How to create your own photobook
As part of our photography series with CEWE, Helen Warwick shares some simple tricks in creating a spectacular photobook to remember a trip to Brazil
Surfboards at Ipanema Beach
Getting started
Capturing a destination's personality into just a handful of images is a tough task. For this reason, CEWE's downloadable software offers a variety of different photobooks to choose from, be it landscape, portrait, pocket size or XXL, plus options for the type of paper — classic, high gloss, matt, for example. You can even choose whether it's hardback or softcover. A recent adventure to Rio de Janeiro — with its infectious energy, iconic landmarks, and splashes of colour in every nook and cranny — had me snapping away at every juncture, and it was the perfect muse for developing a photobook. For my soul-stirring adventure, I plumped for the XXL hardback book, with matt photographic paper to show my shots at their finest. It's worth noting, though, if you change your mind during the design process, it's easy to switch it up.
Structure
The good news is you can combine shots from your camera with those on social media. Drag your chosen images onto the template, but keep in mind how you want to arrange your book. Will pictures appear in chronological order or thematically — perhaps you want to split it into beach, architecture, food, or by destination or neighbourhood? I loved the idea of different themes, so I combined Sugarloaf's Instagrammable views with those from the top of Christ the Redeemer, and swoon-worthy beach shots of Ipanema with the low-key, laid-back vibes of Ilha Grande — an island adrift off the coast of Rio.
Style
Touching up your images can make a real impact. The CEWE software gives users the option to add gradients to soften the edges of an image, include clipart, add shadows and rotate shots: this works really well with some of my Instagram images to give an old-style Polaroid look. Background colours can soften or highlight a shot, and there are plenty of shades to choose from. For me, I felt a white background accentuated the drama and the detail of my shots.
Layout
Every page can be different and there's a range of layout options to choose from, whether you have one image across a double-page spread or several arranged on the page. Alternatively, you can customise it yourself. I did an incredible hang-gliding trip while in Rio, but the quality of the shots was a little poor. So, I gathered nine images on one page to try and illustrate the magnitude and beauty of the experience, without it looking too unprofessional. Elsewhere, I wanted to showcase the cityscape in all its glory, with a cracking double-page spread of a shot I took at the top of Sugarloaf after rock-climbing to its summit: it showed the art deco statue of Christ, the curve of Copacabana, towering skyscrapers and the hulking hills that make up one of the most distinguishable cityscapes in the world.
If you're feeling inspired to create your own CEWE PHOTOBOOK, check out this video tutorial:
Like this? Find out what our art director, Chris Hudson, looks for in a travel photo story, or get some invaluable tips from travel photographer, Slawek Kozdras.
