A wedding is an unforgettable experience. We keep it in our hearts, but we also want to have tangible memories of it. A folded veil or garter, a dried rose from the wedding bouquet, but most importantly - photographs. They capture the atmosphere, the emotions, some of the most joyful moments in our lives. We want to keep these photos at home in plain sight, not in a drawer or on an external drive. Unlike a garter, we like to show them to visitors and they can be a beautiful gift for family and friends who accompanied us at the wedding. How to make wedding photos a decoration of your home and a memory that won't fade?
In the old days, a black and white photo of the newlyweds in an oval frame used to grace many a bedroom. Nowadays, the everyday sight of a stylised portrait above the bed might not excite us, but the charm of wedding photography itself hasn't changed. That's why we invite a professional to our wedding, to capture all the key moments as well as the moments we don't notice ourselves during the hectic day in the joyous rush. Then, when the data file arrives from the photographer, we are suddenly faced with the question, what to do with it? The possibilities are many! We asked how they do it in the LAAB studio in Zlín, which deals with printing and production of photos in all forms. "Our goal is that the photographs that leave our workshop should have aesthetic and functional value in addition to their memory value. It is important to us that customers enjoy the photos and can immediately incorporate them into their homes," says Natálie Minaříková. We'll shine a light on photo albums, portraits, mobile phone photos and photos from grandma's cupboard. We will talk about how to use photos not only after the wedding, but before and during it. And because there is no photo like a photo, we have invited Michal Čap from Polagraph in Prague, where they specialize in Polaroid.
Honey, let's do it or the selection
So let's go back to the aforementioned moment when we receive a message from the wedding photographer that the photos are ready. And there are not a few of them. Does it make your hair stand on end to think that you're choosing the best ones out of the lot? Don't worry, there's no need to rush it. "Choosing your wedding photos should be a joy. Calmly think about which photos you want for your album, which you want to give to your family and which should hang on your bedroom wall. Take advantage of a rainy evening, make a good cup of tea or have a glass of wine with the newlyweds and get to work on the selection," advises Natalie. Not that we're wishing you a rainy honeymoon, but if an email from the photographer hits your honeymoon, take it as a sign and get on with it. Hang on, is there any saving grace for the undecided or the very time-strapped? "In most cases, newlyweds contact us directly. A lot of photographers let their customers make their own choices for printing, and then it's easier to let the newlyweds choose the company that will take care of printing their photos as well. However, if the photographer offers you the option of printing, I definitely recommend you consider it. You won't have to worry about it, and you also don't have to worry that the photographer won't be able to select the best shots he or she took at your wedding."
Where to take them or everyone looks different
Images from a wedding can be divided into a few general groups. Their nature then often determines in what form we have them printed. Shots of key moments, such as the newlyweds' kiss, the exchange of rings or the cutting of the cake, are certainly not to be missed in any wedding album. The snapshots mentioned in the introduction are a dynamic component that brings the album to life and brings additional emotions to it. And the overall impression is underscored by popular group shots. Thus, the entire wedding day can unfold on the pages like an amazing fairy tale story. A special discipline are the portraits of the newlyweds, these have the ambition to adorn the wall of your home or the top of your dressing table.
Portrait or when there is no room for error
Whether you strike a classic pose in a castle park or spontaneously twirl in a meadow with a bride in your arms, these images will haunt you, or at worst, haunt you for life. That's why we remind you of the basic condition of well-preserved memories, which is a good choice of photographer. It may seem like a given, but it's not. "I recommend not to underestimate it from the very beginning and really choose a photographer whose work we like and enjoy. Sometimes engaged couples have to reach for someone who they completely
...and then it's a bit of an ordeal. The newlyweds are dissatisfied, they try to edit the photos on their own, unfortunately there is some trouble and then they are left with only watermarked photos - you would be surprised, but it happens and it is a great pity," Natálie recalls. "If you want to have your wedding day immortalized to your liking, I really recommend not to skimp on the photographer and start choosing one well in advance so that he or she is not already booked for another wedding. Think about the fact that you will remember the wedding for a lifetime, the photos from the wedding will hang on the walls in your home and your grandchildren will still be looking at how beautiful grandma and grandpa were." 
