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Thursday, May 27th, 2010
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Engagement, Featured, Weddings
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Wedding Guest Sign-in Books
All over the newspaper, blogs, and magazines these days, I'm finding loads of products and ideas geared towards the current wedding season. I just wanted to make a quick post to showcase one of my products that I'm seeing different versions of advertised everywhere--the guest sign-in book.
While many brides still choose to go with a sign-in matted photo from their engagement session (a product and service I also offer), many others opt to use a guest sign-in book. I have seen all types, styles, and sizes lately, all priced in the range from $75 for a small faux leather book to between $200-$300 for large fancy versions. Although these are all nice, and there is likely something to fit into nearly every bride's budget, how often are they really ever going to be opened up and looked at, once the wedding is over and thank you notes written? Even the least expensive ones seem like a waste of money when you think of it that way--$75 for a little book that will do nothing but collect dust for years on your bookshelf or sit in a box? And what, exactly, is the heirloom value of these? Will your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or even your children (who might know some of these people) really spend happy hours looking through such a book, mesmerized and absorbed by random signatures of names of people they don't know? Um, I sorta doubt it... :)
While a sign-in matted photo is definitely nice and is a wonderful reminder of all the well wishes of your friends and family for your life together, it is still only one photo from your engagement session, and has to be chosen from anywhere from 60-100 wonderful photos of you and your fiance. In addition, one important part of my style of coverage is storytelling. This obviously comes into play with your wedding photography, but I also love to bring that element into your engagement shoot as well. We choose a location around Louisville that means something to you as a couple, or exemplifies your style, or is symbolic of your favorite activities. Engagement shoots are so much fun and I like to think of them as a bit of an adventure as well, so choosing one photo from the engagement shoot narrative can be difficult.
Enter the guest sign-in book. First, it is around the same price or not much more expensive of many of the "generic" ones I've come across lately, and it is less expensive than several of them. Second, it is personalized to YOU, as a couple. Every page has one or several photos of you and your fiance, having fun and looking fabulous during your engagement session. Also, since we collaborate on the location for the shoot, the setting of the photos also are tailored to your style and hold memories of your time together. Third, referring back to my comment above--contrast the thought of children, grandchildren, etc, spending time poring through a generic book of signatures, against the thought of your family cherishing a wonderful, custom made book with beautiful photographs of you, with the signatures and well wishes of family and friends who attended the most special day of your life. I highly doubt this is a book that will be tucked away in a box or gather dust on a shelf, never to be looked at again! So the intrinsic value is there also--this is a book that you will actually enjoy for the rest of your lives together, as well as generations to come.
Each sign-in book is custom designed, so the one shown here is only representative of this particular couple's style and choices. You will have input into every step of the way during the design process. Also, please note that my watermark is only for these photos on the blog; it definitely won't be on every page of your book :)
So in conclusion, I'd like to share a few photos here of a recent guest sign-in book that I did for one of my couples. If you have any questions about the product or want to schedule a meeting for a wedding or engagement session consultation, please be in touch
!