I was born in the ’80s, and one of my favorite things to do was go to my grandma’s house and flip through her photo albums.
Over and over again.
She had those old sticky albums with the cellophane covers.
Sometimes the photos would slide around because the adhesive wasn’t so sticky anymore.
I remember the glue lines starting to turn yellow.
At the time, that was the best way to look at photos.
Every time we picked up a new envelope of printed pictures, we’d add them to the album. Sticky pages or pocket sleeves—I still remember trying to figure out which way to turn the photos so they fit correctly.
What I’ve Learned Since Then
Now that I digitize photos every day, I see those same albums in a completely different way.
That glue?
It’s reacting with the photo over time—and slowly ruining it.
Pocket albums aren’t much better.
Photos don’t fit quite right, and you’re constantly turning the book sideways just to see everything.
What used to be the best solution… isn’t holding up.
How We Look at Photos Now
Most families today just pass phones around.
But that’s not a great experience either.
It’s hard to see.
Not everyone can gather around.
And half the time, people lose interest before you even get through them.
Watching photos on a TV sounds better—but the slideshow never moves at the right pace for everyone.
Some people want to linger.
Others are ready to move on.
The Best Viewing Experience (By Far)
Out of everything I’ve seen, printed photo books are the best solution.
They’re simple.
They’re organized.
And they’re made to be viewed again and again.
You can upload photos directly from your phone, computer, or platforms like Google Photos, Facebook, Instagram, or SmugMug.
Then you drop them into a layout already created by Mixbook.
No design skills needed.
My Favorite: Family Yearbooks
This is what I recommend most.
Once a year, gather your favorite photos and create a simple, month-by-month book.
Birthdays.
Vacations.
Everyday moments.
It becomes a timeline your family can flip through anytime.
Kids love them.
And they actually go back and look at them—over and over again.
Why People Don’t Do This (And How I Help)
Most people don’t make photo books for three reasons:
- They don’t want to learn new software
- They don’t have the time
- They think it’s expensive
That’s where I come in.
I handle the setup and guide you through the process.
You get to focus on the fun part—choosing your photos and style.
And when it comes to cost, I can usually get significant discounts through Mixbook.
Why This Matters
Photo books solve the biggest problems families face:
- Photos stay in place
- They don’t degrade like old albums
- They’re easy to view and share
- And if something happens—fire, flood, kids, pets—you can reorder them
You’re not losing your memories.
You’re protecting them.
What to Do Next
If you’ve been thinking about turning your photos into something your family will actually use—this is it.
We can talk through what you want your final book to look like, and I’ll help you get started.
I also have sample books you can look through before you decide.
➤ Start here: plcphotos.com/contact