No need to rush
Titling your magnum opus is as important as it is rewarding, but stressing over how the book should be named could easily kill the joy of creating your own photo book. This is why aspiring writers are advised to leave the title until the last step – a method that is more than fitting for amateur photo book builders, too. In other words, focus on the content first, have fun with editing, and only start thinking about the title when the photo book is close to completion.
The key is the theme
The reason why so many people love creating photo books is the hundreds of various themes across a wide variety of that categories that these printing companies offer. Aside from creating a coherent structure to the photo book, themes are also the perfect source of inspiration when it comes to the title because the moment a design is chosen you are also determining what the book will be about – and from then on things will only get easier. There are many cases where themes already come with appropriate titles that only need a slight modification to make them unique to you.
The simpler, the better
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone; Nineteen Eighty-Four; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: these are the titles of some of the best-known novels of all time, and they all share the fact that they each have simple yet descriptive titles. This method can also be used for photo books, too; a title telling readers what to expect – i.e. ‘Daddy’s Little Angel’ – is a sign that you are definitely on the right track.
And if you have no title ideas at all, don’t worry; just get inspired by other photo books or look up specific web pages with title ideas that could serve as the base for your own photo book title.
Placing on the cover
When it comes to deciding where the title should go on the cover, there are two options available. If the cover isn’t fully occupied by a photo, then put it wherever there is empty space on the cover – preferably under or next to the featured image. But if the cover is a full-bleed photo, then consider placing the title onto a ribbon embellishment close to the bottom of the cover or find an area on the photo where the title won’t appear too distracting. However, however you deal with it, remember to pick a font and color that ensures the title is fully legible.
Title page and chapters: yes or no?
The general rule of thumb for photo book title pages and chapters is that if there is a limited number of pages available, then it’s best to exploit every page by focusing on the photos and organizing them in such a way that they tell a story even without crutches like chapter division. But if you do want to use a title page and chapters to make the photo book more like a traditional book, then don’t let the trends and expectations hold you back. You should still pay attention to a few crucial details, however.
Firstly, the title page should be thought of as a secondary cover for the book, giving a hint about the photo book’s content. Traditionally this is achieved by showcasing another photo from the book but virtually anything can be added to the title page provided that it’s in line with your theme. And as for chapter titles, the concept is the same as the main title: look at the chosen theme and the photos contained within the chapter, don’t overthink it, and the fitting title will come into existence in no time.
Zoltán G.
Adam B.
