Seeking advice on wedding books/albums

12/29/2008 04:50:56 PM · #1

I realize there have been other threads on this subject, but time marches on and things change over the years, so...

I've been asked to shoot another wedding and I need to gather current information on the various options that are available for wedding books/albums. I will be doing my own research, but I would also appreciate any opinions or comments that any of you care to offer.

I know there lots of companies that sell these things. Which are the best ones? Which are the cheapest or most expensive? Are there any that should be avoided at all costs?

12/30/2008 03:56:18 AM · #2

12/30/2008 12:21:35 PM · #3

12/30/2008 12:35:34 PM · #4

Hey Mick,

I'm relatively new to the whole album thing but I think you will find some help at albumsinc.com. Their staff is helpful(website is a little cumbersome) and they will send you a large catalog representing album products from several different suppliers and price points.

12/30/2008 12:49:39 PM · #5

Originally posted by mpeters:

Thanks for the help Mark. What do think of the quality and pricing of their books?

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

12/30/2008 03:19:02 PM · #6

There is the old matted album, many companies make them (TAP is one that's easy for non-pros to get a hold of).
There is flush mount - self stick and factory made. Self stick is just that - you get the prints from your lab, the book from an album company, and you peel the pages and stick the prints. Factory made is similar in concept but the album company puts in your prints (inkjet prints will not work as htey use a heat mount deal). The edges are then trimmed flush, somehting you can't do with a self mount album.

And of course there is coffee table books from all sorts of companies. quality varies - be that in color, printing, paper, longevity, cover, constuction, etc.

Who's good that you can actually buy from? I can't much help you there as all the stuff I get is only for pros - you have to prove you are a working photographer and provide a tax /federal ID to get an account.

I'd imagine Mpix does nice coffee table books. I've not dealt with MyPublisher in years but they're books fall apart with repeated use and there print quality is not the best out there.

A lot depends on your workflow preferences. I hate repackaging prints to send out to companies. I like self mount books a lot. I like coffee table books, but when showing them next to a 'real' album EVERY bride wants the 'real' album. I HATE slip in books with a passion. You can get the matted look from some companies - they'll mount your prints. It's a lot of work to get that ready to ship to them though, so that you'll get back what you expect.
There are some companies that will do print and bind - you upload files and get back a finished book, like you do with a coffee table book. I prefer to see my prints first on my albums when a book costs $300 or more dollars an error can be an expensive oops.

Pipe_Dream

Nikon D700

12/30/2008 03:25:48 PM · #7

I started using Asuka book, really nice coffee table style books! I can't remember but I think you need a TIN or EIN to setup an account (you might want to double check on that). Very nice product though.

12/30/2008 03:33:48 PM · #8

I've done a couple of budget albums with the 'old' matted style pages. TAP is one brand, quality is OK for the price. I think the mats show off the pictures nicely but they are a PITA to mount(ie. time consuming). I don't like coffee table books; the pages are too thin and I don't think they would wear that well. OTOH, who really looks at their album after the first year or so of marriage! :)

I have purchased one factory mounted, Tuscany digital album from Candid 2000. Price was reasonable, leather cover was soft and pretty, but the prints did not come out as good as my regular lab prints. A little less vibrant... My cost was around $300 for 20 pages(40 sides), 10x10, black leather. I think Candid 2000 recently changed their name to Blackriver Imaging.

Albums Inc. sells Renaissance brand--they have many cover options, inlays, leathers, colors, etc. Looks like a nice product but haven't tried them yet. They make matted style albums and digital albums. Prof_Fate, any input on Renaissance ?

12/30/2008 03:34:27 PM · #9

Originally posted by Pipe_Dream:

Does ASuka have the thin pages or the thicker, "kid's book" pages?

12/30/2008 03:39:34 PM · #10

I've seen them at shows and they do look nice. Not sure beyond that.
I use GP's Optimus for my self stick books - lots and lots of cover choices, sizes, etc and they offer a repositionable adhesive otion (about a $40 upgrade) but if want stright prints every time it's sometimes handy to be able topull a print back out. And you can get matching folios and CD cases, etc.

