I’m Amy.
My name is Amy, the sole owner and designer of Shoebox Albums. I’ve been a graphic designer for 18 years, but my journey with Shoebox Albums goes beyond my passion for design; it’s deeply personal.
A few years before my dad passed away, he gifted me items that had belonged to his late sister, Margie, who had tragically died at 19. These keepsakes—her journals, artwork, scrapbooks, and slides—were memories preserved by her parents, a way to hold onto her vibrant life. My dad believed that one day, I could do something meaningful with them.
Four years ago, I decided to fulfill his wish, crafting a book that told Margie’s story. It became a cherished family heirloom, and with it, a new purpose emerged for me: helping others preserve the stories of their dearly departed loved ones in a way that honors and celebrates them.
This experience became the springboard for Shoebox Albums. My passion now lies in creating custom, high-end photo books that don’t just showcase life’s joyous events, like weddings and vacations, but also celebrate the legacy of those we’ve lost. I believe that honoring the deceased doesn’t stop at the funeral; it continues through memories that spark stories, keeping their essence alive for generations.
When I’m not designing, you can find me spending time with my family, walking my dog, sewing, estate-sale shopping, wandering a craft store, or, let’s be honest, binging a new series (or "Friends") on one of the thousand streaming platforms out there.
At Shoebox Albums, I’m here to help you tell the stories that mean the most—whether it’s the life of someone you love or the memories that bring you joy. My story of loss continues below.
MY STORY OF LOSS
Grief is an unexpected passenger in our journey. As a human collective, we share this deep emotional and spiritual bond with those who have passed on. It has been a mission of mine to find ways to help people who are grieving.
It started when I was a teenager. I lost a friend in a car accident. It was my first experience dealing with the sudden and tragic realization that life can be snuffed out, quickly. I had to process, very early on, my own mortality while questioning all the whys that surrounded this untimely death and death in general.
Over the years, I lost grandparents, more friends, schoolmates, co-workers, etc. My mid-20s brought on a life shattering moment when my father suddenly passed away. Then, my father-in-law 5 years later lost his battle with cancer. I spent many years in therapy grappling with the grief of losing these significant people in two very different ways. The grief process is beautiful, painful, ugly, alienating, but necessary. You cannot run from it, it will find you. It will find you in the grocery store as you pass by your loved ones favorite donut, it will press down on you as you attempt to fall asleep. But those moments come and go. It won’t be forever oppressive. Even all these years later, I still have hard moments. Grief is love with no where to go.
I started this album design business to celebrate life's events. All the joyous occasions from weddings, baby's first year, vacations to anniversaries, etc. But I quickly learned that we have a lack of these types of businesses who center their work around the celebration of those who have passed.
The story of passed loved ones deserves to be displayed in the most unique way. I have decided to shift my business focus to design albums that celebrate the lives of those we have lost. No matter how or when they have departed, they have a story to tell. Their images should be properly displayed so generations from now may know them.
My mission is to provide custom album design to any and all people who have someone who's life they want to celebrate and share with their family and friends. From the most complex albums, which include writings, keepsakes and old photos, to the more simple-streamlined album of photos over the years. We can work together to capture their lives as it truly was meant to be seen. And in this process, my hope is to help heal a part of your grieving heart as you pay tribute to the extraordinary life of this person, no matter how long or short they were here with us. May you find peace in your heart.
