4.”  This not only fits more photos into a page, but it also adds interest for your family & loved ones to read. 

2.  Would I be willing to use Flip Flaps to add 3+ photos in the place of one?  Or do I want to keep things simpler on this page? 

Obviously, if you answered "no" above, you'll want to stick to the lower amounts of photos, or even one central photo to tell a story!

PROJECT TIP : "Main Character"

Our eye gets overwhelmed when too many photos fill the space. Look over your pictures, and pull out one that you feel or worthy of a little extra attention.  

This will be our "featured" or "main character" photo. We will treat this one quite differently, with matting & placement.

You'll see how I work this out, in the next Simple Scrapbooking layout posts.