Creating a Great a Wedding Album — At Home

So -- the honeymoon's over. You had a wonderful time. But now you're back, and everybody's asking to see your wedding album.

You unpack your swimsuits and suntan lotion, and take a look at what came back from the photographer's. What you find is several hundred images in no particular order, with no retouching. The studio has removed all the obvious no-gos, but you still find yourself faced with a formidable task. After all, you've seen the studio's sample albums -- they were great, and they gave you a benchmark to shoot for. It seemed simple at the time, but now you wonder if your album will ever look that good.

Not to worry: there are simple rules to follow that will help you create a great album.

First and foremost, a wedding album is a story. It has a beginning, and an end.

Traditionally, the frontspiece would be a close-up of your invitation, surrounded by your wedding flowers. But you don't have to stick with this. One alternative might be a soft-focus shot of your chapel's exterior. If you have the appropriate photo, you could also use a montage of wedding items (your Swarovski necklace, the wedding bands, a "something blue" garter, boutonnières or other mementos).

After the frontspiece, you'd typically follow with highlights from your "getting ready" stage. Must-haves include getting into that lovely gown, primping in front of the mirror, and making your grand entrance on the stairs. Don’t skimp in this area. Anticipation is the most delicious part of any wedding.

Next, you'll place the photos where you stroll down the aisle. After that, try to set the scene with wide-angle shots of the church. Follow this up with medium action pictures, then sprinkle in a few close-ups to capture details and facial expressions.

Alternate viewing angles for interest, and don't forget the photos of parents in the pews. To keep things lively, strive to avoid placing two similar photos next to each other.

On the other hand, keep in mind that three sequential photos that cover a moving moment can mean much more than a single photo. Take advantage of the power in multiple photo montages, but use them sparingly for best effect.

Now it's time for the park portraits. Start off with a bridal portrait (of course), and then a bride and groom portrait. Follow various shots of the wedding party with by family pictures, and more bride and groom portraits. End on a dynamite close-up of the bride and groom.

If you decide to include table shots, make sure you have every table covered. Split up the dancing pictures into groups, separated by table visits, group photos and fun shots. The reception story works best when you arrange your photos chronologically.

Every story needs a happy ending, so save a few romantic images for last.

That said, you should seriously consider letting the studio choose your photos and arrange your album for the biggest impact. Not only do they have a little objective distance, they're experts on what most people like to see over the years. With a few hints from you as to which images are must-includes, the studio's sure to come up with a winner.