Photo Books by Kids: A Portfolio of Future Photographers

Just go onto Snapchat or Instagram: these apps are full of talented children taking photos that rival those of Robert Capa.

And there is no better way to collect those photos and share the joy of photography with family, friends and maybe even the whole wide world than a photo book.

What should be the subject of the book?

Just be patient: children will find a concept they want to pursue, and you will witness the birth of a future photographer.

Using smart devices

As more people ditch their old cameras in favor of their smartphones or tablets, it becomes more evident that your budding photographer will use such a device for future works due to their convenience. Photo book companies realized that pretty early, developing apps for smartphones and tablets alike. But take into consideration that there are different approaches: aside from MILK Books, Shutterfly is currently the only photo company on the market that has a full-fledged iPad app that is a carbon copy (if not a better version) of its default online browser editor. Mixbook, on the other hand, has Mosaic, an iOS app ideal for creating a 7×7, 20-page long book with a stylish namesake cover for just $25 per book plus shipping. Last but not least there is Chatbooks, another photo book editor that is not only ideal for smart device-savvy users but also provides photo book customization options, and My Social Book, which builds your books from Facebook and Instagram albums only.

However, there is a huge difference between the aforementioned apps: Shutterfly’s editor contains all features of the desktop versions, while Mosaic, Chatbooks and My Social Book are some of the simplest photo book builders available, meaning that customization options are limited. These three apps (or any app for that matter) are more than ideal for beginners, but for those little photographers who’d like to turn their photo books into masterpieces then any ‘grown-up’ editor will suffice.

The ‘grown-up’ photo book builders

Modern online photo book editors are designed in such way that even less tech-savvy people can understand its use in seconds. For children a photo book builder is like a true playground: not only it can include photos from various sources (e.g. the computer, a smart device or social media accounts), but it is also full of many customization options like colorful backgrounds, modifiable layouts, various photo adjustment options and – best of all – funny stickers.

Another important aspect of building junior photo books online is that it can easily be turned into a class or family project too, either by huddling together in front of the computer or, in more rare cases, using the a real-time collaboration option. To top it all, the fun doesn’t have to stop after the book was ordered (by a grown-up, naturally): just choose the right cover and/or leave blank spots all over the book so it can be further decorated with various embellishments, turning your little one’s photo book into the gem it deserves to be.