As to CTBs, I use H&H and have a couple of books that have been perused a LOT. Several bridal shows and a seek long county fair, plus everyone just about that comes into the studio (got them for wedding and senior and baby books). Not an issue of any kind - to tears, nothing falling apart, etc. As good as they day I got them and they've gotten use well beyond what many books in a public library get!

Of the one or two Asuka books I've seen I don't get why they cost as much as they do. HH seems as good and they do 2 day turnaround and 2 day shipping (for free) - so 4 or 5 days at the most I've got the book in my hands. Cover options are photo or black imitation leather so that's a bit limiting.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

12/30/2008 03:45:35 PM · #11

Thanks, I'll check out H&H and GP.

Pipe_Dream

Nikon D700

12/30/2008 03:48:51 PM · #12

Originally posted by mpeters:

Originally posted by Pipe_Dream:
I started using Asuka book, really nice coffee table style books! I can't remember but I think you need a TIN or EIN to setup an account (you might want to double check on that). Very nice product though.

Does ASuka have the thin pages or the thicker, "kid's book" pages?

They are thin pages, just like a nice hard cover coffee table book that you'd get in any bookstore. Personally I dont understand the attraction to those thick, plastic, chunky pages. I think it looks like poo (IMO).

12/30/2008 03:55:38 PM · #13

I guess I prefer the thicker pages because they lay nice and flat when opened. I wouldn't mind if they were about half the thickness though.... It would make the book less bulky.

12/30/2008 03:58:14 PM · #14

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

And of course there is coffee table books from all sorts of companies. quality varies - be that in color, printing, paper, longevity, cover, constuction, etc.

This is what I'm looking into. I'm not interested in flush mount or print and bind. I'd like options for book size, leather binding, and full bleed (pages and covers). I'd also like the option of using Photoshop or provided software (with page templates) for designing the layout.

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Who's good that you can actually buy from? I can't much help you there as all the stuff I get is only for pros - you have to prove you are a working photographer and provide a tax /federal ID to get an account.

That's not a problem.

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

I like coffee table books, but when showing them next to a 'real' album EVERY bride wants the 'real' album.

What do you mean by 'real' album? Flush mount, or...?

Thanks for helping.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

12/30/2008 04:00:23 PM · #15

Originally posted by Pipe_Dream:

Thanks Dan! I filled out their sign up page yesterday.

Pipe_Dream

Nikon D700

12/30/2008 04:00:59 PM · #16

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

I'll have to check out H&H too, One thing I do dislike about Asuka is the rather lengthy turn around time

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

12/30/2008 04:06:00 PM · #17

I get the 'kids book' page analogy now!

GP's optimus pages are think, as in substantial. Makes for a think book. Impressive book. Durable book. Art Leather's iMount/iMount deluxe pages are much thinner, meaning a thin book (20 sides say) looks a bit cheaper, but on the flip side you can get one with more pages than GP fits in their books.

GP offers a book that from the description seems to be two prints back to back then laminated. I would assume it looks better than is sounds. The description makes me think of restaurant menu or the older style trader cards or bagtags. But the pages are thinner and still stiff and durable so ou can get a lot of pages in a book.

Me, I want to make my own albums. I want to make them large - 16x20 maybe. Like you see in the movies where they pull if off the shelf and blow off the dust and open it to reveal the magic spells or history of the universe or something.
This is overkill as it's 43 x 98 inches and weighs over 1000 pounds.

molinski4611

Polaroid Fun Flash 640

12/30/2008 04:19:43 PM · #18

I've used MPIX's assembled albums and have had great results.

//www.mpix.com/Product.aspx/assembledalbums

12/30/2008 04:20:52 PM · #19

Originally posted by Mick:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
I like coffee table books, but when showing them next to a 'real' album EVERY bride wants the 'real' album.

What do you mean by 'real' album? Flush mount, or...?

Thanks for helping.

2 inches thick, 10x10 or so or larger, leather or like cover, imprinting of the couples name, etc. It's what comes to mind when you hear 'wedding album'.

I don't think of a coffee table book when I hear 'wedding album', do you? Or even 'photo album'. So to me it's not a 'real album'. It's a book.

