Priscilla Foster: Honoring a Trailblazing Wedding Album Maker for Women’s History Month
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s important to recognize the accomplishments of women who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. One such woman is Priscilla Foster, a wedding album maker who has been creating beautiful wedding albums for our brides and grooms.
Priscilla’s albums are not only visually stunning but are also meticulously crafted. She would spend hours selecting the perfect photos, arranging them in a way that told the story of the wedding day, and adding special touches such as handwritten notes and embellishments. Now she no longer designs the actual spreads of an album, but still creates the rest of the book completely from scratch.
With a background in textile design and conservation bookbinding Priscilla started her bindery in a small studio in Jericho, VT in 1998. A 2001 summer trip to visit an old friend in Montana turned into a 21-year adventure living, working and raising two beautiful souls in Bozeman, Montana. The pull of home got harder to ignore as the years passed by so last August she moved her family and business back to the great state of Vermont. You can now find her and two amazing employees in the small town of Saint Johnsbury or helping her husband renovate their 225-year -old house when time allows.
Behind the Scenes with a Wedding Album Maker: Priscilla Foster’s Creative Process
Now that we’ve introduced you to the amazing Priscilla Foster and her impressive work, let’s explore her path and insights as a wedding album creator. We had the honor of sitting down with her for a Q&A session, during which she offered her industry knowledge and experience. Here are some of the highlights from our conversation with Priscilla.
- Your albums are the most unique pieces of artwork that I have found in the photography industry. How do you approach creating a photo album?
Thank you so much. My hope is that I approach my work like I approach my life, which is with an open mind. Open first and foremost to the ideas of my client’s clients (since we only work direct to photographers,) however if they have left the design completely up to me, it really becomes a collaborative piece that tries to pull together all the effort that everyone has put into the wedding design (this includes the B&G, invitation designer, event planner) in order to create a piece that is an extension of the wedding day.
My hope is that the albums we create are like time capsules that, after the food has been eaten the flowers have faded and even the dress has been hermetically sealed, bring together all the pieces of the wedding in a physical form.
- Can you walk us through the steps you take to organize and layout photos in an album?
Although I used to provide album design services, my clients are now required to provide the interior design.
- How do you handle client feedback and make changes to an album design?
Client feedback is always welcome and an important part of the process. After the initial mockup, we allow 2 rounds of changes. Revisions beyond two rounds require a change fee.
- Can you give an example of a particularly challenging photo album project you have worked on and how you overcame any difficulties?
Many years ago, I created an album for a photographer to showcase in our booth at WPPI (we no longer attend trade shows like this) and I was excited to create a conversation piece that would help me talk about what set our company apart from the sea of album companies at the show. I had an idea in my head of what the piece should look like, but fabric the photographer wanted to use for the presentation box was at odds with my vision. Instead of speaking up I forged ahead and create a completed disjointed album suite that was a huge disappointment all around.
What I learned from that experience is that it is always important to speak your mind. My craft is incredibly esoteric, and it’s quite hard for most people to envision the final product, so mockups have become my way to help guide people and create something that will work for everyone.
- How do you stay current with the latest design trends and techniques in the photo album industry?
My background is in textile design and conservation book binding, so I am coming at this industry from very different angle than most. I am focused on creating presentation pieces that are both archival and artistic, so I really don’t follow any fads or trends and every new product we create is painstakingly tested for longevity.
- How do you ensure the final product meets the client’s requirements and timeline?
All client’s sign off on a final mockup so we are all on the same page. The timeline is dependent on the customizations of each album suite, for which we require a minimum turnaround of 12 weeks.
- Can you tell us about a particularly creative solution you implemented in a photo album design?
I feel like I create my best work for client’s who both implicitly trust my command of the craft of book binding and appreciate my aesthetic, which is most definitely eclectic. My client (and good friend) Yvette Roman has been incredibly generous in giving me projects where I can flex my creativity to make something truly unique. A box I made for her comes to mind as one of the most fun and rewarding projects to date.
It started with the incredibly beautiful invitation art from @maudepress and the entire piece revolved around the speakeasy-themed event. I created custom fabric from the artwork which I strategically wrapped around a two-compartment proof box. I had the idea of using our gold key usbs for the usb suite and tied that into the box by creating a brass keyhole/peephole through which you see the images below. The finished piece felt like I had honored the vision of everyone involved by incorporating a little bit of intrigue and magic
Honoring a Talented Wedding Album Maker
Over the years, Priscilla’s business grew, and she became a sought-after wedding album maker. Beyond her impressive career, Priscilla Foster is also a role model for women in business. She has shown that with hard work, dedication, and a passion for what you do, you can achieve success and make a meaningful impact in your field.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s remember the trailblazers like Priscilla Foster who have paved the way for women in the arts and business.