Photo books and photo albums or do it yourself
Okay, we've done the photo selection and we'd like to make a nice little nest for them in the form of a photo album. Or a photo book? Natalie explains the difference between the two terms. Both have their charm and I think each product suits a different type of photo. For family shots, I'm not a fan of photo albums in particular, as a photo album doesn't just have to serve as a home for the photos themselves, but you can also put in memories like wedding invitations, captions, thank you cards, you can draw in it, add stickers, get the kids to help, and maybe make creating a photo album a bit of a family tradition and spend time together. On the other hand, if you have photos that deserve more space and that you know you won't want to add to, reach for a quality photo book."
Wooden puzzle or engraving not only on the wedding ring
So a photo book is more or less work-free and boasts a professional look, whereas a photo album is more personal. It will bring you joy when you create it and you will also love coming back to it. Today, the plates themselves are often made of wood, and the combination of paper and wood is also popular at LAAB. "Paper and wood is a duo that we enjoy," smiles Natalie. "We use high-quality graphic paper for our albums, which can be glued, written and painted on, so there are no limits to creativity. The advantage of wooden plates is the possibility of engraving. The screw binding also allows you to remove or add additional sheets, which is convenient if you want to add more memories to your photo album or, on the other hand, remove a sheet from the album or swap sheets." 
Build your collection or what to expect
Everyone has flipped through an album that's only half full, and you feel a little sorry for those blank pages. So we ask if it's better to keep the album closed, or open-ended, so to speak, so that we can fill it with, say, photos from our honeymoon or other important life events, such as a new addition to the family. "Both work. If you choose a screw-bound photo album, you can add pages as needed. But for us, having photos divided by year, for example, or important life milestones you want to commemorate from time to time is definitely a better option. If you have multiple albums, you will definitely find it easier to navigate through them." So it's more a question of whether you have a sense of system and will return to a work-in-progress album, or whether you'd rather start a new one with each chapter of your life.
The twenty-first wedding kiss or how to surprise
How many photos can such a wedding photo album hold? A lot, the question is rather how much can the person who flips through it bear. And remember that you yourself will be the one who will be flipping through the pages the most often. Natalie offers a little trick: "If you have a lot of great photos and you want an extensive photo album, then I recommend combining different sizes of photos, adding captions or even funny glosses of the guests. Keep your guests alert and looking forward to turning the next leaf."
If the mobiles weren't there, or the photographer quickly and easily
We haven't mentioned the technical quality of the photos yet, of course they will come from the photographer in high resolution suitable for large format printing (for the record, it's 300 dpi), but after all, mobiles are also used at weddings, so can we supplement the album with amateur shots? Why not, nods Natalie: "It's no problem to print photos taken with a mobile phone, you just need to choose from smaller print formats. With a 10 × 15 or 13 × 18 cm photo, you can hardly tell if it's from a DSLR or a better phone. But sometimes we get an order for 60 × 90 cm images when the actual size of the photo is 5 × 7 cm, and then the machines don't really get the pixels." If you take photos on your phone often, LAAB even offers its own app for printing, just install it.
Borrow a Polaroid or retro in fashion
Quite a different vibe to the sharp, high-pixel images offered by the increasingly popular Polaroids. So-called instant photography has a number of advantages and brings back the concept of "the magic of the moment" to its original meaning. What makes Polaroid photography special compared to digital photography? Michal Čáp from Polagraph is clear: "If you have a photographer with a digital camera at your wedding, he will send you photos in a fortnight. But from Polaroid, you get them right away and on the day of the wedding you have a photo album ready with photos of the wedding party and their wishes for their life together. But that's not all - many people also seek out Polaroid for its visual appeal. Don't expect a technically perfect photo, as Polaroid has a very specific colour rendering and beautifully subtle artwork. And most importantly, a beautiful vintage feel, complete with the typical frame. A photo like this, which you don't see on your phone screen but hold physically in your hand, will instantly excite you." You don't have to get a device just for the wedding, Polagraph will be happy to lend it to you completely free of charge. You only pay for the photos taken, the price ranges roughly from twenty to sixty crowns depending on the size. "The most popular format, which we highly recommend, is the square Instax, where one photo costs 30 crowns. We will lend you the camera free of charge for several days, so you can take pictures not only of the wedding, but also of the preparations or the honeymoon without any worries. Your wedding photo album will be really beautiful and original."
