"You just never know when you're going to need it," said Alford, a graphic designer from Atlanta, Georgia. "The technology has really made taking pictures easier and more convenient than ever."

Alford uses the HP Photosmart M437 - an inexpensive digital camera he said is ideal for his casual, everyday use. Running as little as $75, the price tag on these devices has decreased while their popularity has increased, making the informal practice of digital photography commonplace in today's society. Besides their affordability and high-quality imaging, digital cameras require no film purchase, and users always have the option of deleting "unflattering" snapshots - just some of the attributes that have added to the appeal of this technology.

"I honestly don't know how I ever lived without my camera," Alford said. "Although I'm not a professional photographer, the ease of use with digital cameras makes you feel like you are."

While his digital camera was inexpensive, Alford said it also lacks a large enough memory to hold the multitude of pictures he takes. With 16 megabytes of space, no sooner does an image catch his eye than he has to find a method of preserving it, resulting in a mess of compact discs and files hogging up his hard drive.

"I don't want to lose these images forever," Alford said. "I've got some uploaded online, but that's really hard to keep up with. I realize I'm not a professional photographer, but I took these pictures for a reason, and preserving them in some way is really important to me."

For Alford, what used to be a challenge is now easier than ever after he discovered photo books. Ranging in sizes from 4x6 to 8 1/2x11, the professional appeal of the black-linen hardcover books makes a perfect display for his digital printouts.

"I like the PhotoBook Creator by Unibind, which is a binding machine that actually lets me make my own photo albums at home," Alford said. "I use Kodak Photo Paper to print out the images I want to bind, although the machine works with any kind of paper, and the pages are literally bound in 90 seconds! It's so easy, and it makes for an amazing catalogue of some of my favorite images."

What was traditionally thought of as an expense is, according to Alford, quite a reasonable value. With an average cost of $10 per photo book, he said he now has an amazing collection of catalogues for the various trips, family gatherings and amazing sights he's caught on camera. Besides personal fulfillment, the photo books he makes often go to loved ones as gifts or memoirs.

"Most people have a nice book on their coffee table, but I've got a portfolio of some of the best images I've ever taken," Alford said. "Anytime someone comes to visit, it's always a conversation starter. The ability to make high-quality photo books at home has ended up making me even more passionate about my hobby."