Pictured above: Woodland Synthetic Album by Taylor Pierce Photography in Manchester, TN .
I'm sure as most of you know, high quality is very important here at Taylor Pierce Photography. Each product I choose to include in my line up is carefully inspected and thought out. I like the best of the best for my clients and anything that goes out my door is guaranteed to last for a life time.
Today we are here to discuss what makes a good album. What are the qualities I look for in an album?
Not all cover materials are created the same. There is a high level of quality and craftsmanship that goes into curating and developing the perfect product. One way to tell if a leather cover is high quality is to look at the binding of the album. If the leather is folded over instead of "wrinkled" then the quality isn't as good. The more "wrinkles" it has, the better the quality. For synthetic albums, you want something that is smooth, thick, securely folded and bounded at the corner. Also look at the end sheet and make sure the quality is superior. Good end sheets will help protect the binding.
A high quality spine is a must have when choosing your photo album. Try shifting the album when you're inspecting it. A good album won't shift at the core. Why is this so important? Well, if an album is shifted too much what do you think will happen? It's going to fall apart and the paper may start to rip.
What type of paper is used for the album? Look for a thicker page and what type of ink is used. You will want something that will stand the test of time. You also don't want a page that will tear easily.
Lastly, where is it made? The albums I offer are hand crafted in the United States with artisan materials. Products manufactured here are usually built with higher quality components, which increases the longevity of products.
So the next time you look at samples of an album, use these tips to test the quality. And don't forget to ask your photographer where the albums are made.
Taylor Pierce