Photo albums can be the best way to store and present your treasured photos and memories. They also come in a wide variety of styles and types, which can be a bit overwhelming. To help make things easier, we've created this helpful online guide on how to understand different types of photo albums.
It is important to choose a photo album that is right for you, so we have put together this information to help you identify which photo album will be the most suitable for you to best protect and enjoy your photos and memories.
What Are the Different Types of Photo Albums?
Photo albums come in a variety of styles and formats for mounting and attaching photos. There are four common types; Slip-in photo albums (also referred to photo pocket albums), Drymount photo albums (also referred to as pergamyn albums, loose-leaf page albums or photo mountable albums), Self-adhesive photo albums, which is a traditional method, and finally a smaller, pocket-sized photo albums commonly called Bragbooks.
Let's explain each different style below:
1. Slip-in Photo Albums
A slip-in photo album is a type of photo album where images are inserted into clear plastic pockets or sleeves, allowing for easy access and display without the need for adhesive. This format protects photos while enabling quick changes and organisation.
Also called photo pocket albums, Profile Slip-in photo albums have pages that allow you to insert your photos into pre-sized polypropylene pockets, to allow you to easily 'slip-in' your photos.
These pocket style photo albums are the most convenient and easiest way to arrange your photos. Some slip-in photo albums even include a memo space next to each photo to record a note on memo lines.
We've put together a video below which helps demonstrate our popular Regal Slip-in Photo album:
However, slip-in photo albums can be limited to the size of the pocket for each photo, which is commonly 4x6in (10x15cm). So, if you have any larger or odd-sized photos and pictures, then you may wish to use a Drymount photo album or a Self-adhesive photo album which can provide more flexible mounting options.
If you have photos that are larger than a commonly 4x6in (10x15cm) we recommend you read our blog:- Read our Blog - What are the Best Photo Albums to Suit Enlargement Photos?
2. Drymount Photo Albums
Drymount photo albums can also be called pergamyn albums, traditional photo albums and also called rice paper albums. Profile's range of dry mount photo albums all feature high-quality, acid-free pages, with glassine interleaving between each page. This ensures your photographs do not stick between pages when the photo album pages are closed.
Below is a video we've put together which helps demonstrate our popular Regal Dry Mount Photo albums:
Dry mount picture albums are ideal for creating flexible and customised photo arrangements in different orientations on the same page such as horizontal and vertical photos. You can also mount different sized photographs and images such as 4x6inch, 5x7inch, 6x8inch, 8x10inch, 8x12inch and even polaroid photos and more. Dry mount photo albums also allow you to include other items such as tickets, maps, postcards, and other small mementos. The pages in these can also be ideal for you to be able to write a notes or messages anywhere as required.
Drymount photo albums will require you use manually attach your photos onto the page using mounting accessories such as photo splits (tabs), photo adhesives or archival photo corners. These accessories will then hold your photos in place. Some mounting accessories are also removable and repositionable as well.
For example, our popular Regal Black Drymount Albums are designed to hold 3 landscape and 2 portrait photos on the one 300x365mm page (see photo below)
Want to learn more about Drymount photo albums?
- Read our Blog - What is a Drymount Photo Album?
What Type of Mounting Accessories Would I Need for a Drymount Photo Album?
When buying a Drymount photo album, we recommend our range of Photo Mounting Accessories such as tape runners, photo corners or photo splits (tabs) to quickly and easily mount your photos into your photo album.
We have a 'How-to Guide' available for you to learn how to use photo mounting accessories.
3. Self-Adhesive Photo Albums
Self-Adhesive photo albums have self-mount sticky pages protected by a crystal-clear film which easily peels off the page to allow for flexible mounting of your photos, images, tickets and other mementoes arranged in any format.
Self-Adhesive Photo Albums can also be referred to as magnetic page or easy mount albums.
These albums also allow multiple size photos or horizontal and vertical photos on the same page. Simply return the clear film back onto the page and your photos are now ready for viewing. The clear film also provides protection from dust, scratches and fingerprints.
We've put together a video below which helps demonstrate our popular range of Self-Adhesive photo albums:
The main benefit of these albums is there is no need for photo adhesives such as photo corners or photo splits (tabs) as the adhesive on the page keeps your photo in place. Photos can also be re-arranged or exchanged very easily.
Our Self-Adhesive albums are also refillable so you can insert more pages if required; there is no need for photo adhesives such as photo corners or photo splits (tabs) as the adhesive on the page keeps your photo in place; they allow you the flexibility to arrange your photos in any format; it allows multiple size photos onto the same page; allows horizontal and vertical photos on the same page; photos can be re-arranged or exchanged very easily and it will ensure your treasured memories are protected forever.
Want to learn more about magnetic page photo albums?
- Read our Blog - The Magic of Self-Adhesive Photo Albums?
4. Bragbook Photo Wallets
Bragbook photo albums are small, pocket-sized photo wallets which are designed to be compact and portable to fit in your handbag or on your desk to help you store and display a small collection of photos.
These have slip-in pages and are convenient to take anywhere, and also make the perfect gift for loved ones.
What are the Different Bookbinding Formats for Photo Albums?
Most photo albums are available in a traditional bookbound page format. Profile albums feature a superior stitched-finish binding with spine which is designed for longevity and use.
However there is also now new alternative loose-leaf page format available called Display Photo Albums which we will explain further below.
Display Photo Albums
Display Photo Albums are a coffee table book-style of photo album. These modern & stylish albums open like a clamshell format storage box, with hidden magnetic enclosures. These photo boxes feature a high-quality linen cloth cover with snap-ring binding to hold your removable and replaceable black photo pages.
Our range of Display Photo Albums are available in both Slip-in and Drymount page formats.
We've put together a video below which helps demonstrate our popular range of Display Photo albums:
For more information about Display Photo Albums, read our blog:
Are Photo Albums Safe for My Photos?
If you're looking for photo albums that will be safe to store your photographs for years to come, then you can be confident to choose an album from Profile Australia. All Profile photo albums are acid-free, photo safe and proudly come with a lifetime guarantee!
Where Can I Buy Photo Albums Online?
You can shop Australia's Largest Range of Photo Albums Online with Profile. Explore the complete range of photo albums from Profile Australia. Whether you're looking for a wedding album, a baby photo album, a stylish linen photo album, or even specialty fabric covered album like our Plush photo albums, we offer a full range of photo albums and accessories in all styles and sizes.
All Profile photo albums come with our exclusive Picture Perfect lifetime guarantee, so you can rest assured that your photos will be protected by the best quality photo albums.
With a Profile photo album, you can rest assured knowing that each photo will be protected against fading, yellowing, and damage caused by humidity or environmental factors. We know how important these moments are – they're more than just images on paper; they hold irreplaceable stories and emotions that deserve to be shared with loved ones.
We hope this information was helpful. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel welcome to contact us.