Selfies or a portrait with your own hands
Beware, when you get your hands on an instant camera, it's very addictive. Think about it, a Polaroid or Instax is ideal for portraits in particular. "Everyone looks good on Polaroid, everyone looks good on Polaroid, and no one is shy to take a picture - because Polaroid is just fun and an experience, even people who normally hide from the camera want to take pictures. So our recommendation is - take mainly portraits, couples and selfies - but don't hesitate to leave the reportage of the cake cutting or the first dance to a photographer with a digital camera," says Michal. If you would like to make sure that the instant shots from your wedding come out 100%, you can make an appointment with Polagraph and let a professional from their ranks take the photos.
Polaroid versus Instax or if two do the same thing, it's not the same thing
Speaking of Instax, you'll get a photo from it too as soon as you press the shutter button, but don't be fooled, while Polaroid has the aforementioned vintage feel, Instax is closer to digital photography in quality. It produces perfectly sharp and beautifully coloured photos. So you can be sure that they will come out exactly as you want. With Polaroid, it's more alchemy, and it's a bit of an exaggeration to say that no two Polaroid photos are ever the same. But that's its own charm! Among other things, Polaroid is unique in that each photo exists only in a single copy and cannot be multiplied, and therefore not enlarged in any way. Of course, you can scan it into a computer and then print it out, but everyone will know immediately that it is no longer the original Polaroid. 
Watch out, a bird flies out or retro on the other side
If you're after all longing for a Polaroid portrait of respectable proportions, the Polagraph offers a real treat. A large-format Polaroid. "Imagine a giant camera like in the old movies, where the photographer has to hide under a black sheet and the subject waits motionless for the picture. Our large-format Polaroid shoot looks quite similar, except that our camera immediately 'comes out' with a beautiful A4-size photo, with all the characteristics of a good old Polaroid. Again, you hold the photo in your hand immediately, which is great - but the photo shoot itself is really an experience for all the wedding guests," recalls Michal.
What the house gave or stay negative
Analogue photos go well together with festive moments. You can enrich your collection of wedding photos with images that you take with your parents' old camera. And if you find some dirty photos or negatives from past weddings at home, bring them out into the light for grandma to see. "We often print old photos on canvas, the texture of the canvas has a rough surface and any minor blemish or out of focus will be lost. This gives the photos a new coat and pizzazz," reveals Natalie from LAAB. "We often do larger formats and it always turns out great, so definitely don't throw away old photos and negatives! As well as their memory value, they can serve as a great retro addition to your interior." Or as a gift that will definitely make Grandma happier than, say, a pair of slippers.
Photos on the wall, on the shelf or on the plate or gifts for everyone
How else can you turn a photo into a gift for family and close friends? At LAAB, customers like leporellos and quatrorelles the most. This is a mini-album composed of 4 to 8 photographs forming a strip glued into wooden plates that can be unfolded on a shelf or on a table. "In addition, instead of one photo, you can add a thank you note or a wedding invitation, for example, and create a beautiful memory for your guests that they will always love to come back to," adds Natalie with a creative tip. Larger formats are then usually printed for the immediate family, often in the form of photo images or posters. At LAAB they have templates for you to choose from, just upload your photos via their online editor and success is guaranteed. Then be sure to gift yourself a large format portrait, whether it's printed on canvas or on capa. Those who like less flamboyant wall decorations can reach for the aforementioned poster or perhaps a calendar. They can be complemented with a simple wooden frame that goes with any interior, and the paper will stay nicely taut. For minimalists, LAAB offers a witty desk calendar. And if you're after a truly original treatment, how about trying a portrait on tin by Honza Sakař or a custom-made porcelain plate from the Maestrokatastrof workshop?
Máňa, here you sit, or say it with a photo
If you enjoy printed photos, you can use them much earlier than after the wedding. They can be used in various forms to spice up wedding invitations, but above all you can use them to make magic on your wedding day. Depending on the nature of the wedding and your nature, choose something crazy or touching as the centrepiece of the welcome sign, use guest photos instead of name tags on the table or put together your best experiences immortalised in photos and set up a memory corner. Thanks to instant photography, you can create a wedding guest book directly during the wedding. Photography is a beautiful invention and together with Natalia from Laab and Michal from Polagraph we wish you many successful shots! 
Text: Helena Stiessová | Photo: LAAB Archive, Kateřina Štefková (Polagraph) a Kristina Hrabětová (Maestrokatastrof) | Article partners: LAAB, Polagraph
