Being a photographer is, in part, all about showing others life as you see it; printed photo books make it easier for you to share what you've seen and to describe what caught your eye or why you believe that it matters.

Now, that's not to say that all printed photo books need to be documentary projects. It's also not to say that you should set out and let a story dictate what you choose to (and not to) do.

Even if you're not already aware of it, the photos that you have taken tell a story about your life or your experiences. Sorting through old photos (like the ones that we all have sitting stored on our hard drives) can be a great way of exploring the process of designing a printed photo book as well; think of it as hands on training of a sort.

When you have great photos and you're looking to share them - whether to detail an experience or a series of experiences - or you're looking to a new way to tell the stories that your clients want to share, printed photo books are a valuable tool.

Printed photo books are all about creating something bigger than simply a photograph; see for yourself just how much of a story you have to tell.