My favorite thing to do is - to travel. Yes, I always have a trip planned in the near future so I can plan it and get ready for it in different ways, which for me, is part of traveling, too. I definitely am in my 'happy place' when I even only think about a trip. It also counts if I am thinking about a nice trip in the past. Keeping memories of a trip is equally important for me. Probably this is why I love creating travel photo books. (In case you don’t know what a photo book is – it’s like the modern scrapbook/ photo album that you create online and then you receive it in a printed version just the way YOU have designed it!)
However the more photo books I make, the more challenging it is to find a creative way how to tell the story of my trip or of the country I have visited or even the experiences I have done. Recently, I wanted to create a new photo book but got a little stuck as I was in desperate need of incorporating text in my photo book. When I started to search the net for some inspiration only to my disappointment I discovered, that I couldn’t find anything about this topic. So I decided to share my ideas I have done so far, hoping that it will inspire someone out there.
Actually while writing this blog post I got my creative juices flowing and thought of many more cool ideas you can use for a travel photo book. I am happy about it because I can use them in the near future for my own books.
In total I created a list of 24 themes you could use for travel photo books, so divided the blog post into 2 parts.
One more incredible thing about the themes – you could most likely use the majority of them for other photo book types.
1. Photo Book theme: Stereotypes
Start your photo book with the year you went and state a couple of the stereotypes about the place you are visiting. Then the rest of the book you fill up with your own photos that break all the stated stereotypes. Example: It’s the year 2018. Ibiza is to be known for an island ONLY for partying. Then you describe your photos by showing how wrong everyone is by thinking that.
Also, it could be fun looking at this stereotype in 10, 20, 50 years, will it still be the same?
2. Photo Book theme: Overcoming challenges
Describe your trip with different ‘challenges’ you had to do while traveling. For example, in Rome, they had to eat the most delicious pizza, and in Milan's Cathedral, they had to count 3400 statues, 135 gargoyles, 700 figures, and 52 columns. This is a smart way to mention each place you visited and even telling a fun fact you have learned while traveling. At the same time whoever reads your ‘challenges’ will have a good laugh of the way they have been presented as they are not tough but just the opposite – amazing challenges/ things you have done.
3. Photo Book theme: From A to Z
A title like 'Fiji from A to Z' promises to have every single detail about the country. But in fact, when arranging photos you describe each photo in one word, each starting with a different alphabet letter. Aquarium, Beach, Bula (it means Hello in Fijian), Cannibalism, Diving, Ducks, Dragon… etc. It is really great way to tell a story even with one single word, and even if the word is very obvious. It is also great for the ones who are not born writers.
4. Photo Book theme: Ways to entertain
The idea is to add all your photos and then number them by stating the way of entertainment. Example: you have a beautiful silhouette shot in front of a fountain, you say 1. Take the most beautiful shot in front of a fountain. When you are done with creating your new photo book, count how many different ways of entertainment you have listed and use that number in the title (Example: 35 ways to entertain in Barcelona).
5. Photo Book theme: If you were born in another country
This is a good concept if you are making a photo book for a place that is very different from the place you come from. Then you can present all the weird stuff you have never seen before in an innovative way. Example: If you were born in Thailand… you would buy gasoline in bottles; you would buy raw frogs for your breakfast; you would eat octopus on a stick; you would live in a house on stilts; you would get robbed by a monkey on daily bases, etc.
6. Photo Book theme: Must-sees and must-dos
This is a really good topic if you have visited all the major tourism 'must see' spots and done all 'must do' things during your trip. You can also give your honest review by rating it out of 5 or 10 stars (or coffee beans or sea stars or turtles or anything else). Example: Must do - visiting volcano Etna. After describing your own experience to the volcano and give a 4-star rating (out of 5). This way you can always remember how you felt there and it can help some of your friends to choose the destination or activities.
7. Photo Book theme: Would you rather
This book is perfect if you have lots of friends, who would be enjoying the photo book when it’s done. It is totally interactive. Select photos of the different things you have done (or just seen) and arrange them in similar or totally opposite categories. Ask ‘would you rather’ questions about them.
Example: The title of the book could be - Would you Rather Hawaii Edition. In the book, you could ask the following questions - Would you rather walk the Diamond Head or snorkel in Hanauma Bay? Would you rather do a half or full-day Pearl Harbour tour? Would you rather take a surfing or bodyboarding lesson? Would you rather swim with sharks with or without a cage? Etc.
8. Photo Book theme: Postcards from Paris
Here you could take 2 different approaches, either:
A. While traveling either really write many postcards to yourself and then transfer all (text + postcard) to your photo book
Or
B. Imagine you are sending a postcard, but actually write down the text as a note. When creating the actual photo book use the text for that and create your own travel postcards with an app (like Canva) or a photo editing program.
9. Photo Book theme: One sentence a day
While traveling set a goal to write at least one sentence a day. One sentence is not a lot, so make it count – try to make it really juicy.
10. Photo Book theme: One sketch a day
Honestly, I haven’t done this one, most likely because I am really bad at drawing. But I know so many people who do sketch while traveling. Why not set a goal - do a sketch per day and then put it in your photo book. While sketching, write down your feelings, too.
11. Photo Book theme: Fairy tale
If you are good at creating stories, write a fairy tale about your trip, using real place names. Once upon a time, there lived prince Charming, who visited a castle (called Sintra). In order to get the princess to marry him, he had to find 3 special objects to impress her…. Simply, allow your imagination to flow! People of every age like good fairy tales especially if they are new! Don’t forget the ‘happily ever after’ ending!
Note - If you have this in mind while traveling, you can always make some photos with the purpose of emphasizing some fun details for the fairy tale.
12. Photo Book theme: Food of the day
Describe one meal each day, where it was, what you had, what you felt, what you experienced. Especially good for people who love food, but equally good for people who find interesting places to eat. For example, we had a picnic in Zion national park, USA with the most perfect view! While eating we thought – if you were at home, how much would you be ready to pay to eat with a view like this?
Looking for more great ideas for your next travel photo book? This is just a list of the first 12 themes, but 12 more are coming soon! Actually, you are very lucky, because the Part 2 has been published already, simply click here to continue reading!
Do you have anything you could add to the list? Please feel free to share in a comment below!
I think it's time to throw out the 21st century tip. The QR Codes. I know you know that we both know it's a great idea, so maybe in the next post!