When I started my business in 2008 one of my personal directives was to ensure I ran my business as environmentally friendly as I could. Photography is not an easy avenue to remain green in, but for my business as a whole I did have choices to make. All printed materials used are made from recycled content, 90% come from 100% recycled paper. Not included in this of course are prints themselves. In saying that I had a decision to make as to how I could present these images to my clients as the end product. I choose to forgo offering traditional wedding book albums that are made from pages treated with harmful chemicals. Instead I looked first to locally made and handmade options.
In Vancouver at that time I could not find handmade albums that were both professional and good quality. I spent the next 6 months searching and testing what I could find. I wanted a handmade feel as I felt it offered a reflection of who I am. I did find high end coffee table albums of museum quality that were initially produced in Ontario, and when Iris Books moved their production to Vancouver I choose to only work with them. These books were not for everyone and I wanted an alternative so that each and every couple I dealt with would have an album, not just digital files, to remember their special day.
After much searching I found Watermark Bindery, then produced by Ned and Virginia from Port Townsend in Washington state. This year Diane and Victor took over Watermark Bindery and from their studio on Marrowstone Island, not far from Port Townsend, they continue to produce beautiful, handmade albums of exceptional quality. In March of this year I journeyed to visit their studio and meet the makers of my albums in person. I feel honoured that I was able to do this and connect to a tradition of handbound bookmaking.
Diane and her husband spent months learning how to continue this tradition and with a background in crafting and publishing, Diane took easily to her new calling, but not without understanding how labour intense bookmaking is. It is more from a passion for the creative arts and not financial gain that Diane and Victor continue with Watermark Bindery. I am very pleased that the company continued after Ned and Virginia sold it to venture into the world of craft beers at The Pourhouse, which is a very fine establishment and well worth a visit if you visit Port Townsend. I was able to say hello to Virginia at The Pourhouse and meet the woman who made my albums by hand, up until this year.
The wedding albums that I offer my clients are completely made by hand. The three step process truly is based on bookbinding methods that do not involve modern technology, but include pages hand torn, collated by hand and the pages handpricked and then sewn together. The book covers are made with book blocks of recycled content and when finally put together are pressed in a very sturdy, ancient and beautiful hand press.
I often teach my children the value of understanding where the food we eat comes from. We purchase locally produced gifts for our friends and family as our first choice and include shopping locally for clothes and toys for ourselves. To learn about how this one aspect of my business is produced meant a lot to me. To meet the individuals who actually did the work was very special.
I want to thank Diane and Victor for allowing us, and that includes the whole family, to meet with them and for taking the time to explain to me their process in their studio. I came home with a box of beautiful albums to restock for the 2012 season and two special portfolio albums that I will have on display at The Grassroots Wedding Fair next Saturday.
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