Do you ever wish you could create a quick, simple, yet striking page without fussing over lots of photos or embellishments? Creating single-photo layouts with a clean, simple design is easy to do and can add variety and interest to your scrapbook albums. By varying the size, shape, and placement of the photos, your scrapbook can have elegant appeal without looking cluttered or overdone.
Create a layout using an enlarged horizontal photo and brightly colored background paper. This photo is printed to completely cover the width of the background paper. When the photo is so large, choose a strong picture to convey the message. In this photo, the boy is laughing, and the simple title of "Laughter" conveys the message to the viewer without additional wording needed. 
Try using an upright panoramic photo is to take up most of the height of your background. This type of layout works well when you have a strong, vertical photograph. Here, a graduation photo is used, and embellishments are added that draw out the color scheme of the photograph. On the left, there is plenty of space to add meaningful journaling, or a quote that is relevant to the picture. A simple, torn paper accent spreads across the lower portion of the layout, breaking up the vertical lines a bit and adding visual interest. 
When a photo contains a lot of "busy" colors, change the photograph to black and white. This allows the viewer to focus on the subject of the photo, rather than the colors. This layout shows the single black and white photograph placed on the left side, with the title balancing the layout visually with its placement on the lower right side. Because of the black and white color of the photograph, brightly colored patterned paper works well. The black ribbon slices the layout, breaking up the empty space that would otherwise dominate the middle of the layout. 
In this example, the background paper contained one of the words entitling the page, for more impact. A ribbon is added to the bottom of the photo to take up some of the blank space without having to crop the picture further. Variety is added with machine stitching. 
Patterned paper can pull out color from a single photo. However, to prevent the photo from becoming "lost" in the pattern, place a layer of Maruyama paper between the picture and the background. Since the background is so abstract, the photo looks more interesting when adhered at an angle, rather than lined up horizontally. Simple embellishments prevent the layout from looking too crowded, and the subject stands out in the photograph. 
Highlight your overall subjects without overpowering by bright embellishments or papers. Keeping the page in a black and white theme, the photo can give more visual impact to the viewer. Create a "visual triangle" to lead the viewer around the page.
As you can see, using single photos can create dramatic, striking pages when mixed carefully with simple, yet thoughtfully placed embellishments. Choose papers and embellishments that will enhance the photos, not detract from the subject and clutter the page. Single photo layouts are perfect for those occasions where you only got one great shot. Use your imagination and allow your single photos to shine!
