First of all, decide what size and orientation you will print your photos: rectangular (3x5 or 4x6, landscape/horizontal or portrait/vertical) or square (3x3, 4x4 or 5x5).
Second, decide whether you want to assemble it before your trip (and add the photos later), or after your trip (you have the option of grouping or arranging the autographs and photos in whatever order you choose).
If you are assembling the book before your trip, I'd suggest using wire comb-binding so the pages can flip all the way around, leaving the top page available for signing. You can purchase a wire-bound sketch book at an arts & crafts store and decorate the pages, or make your own: choose your card stock, have it cut to size and then bound at a copy shop (or by a friend with access to the right equipment).
If you are assembling the book after you get home, you can use a scrapbook of the appropriate size. Just bring pre-cut pages with you for the characters to sign, then drop them into the album once you get home and put the photos in the facing pages.
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For example, here is what I am planning to do for my trip in March:
I have done separate autograph books and photo albums on previous trips, but this time I want to do a combined one.
I'll be there for my 50th birthday and am thinking of the book as a sort of 'yearbook' of my celebration. I am planning a 5-1/2x5 character book, with the extra half-inch to allow for the binding and still leave 5x5 inches of usable space on each page. (Since I'm turning 50, "5" seemed like a good number, LOL)
I'll cut 5x4 pages of card stock and bind them together (temporarily) on the short edge to take with me and keep everything together on the trip.
When I get home, I'll remove the binding and cut off the extra inch where the holes were punched for the temporary binding. This will result in 4x4 pages with character autographs. (I need to remember to have each page signed only on one side, though -- details below.)
I'll print my photos at 4x4 as well, and mat everything on 4-1/2 inch square card stock (to give them quarter-inch border) and coordinate the colors for each two-page spread. (If I have autographs on both sides, I couldn't mat them without losing a character!)
Not sure how I will arrange the pages -- by park or day or related characters together -- it will probably depend on who all I meet this trip.
I may add some notes and other bits of memorabilia before binding everything together with a large comb binder. I'm planning to use chipboard for the covers -- it is easy to decorate -- and am playing with the idea of a big cupcake featuring a Mickey head and "50" on the front cover. Again, it will depend on the trip itself and what inspires me, so we'll see!
Anyway, good luck with your book -- feel free to ask if you have more specific questions.
Ali
