Done is Better Than Perfect
I am a perfectionist. And, a bit OCD at times. So, when I create my family’s photo books, I make sure that everything is included and flows in the same timeframe as it happened in real life. What do I mean by that? Well, if something happened in March, then it falls in the book before a July 4th event. I go so far as layout page spreads with events that happen in the morning to be on the left side of the spread, and things that happen the same day in the evening, on the right side of the spread.
I approach my client projects the same way I approach my personal ones because I want the books to be absolutely perfect. I love being able to deliver a project to a client who is looking through a Year in Review from 2022 and can relive those moments as if they’re happening again.
However, sometimes the metadata (dates taken, keywords, etc) associated with the photos is missing. Because I have always thought that I have to be perfect, I end up reaching out to my clients to get a timeframe of the events in the year. But you know what? They usually don’t care which day or month it was taken or which page it gets placed on. What they care about is that their memories are captured in a book and their story is told.
It’s more important to get your memories into a book, than have it be absolutely perfect
Initially, this boggled my mind. I couldn’t imagine a book not being in perfect order. However, as I design more and more of these books and discuss these details with my clients, I just hear the stress in their voices and the anxiety of losing these memories. And I realize, perfect isn’t important. The people, the places, the memories in these photos, that is what is important. So if a wedding in Denver happened in August, and a family trip to New York happened in July, but they’re reversed in the book, it’s OK. Both moments are captured in the book. And, those memories are not forgotten.
The memories are important. The people are important. The photos are important. Perfect is not.
So, take a lesson from my wise clients and keep in that in mind as you’re creating your own special projects. If you are about maintaining a timeline, or making sure every single photo is captured, and want your books to be perfect and error free, let go. Let go of that tension and be proud of yourself that you are doing everything you can to preserve your family’s memories. Your family will be happy that they have a book to look at with you. Cherish that accomplishment and be proud of your efforts.
Let go of needing everything be perfect, and celebrate the completion of a meaningful project.
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