Why Parents Create Photo Books

We’ve been lucky enough to grow up during a generation where we can capture, save, and print the memories we make. Whether the captured memories were milestone events or a collection of moments that we wanted to appreciate, printing these photos guarantees we never forget them.

Mixbook has been a great source for parents to document their family’s adventures and stories. We’ve loved seeing projects such as a baby’s first year, childhood artwork memories, and graduation albums.

My Mixbook Story

Users like Rachel P. from Maryland, USA create photo books to cherish all the memories big and small each year to remember the good times.

“I use all the great photos I take on a daily basis to put into a "scrapbook" for my kids to remember their childhood. If you don't put them into a book, why even take them?” - Rachel P.

Capturing memories is the first step. Secondly, printing those memories ensures that they live on for generations to come in a safe and tangible way.

Photo from Rachel P.

What do your photo books mean to you? Why are they important?

“I love the photo books I have made because they do capture all the good memories. My memory isn't that good and sometimes I think a photo can really jog the actual experience for you.” - Rachel P.

As you flip through photo books, you’re transported to another time, full of nostalgia, joy, and gratitude.

How do you feel when you flip through your photo book?

“I feel happy when I look at my Mixbooks because I recall all the good times we had. Parenting is hard and it's nice to have proof that there were many moments that were enjoyed by all.” - Rachel P.

Most parents can relate to the roller coaster of being a parent. It may be easy to get caught up in the small moments of frustration and pressure, but as Rachel says, photo albums highlight the bigger picture (pun intended): the good.

Every parent has different experiences and stories to tell. Your photo albums are an extension of you and your family. At Mixbook, we’ve given our creators the ability to customize their photo albums, their way, to reflect the story they want to tell.

“There are so many great features with Mixbook, I think my favorite is the blank page you can create on your own. There are so many sites that are stuck in some way that you can't edit it how you want to and that has never been the case with Mixbook. You can do basically everything you ever wanted even if you don't know how to manage it. The capability is there.” - Rachel P.

How do you express your creativity with Mixbook?

“I barely use any of the pre-made pages (although I do love that you have them) I like to just see how many photos I have of a certain event and then create a page from scratch based on my chosen layout. I like to add stickers and captions to further explain the photos in case we forget what was happening decades from now.” - Rachel P.

Tips for Getting Started on Your Family Photo Album

Here are a couple of ways to get started printing your memories so your family’s story can be told for years to come:

1. Pick a theme. Do you want to do a decade in review? Maybe start with a child’s milestone moments up until they’re 18? Maybe recap your family’s last 5 years of vacations? Starting with a theme will help you focus on the photos you look for.
2. Gather your photos. Ask family members to contribute photos to help get you started. They can contribute directly to your Mixbook project through collaboration invites.
3. Pick your theme template. Mixbook offers various occasion-specific templates (such as milestone birthdays or baby photo books) or start with a blank canvas and create your own.
4. Keep it simple or take your time. Photo albums don’t need to be daunting. Keep your layouts simple or write in-depth paragraphs to recap the moments in words as well.