PhotoMemo FAQ - Film Photography Notebook In-Depth Look

photomemo film photographer's notebooks, vintage 35mm camera, a roll of film and a pencil

Q: So, PhotoMemo is a notebook?

A: Yes! It's a notebook, specifically designed for photographers who shoot film, but any photographer who wants to put pen to paper to take notes can use it all the same.

Q: Is it preformatted, or are the pages blank?

A: It is preformatted. Each two-page spread is laid out as a roll journal, but you can also keep a log of tech data for every exposure, if you want. The goal was to make it usable as one, or the other, a combination of both, or neither--you can make it your own. The ink color is a balance of being dark enough to read, but light enough to be unobtrusive of your notes and sketches. Here's an example of a spread:

Photomemo Film Photographer's Notebook Interior Pages

Q: I shoot digital, too. Can I still use it?

Yes! ANYONE can use this notebook for any application. It's laid out in a way to help keep track of your film, but still be versatile enough for everything from minute details all the way to big ideas, lists, and sketches. The ink is balanced to be just dark enough to be easily visible, but light enough to let you be free with your records, notes, lists, sketches, or anything else you need to put on paper.

Q: Isn't there a smartphone app that does this?

A: Yes--there are a few, and by all accounts they do what they do fairly well. This is for folks that like putting pen (or pencil) to paper. Just your thoughts, a writing utensil and some paper, with nothing else to distract your creativity. No need to stare at a screen, type on 2-inch keyboard, charge a battery, or look for a Wi-Fi signal.

Interior photo of PhotoMemo film photography notebook and a vintage film TLR camera

Q: What's the paper like?

A: The cover is 100 lb. NEENAH Environment Desert Storm. It's a thick, smooth, writable stock, a bit thicker than an average business card. I chose it as a balance between thickness, weight, and sturdiness. The inside pages are 60 lb. Lynx Opaque Smooth. Again, a balance between thickness, weight and sturdiness. 60 lb. paper is a tiny bit thicker than the 20lb. bond you'd find in an office printer or copy machine. It's also a bit more opaque so the writing won't bleed through nearly as much as it would on 20lb. The biggest factor in choosing this stock is because of it's great feel when writing on it.