31 Days #15: What’s with the One-Photo Pages?

by Lain Ehmann on July 15, 2012

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Happy Sunday! Before I head off for the championship game for my son’s baseball team, I recorded this video for you, which answers a common question:

What’s with all the one-photo scrapbook layouts?

The answer isn’t as simple as you might think… So watch today’s video, and then let me know: Do you usually create one- or multi-photo pages? Leave an answer in the comments section below!

Links in today’s video:

You Are a Storyteller ebook and audio bundle
Everyday Storyteller edited by Jennifer S. Wilson

simple scrapbooking layouts

P.S. Go Legends!

The Big Bubber, bunting for a base hit. :)

P.P.S. They won 11-7! New England Elite Baseball champs!
  • Janet

    Lain- thanks for another GREAT video- YOU ROCK!
    Favor to ask: A friend of mine is trying to reach you or Kelly about her True Scrap 3 purchase.
    Her name: Jamie Hensley
    Her new email is: jah252@att.net,  and her old email was: ja60hensley@comcast.net
    I told her I would post it on here and maybe you would see it!
    THANKS A MILLION! She is ‘itching’ to get her True Scrap On….LOL

  • Jeannie L

    Is that only me or what? I can’t seem to view the video. It says the video you requested is not available.

  • Anniebear10

    I also can’t see the video says its not available.

  • Lainehmann

    Hi Janet-
    Has she emailed support (at) layoutaday.com? 
    That’s the quickest way to get help. That being said, Kelli’s been in the hospital for a few days – nothing serious – but she’s obviously a bit behind on customer service. Thanks!

  • Lainehmann

    fixing now…!

  • Lainehmann

    SHould be viewable in just a second. There was an error uploading and I had to re-do the upload!

  • http://www.facebook.com/sktbaker Susan Traub Baker

    Remember way back when in the days of FILM?  I used to try to use as many pics as I could just to get my money’s worth out of my film processing.  I agree with your comment that in these days of BETTER camera’s, BETTER photos and more PRECISE processing that we can be pickier about THE picture that we want to highlight the STORY that we don’t want to forget.

  • Janet

    Yes…so sorry to hear about Kelli- I will let her know this. THANK YOU- I will relay this to Jamie.

  • Janet

    I forget to answer Lain’s question. I mainly scrap multi photo layouts. Reason being- I love photographs.
    But as the years go by, I am more choosy as to the number and the content of such photos. Also photo collages/wallet size really helps get more onto a layout. For me I am still the type of scrapper who likes several photos on a layout AND telling the story thru journaling and then re-inforcing the theme with pretty paper and embellishments- which never hurts anyone….LOL!

  • http://twitter.com/tdailor Tammy Dailor

    Thanks for the magazine explanation. That makes total sense and it’s good to know where these one photo pages got their roots! :) For me personally, I just LIKE pages with one or two photos. They are easier to design, easier to look at and give the photos some breathing room. And there’s plenty of room for journaling to tell that whole story! I do create multi-photo 2-pagers  - mostly for events or trips – but I usually have a hard time with them because there’s just too much information there. For general scrapbooking, I prefer to spotlight a great photo or two rather than adding 10 photos just because I took them. 

  • LauraZM

    Before knowing Lain, ONLY ever did multi-photo layouts. Since knowing Lain, I have tons of one photo layouts that I adore. Agree I am now choosier and definitely start with the story first rather than the chrono event. I still make and love multi-photo pages but they feel more connected as part of a story not just a random event.

  • LauraZM

    Hugs to Kelli!

  • http://twitter.com/NevillesMom Mary McCarthy

    This was such a great question! I personally love to scrap one-photo layouts, because I actually find it liberating. I always struggled with fitting many photos on a page and I also love to leave lots of white space on my layouts, so a single photo and some choice embellishments make me a very happy girl! =)

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PKLJSUEMMIKLHTX3HSMEAX4ENM Alison

    Hi Lain, another great video! My two cents … I do a variety of both types of pages. When I have a ton of photos from an event, I do multi photo and usually two page layouts. If I’m doing a personality page (or scrapping an older story where I maybe only have 1 or 2 photos) I use fewer photos and do a single page layout. 
    I like the mix. I like using a lot of photos to fill out the story visually but it can be tricky to fit them all on the layout cleanly. I also really like only using one or two photos as it allows me more space to journal or play with the design elements. Or show off a technique, tool or embellishment.
    Thanks again! I’m really enjoying this series. Oh, and congrats to the winners!!

  • Marcia F

    Like many others here, I also do a combination of single photo and multi-photo layouts. And I also have evolved some over the past couple of years - I do a lot more single photo layouts now to showcase a favorite photo. But I’ve also done a layout with as many as 35 small photos on a single page layout (one my son’s gymnastics routines) - few of the photos were real standout, but shown together in a sequence they told the story. I agree that it’s all about the story you want to tell and how best to tell it.
    Oh, and congratulations to Ben on his team’s win!!

  • Carrie

    Thanks for answering my questions!  I’m just starting to really enjoy the designing process as much as the story telling process!  There were lots of good tips in your response.

  • Tonysfrenchgirl

    I love how you explained your approach to scrapping an event as opposed to the “picture book documentary.” You’re the perfect person to do these Q & A videos. They are all excellent!

  • Lainehmann

    You are so sweet! Thank you so much. I’m glad you are enjoying them. :) They’ve been a lot of fun to create!

  • Lainehmann

    Yay! Glad the video was helpful. Thanks for the question!

  • Lainehmann

    Thanks, Marcia! In an upcoming video or blog post I’ll share some of my multi-photo layouts. Often they’re two pages, and they’re just harder to get good photos of! 

  • Lainehmann

    Thanks, Alison! I’m glad everyone is enjoying this series. It’s fun to see what’s on everyone’s minds. :)

  • Lainehmann

    I used to do strictly 12×12, strictly multi-photo, strictly two-page spreads. It IS nice to have options!

  • Lainehmann

    That’s a great way to describe it, Laura!

  • Lainehmann

    Yes, that “spotlight” approach is exactly it. For me it can be hard to create focus on a page with a lot of photos. 

  • Lainehmann

    It’s all good! :)

  • Lainehmann

    Ahh, yes, film! Didn’t want to waste a single photo — even the lousy ones! :)

  • Jeniruthjov

    Another great video. I usually do the multi-photo thing, in addition to the 8 1/2 x 11 pages… Yep! Definitely doing my own thing here!

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