A few of you have emailed or commented and asked about how I select the photos that are included in each of my weekly Project Life spreads - so I wanted to try to blog about that a bit today...
As a photographer, I more often than not have a wide selection of photos to work from - which is why my PL style ends up being very "photocentric" as I like to call it. ;)
When I attack a week of PL, I sit down and peek through the folders that include the snapshots from that week - I'll also pull up my phone pics from the week to see if there's anything there that I want to include that's not either not represented by a "BIG" camera shot (or sometimes is a better expression/angle/shot).
I make a mental list (and sometimes jot it down) of the main happenings that I want included and/or little quirky stories from that week.
Overall - my main goal is to record the little expressions, details, and everyday things that I know I'll love remembering years from now.
Using WEEK 41 from last fall as an example...
...This was actually a week where I DIDN'T have a ton of photos to work from. My sister had taken our family photos that week, and with the craziness of coodinating that & hoping that *ahem* Noah cooperated (it's always stressful, right?!) -- I just hadn't pulled out the camera much.
When I went back to look at what I had for the week it was really just phone pics and the photos from our family photo session. SO I decided to pick a favorite "outtake" from our family shots and blow it up to 12x12 and cover half the week's spread quick & easy. I had planned to chop it up to fit into a divided protector - but once I started in on WEEK 42, I knew that using a 12x12 on the reverse would work perfectly for that abbreviated week as well.
I knew that I wanted to include details from the boys parent / teacher conferences that week - so I created a digi word bubble card that contained details for each - and I had also snapped a pic of work that was shown to us during each, so I used those shots (the kindy journal for Ev, and the self portrait for Noah) to support the journaling cards and highlight the conferences.
The other "big" thing that happened that week in three-year old land for Noah was that he got to have the "me bag" from preschool. This =s show n tell week for him, which he had been ANXIOUSLY awaiting. :) I wanted to document this - so I snapped a pic of him with the bag on Friday morning and also took a quick shot of the contents. After working on Project Life albums for the past two years, I tend to "think ahead" like this - knowing that something will be great PL material and taking a pic to support it in the spread.
WEEK 38 had lots more photos to work from, and a few stories that I wanted to make sure were included. It was the start of teeball games for Evan, so that seemed to take over the week's spread (as it did our life that week!).
I had brought my "BIG" camera along for his first game, and pulled a variety of images from the night to include -- And instead of just 3 or 4 shots of his at bat and running bases, I instead chose a pregame shot of him warming up with Eric, one of him (that I featured in a 5x7 insert) in his new team uniform and with his new glove (story on that included as well!), a shot of all the team bats lined up and waiting in the dugout, and then still two action shots (snapped through the gate). I want the combination of the photos in my week to give a feel for what we were doing, and remind us of the little details of our everyday life years from now.
Eric had bought Ev a new glove for the season, and casually mentioned to me that he had never had a glove this nice as a kid, but was super excited for Evan to have it - and so I documented that on its own kraft edition card - stitching the glove tag to the top and printing out the details underneath.
...
WEEK 39 is a true hodpodge of everyday life shots. The Design D protector on the left side of the week's spread has 4 phone pics and 3 "big" camera shots. I love including my boys' artwork in Project Life - instead of just snapping a pic of the art, I like to have them hold it up if at all possible. I used a shot of Evan with his (adorable!) kindy hungry catepillar, and then included a supporting 3x4 shot of all the other artwork that he brought home along with the catepillar.
The shot of Noah in his pajamas & sunglasses dancing was to go along with a story about how he LOVES to dance to music from Daddy's phone after bathtime. Eric had snapped that shot - I snagged it from his phone. >>> And that's another great way to include a wider variety from your week too -- I tend to peek at Eric's photos at least once a week to see if there's something good I want to use.
**Keep the Questions coming - I'll try to cover as many as possible with blog posts in the coming weeks!**
:)
Used on WEEKS 38, 39 & 41: