I'm hoping to make some layout templates soon and I was just wondering how many photos you usually put on a page? Are you a regular one photo per layout scrapper? Or does it vary depending on the page? Do you never do more than two? Or usually more than three? I've put a poll here for you to answer, but feel free to leave me more details in the comments 
Also, what attracts to you to a layout template?
Total votes: 43
I tend to put several photos on a layout for my personal scrapbooking
I am mostly a 1-photo scrapper because I want it to be more about the picture than anything else but really it depends on the layout..
I like pages rather simple, not too loaded with only 1 photo
I like two or three photos - one main one and then another one or two that give a bit more - maybe details, other views, etc. In most cases I look for templates that make the photos the focus and have room for writing about the pictures. I am not a fan of templates that overwhelm the photos with embellishments and I usually strip most of them out.
So far it's usually just one photo, but once I get more comfortable with digital scrapbooking and journaling on it, I imagine I'll begin using two or three photos that help make up an image of what I am journaling.
I always favor either 1 photo....or.... 1 featured photo that is a bit larger, and 1-2 smaller ones to compliment.
I usually prefer 1 photo as I want it to be the focus, & not the elements or clustering or anything similar.
It depends on the layout or the event that I'm doing. If it's a special photo, then just 1 photo, but especially travel layouts I have used up to 25 photos on the page - close ups of building features or sceneries, etc.
I like both simple and complex photo layout templates. I also like the pocket scrapbooking templates.
Rather than squares or rectangles, perhaps create more fun shapes such as circles and hexagons to put photos in.
LOL can I change my vote? I responded 2-3 as I don't like all the layouts & templates I see with 5,6 (and more!) photos and tons of elements that look so cluttered. And the 2-3 ones often look nice with different perspectives or shots. Don't care for the ones where the additional photos are almost the same.
But thinking about it, most of the time I use just 1 photo. Either I have a) a special older vintage type photo I really want to focus on, or b) I'm making a quicky page for a friend or relative with a photo I just got.
If you haven't already refreshed the page, you can do so and a button will come up that says "cancel my vote". If you click that, you can revote
Just noticed the 2nd part of your question. Until recently I had not used templates since I didn't know how to. I would just make pages on my own or use "quick pages". However, now that I see how I can use them in PSE (which I couldn't in the simpler program I had) I am noticing what different ones look like. While I find it interesting to see the different arrangements someone has found to incorporate many photos (sort of like a quilt pattern & I also makes quilts), I don't want to bother finding that many photos or other things for a page. And I do not like all those Project Life and similar layouts as they look boring and all the same. My favorite pages to look at, and to do if in the mood & have the time, are the more artsy ones.
In that vein I stumbled on one designer who has pages with lots of geometric elements that I like a lot. She also often has a place for a photo with a mask (something I've also recently learned how to do and really like). This designer's website is called Les Petit Cadeaux.
Thanks, just did that
wouldn't have guessed that was possible
I print my pages as books. Because I print in 12x12 or similar size, I find that I can truly enjoy up to 5 (or sometimes more) photos per page.
I do want the photos to be the focus, and I look for templates that allow that. Obviously, since I like to use several photos (and I want them to be the focus), I am not a fan of templates that use one photo or a cluster several photos in the middle of a huge 'white space'. I do notice that those are the 'popular' layouts, however.
I know. I'm 'behind the times'. But that's how I feel. It is not my experience that a tiny photo in the middle of a large page is a good way to 'focus on the photo'. It feels to me like that kind of layout is a focus on the paper/embellishments.
I almost feel like I need to apologize for giving my opinion; but this is how I feel.
Photos + captions (I print the captions on the photos then print) & stories on journal cards tell the story of my week/trip/whatever I'm scrapping so I want as many of each as I can fit on a page attractively. The captions & journalling also identify what's going on (& who the people are, what is going on, & where this is all happening) for people who look at my scrapbooks.
I scrap in pocket style - no pockets but with a grid layout - & the number of photos depends on what the photos are. Unless there is one full page photo, I never have fewer than 4 photos on a page& have done as many as 9 - & this is on 8.5x11 pages.
I scrap very simply with the photos the entire point of the page & therefore don't use any embellishments, other than an occasional filler card (if there's one that helps tell the story). I find most of them detract from the photos & information on the page. I'm with Anita - I have never understood pages with one small photo & masses of embellishments. They're lovely & very creative - but tell me nothing about why you made the page (who is they person? when was the photo taken/page made? why was it important you document this page?). And will the people you make the page for remember who & when this was? Will their grandchildren? Can you tell I started college as a journalism major? =D
note: I ended up as a double History & Geology major with a minor in Art History but I still love the journalism creed: Who, What, Where, When, & Why - & that shows in my scrapbooks.
I put on as many as I can fit without it looking cluttered. Usually two or three if I can, but more if it happens to work. I am usually trying to scrap some sort of event and want to fit as many pictures on a two page layout as I can so that I have just a two page spread for maybe my daughter's birthday or rodeo or whatever I'm scrapping.
Anita Bennett - thanks for posting.
I ditto everything you said
and everything Sarah Palmer said
and everything Jill Morgenstern said
being a photographer and a mom, I use the photos to tell a story, sometimes that is a couple of photos, but usually between 3-6
I ditto the opinions where less embellishments is more!
i tend do only use white space and 1-2 photos if i am doing more of an "art therapy" layout...which are sually just for me to help work through my anxiety and I dont tend to do anything with them. thats just me though
1,3 or 5 usually.
Thanks for all the replies! Something to think about as I make layout templates. It brings up other questions I've been thinking about lately. Off to start a new thread!
I completely agree with you!
As many as I can fit, typically about 5-6 with minimal embellishments. Always a spot for journaling