Bloomington weddings often come with limestone architecture, wooded hills and guests who have deep ties to the university and the town. This guide helps you decide between a wedding album and a wedding magazine, and how to build either one well.
What makes Bloomington photographs distinct
Bloomington is home to Indiana University, and the campus, with its limestone buildings and mature trees, features in many wedding galleries. Beyond the campus, rolling hills, forest and lakes give a different feel from the rest of the state. Photographs often mix stone, greenery and warm light.
Those textures reward a thoughtful layout. Pair a wide landscape with a close portrait, and let the stone and leaves act as quiet backgrounds. When many of your best images are rich in detail, a larger page size gives them room.
The case for an album
An album is the full account. It can hold up to 40 spreads, with sizes of 12×24, 16×24, 15×30 and 20×30 inches. If you have a long gallery and many people you want to include, it is the book that does not force hard cuts.
Classic binding is a good all-around choice. Lay-flat binding makes sense for the photos that run across the middle, like a wide shot of the whole guest list on a lawn. Add leather for $25 or acrylic for $39 if you want a covering that feels more formal.
The case for a magazine
The wedding magazine is 20 pages, 8.5×11 inches, with 15 original editorial styles and a $70 price. It suits couples who want a quick, attractive summary and enjoy the look of a printed feature. You preview every page before it prints.
Because it is compact, it is easy to order in numbers. Friends and relatives who traveled from out of state, or who could not attend, can receive one in the mail. It is a good first purchase if you are not sure how much you want to invest in a book.
A practical way to choose
Ask yourself how you will use the book. If it will sit on a shelf and be pulled out for visitors and anniversaries, choose the album. If it is meant to be shared widely and read quickly, choose the magazine. If you cannot decide, begin with the album and add magazines for family.
Also consider the size of your gallery. A very small set of photos fills a magazine better than a large album with sparse pages. A big set, with several hundred strong images, benefits from the album's extra space and keeps you from deleting photos you love.
Using the setting in your design
If your wedding took place near the campus or in the surrounding hills, let the setting guide your design. Use a limestone doorway as a frame for a portrait page, or open a chapter with an image of the trees at the hour you were married. Repeating a setting across spreads gives the book a clear sense of place.
Think about a closing spread as well. A quiet photograph of the two of you walking away, or a final shot of the empty venue, signals that the story has ended. Without a strong last page, an album can feel like it stops abruptly, even if every earlier page is beautiful. Settle the cover before you fuss over the interior. It sets the tone for every spread that follows, and it is the one image that has to work small, at a distance and in a frame on a shelf. If you are torn between two, pick the one that still reads from across the room.
Family gifts and ordering
Grandparents often cherish a book that gathers every relative in order. Parents appreciate their own copy, especially with a short note inside. Think about giving one at a rehearsal anniversary or at a holiday gathering when the whole family is together.
Folio Forever is an online studio based in Florida, delivering to Indiana addresses with tracking on every order. Printing takes 5 to 7 business days after approval and payment, with delivery by Express at $60, Standard at $32 or Economy at $12. If a book arrives with a print defect, damage in transit or anything that does not match the proof you approved, report it within 14 days of delivery for a free reprint or a full refund.
Questions
Which should I order first, an album or a magazine?
If you want the full record of the day, start with the album. If you want something quick to share, start with the magazine and add the album later.
Can I preview the magazine before it prints?
Yes. You can preview every page before the magazine is printed.
What sizes are available for albums?
Albums come in 12×24, 16×24, 15×30 and 20×30 inches.
Planning an album from your Bloomington photos? Design it online; you approve every page before it prints. See wedding album sizes and prices or the 20-page wedding magazine.