Creating an iPhoto Book

Telling a Story through Photographs

What is a Photo Book?
An Apple Photo Book is created in iPhoto. According to the Apple website: Making gorgeous photo books is
a breeze. Just select a set of photos and iPhoto lays them out automatically. You can flip through the Theme
Browser to preview your photos in each theme. You can change the background color, page layouts, and
more with just a few clicks. Add full-bleed, two-page spreads to show off panoramic shots. And include your
own captions and text. Make books big enough for the coffee table or small enough to carry around in
hardcover or softcover. Hardcover books include a photo-wrapped cover, matching dust jacket, and elegant
protective sleeve.

Why do we use them?
We use Photo Books to tell a story, to show where weve been, to give beautiful images to our words, mixing
the written word with our photographs. Photo Books allow us to display our experiential learning
(internships, ELOs, class trips, etc) in a thoughtful and beautiful way.


How do you make a Photo Book in iPhoto?
1. Brainstorm Our first step is to brainstorm. We ask ourselves the following questions:
a. What question(s) am I trying to answer with this Photo Book?




b. What kind of theme do I want the book to have?




c. What do I want the book to look like, sound like, feel like?




d. How many pages do I want to book to be? What is the minimum, what is the maximum
number of pages?


e. How can I make this book capture a readers attention?



2. Story Board After we have more information, we can start to put together how we want to tell the
story. In essays this happens in an outline, in film and television this happens on a storyboard, when
making Photo Books this happens in a template. To create a successful template, we take the
following actions:

a. Log into iPhoto on your Mac. Go to: File -> New Book. Then, select the particular book you
want to work with. For example, choose Hardcover -> Photo Essay to capture an internship
experience.

b. Consider each part of the story you are trying to tell and think about the way in which you want
to tell it. Consider the following:

i. Will the book be broken down into chapters? If so, how many?



ii. How will the pictures and their sequence tell a story that makes sense?




iii. Does this book have a linear storyline? Or are pictures scattered with explanation
pertaining to particular pictures?



iv. Is time the variable that connects each picture?



c. On each page Photo Book page, there is a preplanned layout that iPhoto chooses for each
book. You can change this layout by Double Clicking on the Page -> Clicking the Layout button
on the bottom right hand corner of the Window -> Clicking the Scroll List underneath Layout
and adjust the page layout to anything you would like (1 Photo per page, 2 photos per page,
one page full of text, etc). Play around with a layout on each page that you feel works best for
the story you are trying to tell. Think about how this template helps you tell the story.





3. Name After we have a template, make a list of the pictures you have and the pictures you need in
order to tell your story in a coherent way. Your list should look like:
a. Cover Page Picture of Dog on the table
b. Inner Flap Picture of Caroline with Scout
c. Page 1 No picture
and so on

PHOTO BOOK PAGE DESCRIPTION IMAGES TEXT DESCRIPTION

Cover

Page 1

Page 2
Page 3

Page 4
Page 5

Page 6
Page 7

Page 8
Page 9

Page 10
Page 11

Page 12
Page 13

Page 14
Page 15

Page 16
Page 17

Page 18
Page 19

Page 20

4. Collect Gather all of the pictures that you need. If you want screen shots of video, you can use those
as pictures too. Go down your list, you created in Step Three and make sure you have all the images
you need. If you do not have images you need, search them on the Internet or make sure to capture
these images yourself if you can. We can site them after.

5. Describe This Photo Book is a book that tells a story. Focus on writing compelling captions for each
of your photos. This will require you to really analyze your photos and think about each aspect of the
photo. As you begin to describe your images, consider the following questions:

a. What is the tone of the story you are telling?




b. For each caption, what parts of the picture stand out the most?




c. Why did I choose this picture and what is its purpose in telling this story? If a picture does not
serve your story, take it out.





d. How does each page and each picture on each page tie back to the theme of the book?













Assignment Vocab List
Words Part of Speech Definitions
Analyze Verb examine methodically and in detail the constitution or structure of
(something, esp. information), typically for purposes of explanation
and interpretation.
"we need to analyze our results more clearly"

Brainstorm Verb produce an idea or way of solving a problem by holding a
spontaneous group discussion.
"a brainstorming session"

Captions Noun a title or brief explanation appended to an article, illustration, cartoon,
or poster.
Coherent Adjective (of an argument, theory, or policy) logical and consistent.
"they failed to develop a coherent economic strategy"

Compelling Adjective evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerful way.
"his eyes were strangely compelling"

Elegant Adjective pleasingly graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.
"she will look elegant in black"

Experiential Adjective involving or based on experience and observation.
"the experiential learning associated with employment"

Linear Adjective 1.
arranged in or extending along a straight or nearly straight line.
"linear arrangements"
1. 2.
progressing from one stage to another in a single series of steps;
sequential.
"a linear narrative"

Pertaining Verb be appropriate, related, or applicable.
"matters pertaining to the organization of government"

Scattered Verb throw in various random directions.
"scatter the coconut over the icing"

Sequence Noun a particular order in which related events, movements, or things
follow each other.
"the content of the program should follow a logical sequence"

Theme Noun the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an
exhibition; a topic.

Variable Noun not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to change.
"the quality of hospital food is highly variable"