Annapolis is a sailing town with a historic downtown, brick sidewalks, the waterfront and the Chesapeake Bay close by. Couples married here tend to have photographs full of water and old buildings, and choosing the right printed book helps them last.
Two keepsakes, two jobs
A wedding album is the longer, weightier option. Spreads are large, the paper is rich, and the whole day is told in order. You can choose from four sizes, 12×24, 16×24, 15×30 and 20×30 inches, with classic or lay-flat binding. The cover can be a photo, leather at +$25 or acrylic at +$39, so you can match the book to the room where it will live.
A wedding magazine is lighter, a 20-page editorial book at 8.5×11 inches with 15 original styles and a $70 price. It reads quickly, feels like a feature story, and is easy to share.
Whichever you choose, you can start in the designer and decide later. Preview every page before you order.
Matching the book to your photos
If your gallery is built on wide scenes, such as the harbor, the bay, masts and sky, lay-flat binding is worth considering. The pages open completely flat, so a panoramic frame can run across both pages without a seam. Dates matter to those scenes. During Naval Academy Commissioning Week in late May, and the sailboat and powerboat shows at the City Dock in October, the harbor and the downtown streets are packed, which either makes the backdrop or crowds it out.
If your wedding was small, a magazine may suit better. Twenty pages is a comfortable size for a quiet ceremony and a dinner with close family, and you can always add an album down the road. A magazine is also an easy way to share the day with friends who live far from Annapolis, since it ships anywhere in the United States.
Choosing the images
Begin with the people. Pick the portraits and family groups that matter most, then add the details that set the scene, like flowers, rings, the table and the harbor light. Make sure each page has a clear focal point. Remember that a single great portrait of the two of you, given a full page, often does more than a collage.
Group the story into chapters: getting ready, ceremony, portraits, reception. Within each chapter, keep a variety of wide, medium and close shots. That mix gives the pages rhythm and helps the book read like a story.
Finally, cut near-duplicates. Keep the strongest frame of each moment and let the others go.
Family copies and gifts
Parents and grandparents are the obvious people to hand a copy of their own. If relatives travelled in from other states, a magazine mailed to each household is a thoughtful gift, and an album can sit at the center of the family home. If you want the book to carry your voice as well as your photographs, write a line inside the cover by hand.
Plan your timing. Printing takes 5 to 7 business days after approval and payment, and delivery is Express at $60 for 5 to 7 days, Standard at $32 for 7 to 10 days or Economy at $12 for 15 to 18 days.
Designing it with Folio Forever
The album designer uses Smart Auto-Layout to design every spread from your photos. You can edit anything and you approve each page before printing. If you want help, an optional design-team polish is available for $99.
Prices include 15 spreads and a photo cover, with classic from $240 and lay-flat from $275 at the smaller sizes. We are a Florida-based studio and ship to Annapolis and the rest of Maryland. If a book arrives with a print or binding defect, transit damage, or anything that does not match the approved proof, report it within 14 days of delivery for a free reprint or a full refund.
Take your time on the first draft, put it down for a day, and come back with fresh eyes. The best books usually come from a second look.
Questions
Should I choose an album or a magazine?
Choose an album for a full heirloom and a magazine for a lighter, shareable story. You can order both from the same photos.
Does lay-flat cost more?
Yes, slightly. At the smaller sizes classic starts at $240 and lay-flat at $275, with 15 spreads and a photo cover included.
Can I add more than 15 spreads?
Yes. Extra spreads are $8 to $18 each depending on size and binding, up to 40 spreads.
Planning an album from your Annapolis photos? Design it online; you approve every page before it prints. See wedding album sizes and prices or the 20-page wedding magazine.