The wedding is behind you. All the presents have been opened. Your feet have finally stopped hurting. You may have even managed to squeeze in a honeymoon. And now the moment of truth has arrived - it’s time to choose the photos for your digital wedding album.

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It’s no surprise that many couples delay this task, sometimes even for up to a year(!) after the wedding. In the age of digital photography and endless shutter clicks, sifting through 2,000 photos or more, sometimes frame after frame of the same moment, this is no small task. How are you supposed to decide in which split-second your smile looked best, or which version of the family photo to pick when in one frame Dad isn’t smiling, in the next Mom is too serious, and in the third your little brother is sticking his tongue out?

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Still, whether it’s because your parents are nudging you or because you just want to get it over with, the day comes when you finally sit down and begin sorting through the endless stream of photos, picking those that will go into the album, the same album you’ll flip through fifty years from now with your grandchildren, eyes full of nostalgia.

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But wait — do you know how to choose the right photos for a digital wedding album?

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When it comes to designing a wedding album, many factors come into play, and the beauty of your smile isn’t necessarily one of them. Designers often find themselves stuck when working with photo selections that simply don’t allow for the best creative layout. It’s not anyone’s fault since the couple usually isn’t aware of the design considerations involved.

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To help you get a stunning, professionally designed wedding album, here are some key points to keep in mind:

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1. Choose both horizontal and vertical photos

This gives your designer more flexibility in layout. Horizontal (landscape) images are perfect for full-page spreads and often serve as background images for other photos. Vertical (portrait) images can be beautifully arranged alongside horizontal ones for dynamic page compositions. This is especially important for the couple and family photo sessions. Just don’t choose too many vertical shots — they are harder to work with in album layouts.

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2. Don’t choose multiple nearly identical shots

Yes, I know - photos 574, 575, and 576 are all perfect. The only difference is a tilt of the head, but they’re all just so perfect. It might seem like a fun idea to include a sequence in the album, but not every set of consecutive shots is unique or interesting enough to justify that. Limit yourself to one or two such sequences. Otherwise, it becomes repetitive and loses impact.

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3. Vary your poses

"Don’t strike a pose" is not the rule here. On the contrary, the more variation, the better. Don’t choose four photos in the exact same pose with the camera just slightly zoomed in or out. It’ll be hard to use them effectively in the design since they’ll look like duplicates. Pick photos that show a clear difference in posture and expression.

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4. Include photos from each shoot location

If your photographer shot you in several backdrop locations, try to choose at least 3 images from each one so the designer can dedicate a page or layout to each session. Otherwise, it’ll be harder to blend the photos seamlessly.

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5. Family photos: quality over quantity

This is a sensitive area — you want to keep everyone happy. But when it comes to formal family portraits, one good photo per family member is enough. No need for three with Mom and two with Dad. The exceptions for this rule are special or candid moments, like pulling a funny face at the camera.

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6. Dance floor photos: zoom in before selecting

Dance photos often have lots of people in the background. Zoom in fully on each one before choosing it. You may look amazing, but behind you, your sister-in-law might be caught mid-screaming to her favourite song - not the most flattering moment.

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7. Always view your selected photos at 100% zoom

A photo might look fine in thumbnail view, but when you enlarge it, you'll realize it's actually unfocused.

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8. Think twice before choosing “silly” photos

Yes, they’re funny - you sticking your tongue out, pulling faces, making jokes. Including one or two can add charm. But ask yourself: Are these the images you want to remember 20 years from now? Maybe yes, maybe no. Just give it some thought.

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9. Don’t overload your album

We get it — you want to include everything. But the album has a physical page limit and a visual one, too. More images = more clutter. A packed layout can make your beautiful photos lose their impact. 

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10. Choose photos that represent your day

This is the heart of this process. You only get to include a fraction of the amazing photos you have, so focus on the ones that really capture the special moments you shared with your loved ones on your wedding day - a tear during the ceremony, a laugh with your partner, a spontaneous hug. Those are the photos that will still move you decades from now. Choose those first - the "perfect" beauty shots can come second.

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So, what did we learn?

• Include both horizontal and vertical photos for layout variety.

• Don’t include too many nearly identical photos.

• Choose varied and interesting poses.

• Include a minimum of 3 photos from each backdrop location.

• One great family photo per person is enough.

• Zoom in on dance photos - check the whole frame.

• Always check photo quality at 100% zoom.

• Be thoughtful about including silly or goofy photos.

• Fewer photos = cleaner, more beautiful design.

• Prioritize meaningful, representative moments.

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Now go get started!