I use CM almost exclusively and yes, you can crop and put your pictures directly on their pages. They are totally acid and lignon free. Or use paper on the pages or anything else you would use in other scrapbooks. I like the ability to put photos and memorabilia on plain white (or black or natural) pages in the book without having to buy additional paper and also the flexibility to use patterned paper or anything else on top of the CM pages. The only drawback is, if you cover all of your CM pages with paper it adds to the overall weight and thickness of the album and can limit how many pages you get into an album. Also, I find CM 12x12 pages are not true 12x12 square and you have to trim the paper. I know I am not "CM legal" because I use all kinds of paper and other accessories and I stuff way too many pages in my albums but they've been working fine for me for years.