Scrapbooking is one of the most enjoyable ways to capture the fun and memories of your summer vacation. The photographs you took don't have to end up in their original processing envelopes in drawers and boxes. Mesa, Arizona based scrapbooking expert Jill Davis, Founder of Scrapbook.com has some helpful tips on how you can create a simple vacation scrapbook or photo album.
Make a Plan Before Vacation:
Pack your camera in a padded storage bag with the following:
Identification information (to increase your chances of finding it if lost)
Battery charger and extra memory cards for digital camera
Extra batteries and rolls of film for traditional camera
Notebook and pencil to record the pictures you take and your thoughts and memories along the way
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Note: Some historical sites prohibit visitors from removing rocks and other items from the premises, be sure to abide by the laws of the country you are visiting.
While on Vacation:
Take your camera everywhere you go and take pictures. If you use a digital camera you can share the photos with family members along the way or when you return home. Some shots to consider are:
This sample layout courtesy of Stephanie Brown from Hawaii. Stephanie is known as "keelymonsters" on the Scrapbook.com message boards. Thanks for the great layout Stephanie!
People - Picture those who are with you and those you are traveling with in close-up and mid-range shots
Favorite Places - Wider angle, long-range photos of buildings, landscapes or locations. Long-range photos are more interesting if they include a person or people you know in them in the foreground.
Breathtaking vistas and panoramas - If you come across a breath-taking view and you don't have a panoramic setting on your camera do the following:
Stand in one place. Turn to your left and note the level your camera. Take a picture. Now moving your upper torso only, move the camera (at the same level) to where you left off with your first picture (actually back up just a little bit and capture some the scenery again). Take another picture. Keep doing this sequence until you get to the right-hand site of the scene. When you develop your photos you'll be able to splice them together and see the beautiful view in a gorgeous panorama.
The Best Food you eat and the restaurants you go to. Get close up of a plate of food you enjoyed and a picture you eating the food. Get pictures of everyone in one photo.
Capture the interesting animals, flowers, objects or people you see.
Focus on the unique or unusual items or activities - get close up shots of things you won't see or be able to capture again.
Zero in on the action, the crucial moments, and the enjoyment of the people you are with doing the best things and having the best time.
Photo document the billboards and signs of the places you stay, and interior shots of the best and most enjoyable people, activities and situations.
Memorialize sunsets and sunrises - go for the special moments and capture the beauty.
Start and maintain a summer vacation or trip diary. Take notes of your thoughts and feelings about each day in your special photo notebook. Remember to date each entry and identify the location. Make a list of the photos you take and write down who is in the pictures, what they are doing and when and where you are located.
Purchase lots postcards at each significant destination. Write in details about the day and your experiences, then mail it to yourself. When you get home you'll have pictures and the written recorded memories waiting for you. These postcards can be placed a photo album or you can scrapbook them with the rest of your photos.
When You Get Home:
If you used a digital camera, download your photos from your memory card to your computer and date each group of photos. If you used a traditional camera have your photos processed and write significant information (date, names of people in the photo and location) on the back of each photo when you get them back from the lab. Use an acid-free marker, not a ballpoint pen which can emboss your writing from the back to the front of the photo and could allow ink to migrate from photo to photo when stacked.
Purchase a photo album or a scrapbook.
Place your photos in chronological groups. You may want to select and arrange the photos, tickets, and other collected items and memorabilia you collected so the pages are all organized by date or location and theme. You may choose to cut them up and then paste them in place writing notes on the page to spice up the presentation and make it lively.
When each page is done, slide them into page protectors of your new scrapbook or in the sleeves of your photo album.
Now you can enjoy your memories and scrapbook them when you make the time to do so.
About the Author:
Jill Davis is the founder of Scrapbook.com. For more ideas on how to scrapbook and preserve your family and personal memories and more, visit the Gallery at Scrapbook.com.
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