Leather Craftsman does some nice stuff too and i've used them once and their turnaround was great - 3 weeks from when I shipped prints to them till I had the box in my hands - and that was THIS MONTH. Great turnaorund for christmas time!
GP takes 2 weeks.
HH on the coffee table books are fast. Their black tie print and bind books take 2 to 3 weeks, but if you opt for a full photo cover they're pretty affordable. If you go full leather you're paying the same, or maybe more, than leather craftsman and I think LC is a better outfit, reputation wise.

LC like most album companies all have their own jargon - inset, cameo, cover image are all the same thing. Leaf, insert, page, side, mat and a few more all refer to the same thing, or different things, depending on what company you are dealing with. Makes for some touch conversations at times.

LC offers 7 or 8 different albums and some differences seem subtle to me.
Art Leather sells a book called a 'Cache' that I like, but it's part of another line and can be hard to find or ask about..it's part of their Fusion line I think...

It all got confusing when companies took Album Model A and made it slip in, or mounted or flush mount and instead of giving each a unique name they inbred themselves.

I had this happen with HH. They offer two binding styles, plain or upscale leather. What they don't make clear is that if you want the 'normal' binding you need to get the upscale leather. And if you want the all pano album, referred to as storybook in their literature, you need to order the upscale leather to get the proper binding. Confusing as f**k let me tell you. And when you don't get what you want, but do get what you ordered, what can you do?

Art Leather offered a self mount matted book when I booked a wedding and that's why the bride chose me. Fast forward 10 months to the wedding and 6 more till she orders her book and they no longer make that style album. Man, was she pissed. Leather Craftsman does -at about twice the price. So I no longer guarantee a specific album or cover material to a bride during consults. When she's ready to order then we'll talk specifics.

So my album offerings are now 'standard' and 'premium'. Standard being a self stick book and premium being a factory book, generally speaking.

12/30/2008 04:27:22 PM · #20

Originally posted by molinski4611:

I've used MPIX's assembled albums and have had great results.

//www.mpix.com/Product.aspx/assembledalbums

Looks like a peel and stick album. As you have the slight border beyond the print edge. Price seems good for the larger (10x10) books but is costly for the smaller ones (5x7) so it kind of balances out.

And you can have any color you want as long as it's black! LOL

GP offers a few more....it's one reason I like them.
cover color and material options

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

12/30/2008 05:12:00 PM · #21

I used to use Asuka, and they are quite nice, but a great many of my clients do not want to pay the high price.

I started using Millers Imaging Press Books nearly 2 years ago, and they are wonderful. I have clients who have ordered the soft cover as well as the hard cover and they are all very nice "coffee table" style books.

My experience is the opposite of Prof's - when clients see the "side-by-side", they always want the press books, and I haven't had one that has regretted that choice.

All that being said, I am scanning my nearly 10 year old wedding photos, and plan to put together an Asuka for us. All of the Asuka albums I have done have been extraordinary.

PS: Miller's Imaging Customer Service is SUPERIOR in my experience, and that is a big reason why I stick with them.

12/30/2008 05:22:34 PM · #22

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

I think the 'book style' wedding album is becoming very popular. That's what I would want if I were getting married today. I'm over 50 so when I think of 'wedding album' I first think of the old photo albums with the stick-on corners to hold the prints on a page. The kind where all the photos fall out when you open the first page. LOL! I know the technology has improved a lot since then, however I still prefer the cleanness of a bound hardcover book.

12/30/2008 05:39:19 PM · #23

Originally posted by LindaLee:

Thanks a bunch Linda! I will check out Millers right away.

12/31/2008 12:21:07 AM · #24

Originally posted by Mick:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
2 inches thick, 10x10 or so or larger, leather or like cover, imprinting of the couples name, etc. It's what comes to mind when you hear 'wedding album'.

I don't think of a coffee table book when I hear 'wedding album', do you? Or even 'photo album'. So to me it's not a 'real album'. It's a book.

I think the 'book style' wedding album is becoming very popular. That's what I would want if I were getting married today. I'm over 50 so when I think of 'wedding album' I first think of the old photo albums with the stick-on corners to hold the prints on a page. The kind where all the photos fall out when you open the first page. LOL! I know the technology has improved a lot since then, however I still prefer the cleanness of a bound hardcover book.

I just found this:
Itâ��s time to â��wake up and smell the coffeeâ��! Coffee table photo books, that is!

Does anyone else have any info or opinions about any of the other online photo book publishers? C'mon, speak up.