Capturing your Photo Collection with Blurb
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Stamps, seashells, tiny tin toys….collecting is a way to evolve ourselves artistically through our passions, but how often do our collections ever really evolve into something more? In this article by Kent Hall, Blurb Brand Ambassador, he discusses how to make a published book that can capture the essence of your passion through your collection. It turns out that all you really need is a camera, a passion for the thing you collect, and one of Blurb’s free book-making tools. Read on to find out more about how you too can capture and preserve your passion by publishing your collection.
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Photograph your collection: The big thing here is to be consistent with your lighting and focus distance. You don’t need studio lights—in fact natural light is usually best. Shoot next to a window that doesn’t get direct sunlight. Use a big piece of white posterboard to bounce the light from the other side so you get nice, consistent tones. And forget the flash in most cases. (Oh, and don’t forget to give your items a good dusting first.)
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Do some research: What makes the things in your collection special? Chances are you already know, but take some time to put your thoughts down.
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Get the right tool: Download BookWright, Blurb’s free book design program.
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Put it all together: BookWright is great for text and photos. Just choose (or make) a layout that works for your collection. Drop in your photos and your text. You can even make an ebook at the same time.
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Put your book for sale on Blurb or Amazon.com: Share your passion with fellow collectors (and make a little money on the side).
Balls of yarn? Vintage cookie jars? Butterfly wings? Sharing a passion stored in boxes is not easy, but with the right photographs and maybe even a little background story in a Blurb book, you can capture the essence of your collection, and who you are in one volume. Right now, Blurb is offering 25% off of first purchases for new customers and 15% off on all printed products for returning customers. So, what are you waiting for? Dust off those tiny silver spoons of all 50 states, start snapping some pictures and publish your legacy with Blurb.
