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03/27/2009 10:31:25 AM · #1 |
I don't know if this is the right place for this or not but....I need to find an affordable albums company. I would like an album that has at least one section that is flat where the two pages combine to make one photo (like a pano). Anything that I need to know about these albums?
Thanks
Shane |
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03/27/2009 10:40:51 AM · #2 |
Albums are confusing to shop for. Each company offers several styles/models of album and each calls the same thing something different..leaf, insert, page, page side for example, or cameo, inset, inserted for a photo set into the cover and some companies give you the option of multiple images on some books when the moon is in jupiter - or so it seems!
Are you a pro? In other words, do this as a part time or full time income, have a website, tax ID numbers, etc? If not then many companies won't sell to you as they sell to the trade only (wholesale).
What's your definition of 'affordable'? For my 'affordable' albums I use coffee table books from HHColorLab (gotta be a pro to get an account). An 11x14 with nice paper, photo cover and 25 pages is under $100. They now offer a lay flat option but I've not seen it in person.
Their black tie albums (print and bind flushmount style) can be had where the image spans both pages with no gap/line/seam but you're talking $300-400 for a 10x10 24 side book, give or take some depending on your options.
Your layout/design time is the same for any book of course. Some will do the design for a fee or free with certain books. Some will give you free samples of the cover materials, some charge, some it's free or reimbursed on your first order. Some will print and bind, bind only or will sell you a self mount book (peel and stick mounting) or some combo/variation on the theme.
Albums Inc has some more affordable books, so they say. Size of the book 'cover' is about the same for any given model (4x5 costs $80 where 11x14 costs $120) but it's the prints inside that make the biggest different (I can get 30 8x10s for $30. 30 12x12's run me $150 for example)
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03/27/2009 11:00:05 AM · #3 |
| Im using zookbooks, but mostly because they will do the layout/design for me. |
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03/27/2009 11:20:52 AM · #4 |
I am a pro and HHColorLab may be for me if they offer a lay flat with the layout on both pages. I want to order some sample books to show my brides and I want to be able to sell them without breaking the bank or making them choose to buy a book instead of pictures on the wall. Thanks for the info I'll look into each of these.
Thanks
Shane
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Albums are confusing to shop for. Each company offers several styles/models of album and each calls the same thing something different..leaf, insert, page, page side for example, or cameo, inset, inserted for a photo set into the cover and some companies give you the option of multiple images on some books when the moon is in jupiter - or so it seems!
Are you a pro? In other words, do this as a part time or full time income, have a website, tax ID numbers, etc? If not then many companies won't sell to you as they sell to the trade only (wholesale).
What's your definition of 'affordable'? For my 'affordable' albums I use coffee table books from HHColorLab (gotta be a pro to get an account). An 11x14 with nice paper, photo cover and 25 pages is under $100. They now offer a lay flat option but I've not seen it in person.
Their black tie albums (print and bind flushmount style) can be had where the image spans both pages with no gap/line/seam but you're talking $300-400 for a 10x10 24 side book, give or take some depending on your options.
Your layout/design time is the same for any book of course. Some will do the design for a fee or free with certain books. Some will give you free samples of the cover materials, some charge, some it's free or reimbursed on your first order. Some will print and bind, bind only or will sell you a self mount book (peel and stick mounting) or some combo/variation on the theme.
Albums Inc has some more affordable books, so they say. Size of the book 'cover' is about the same for any given model (4x5 costs $80 where 11x14 costs $120) but it's the prints inside that make the biggest different (I can get 30 8x10s for $30. 30 12x12's run me $150 for example) |
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03/27/2009 11:22:04 AM · #5 |
I've looked at zookbooks before but don't remeber the cost is it close to others?
Originally posted by ajdelaware:
Im using zookbooks, but mostly because they will do the layout/design for me. |
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03/27/2009 01:28:30 PM · #6 |
bayphoto.com or mpix.com
They both have easy programs to design an album using templates or your own design. |
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03/27/2009 01:30:52 PM · #7 |
| bayphoto.com has a nice hinged/lay flat page option for their coffee table style books. I was very pleased with their quality. I used the 6 color printing option but the 4 color may be fine too. |
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03/28/2009 05:38:56 PM · #8 |
really looking into millers lab....has anyone order with them before? if so what did you think...pros cons? I looked at the lay flat press book. It can have many pano and has options on printed cover or leather. I think it will do everything I need but wanted to see if anyone has ordered one.
thanks
Shane |
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03/28/2009 10:55:28 PM · #9 |
| what about blurb.com? I've heard good things about them! |
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03/29/2009 09:05:07 AM · #10 |
if you're working as a pro you can't go to consumer labs because the client may know it's a blurb book that costs $40 or whatever.
I know a photog that sells MyPublisher books, or at least he shows them at bridal shows. I've seen brides bring them to weddings as photo guest books. I know they don't hold up.
Now if I charged a bride $1000 for such a book and she a)knew is cost $40), b) didn't hold up up c)doesn't have the print quality of a pro book my reputaion, WOM referrals, etc would suffer.
I can get a better book in every regard from HH for $10-20 more/ Cost isn't as much of an issue in this situation as it is when dealing directly with the consumer as my time to layout hte book is more than the cost of the book by far. A book with accurate color - color that matches prints and canvas' - I often print the same image on different materials - is very important. It's also important that the color is the same today as it is in 4 months or a year - brides or their families don't order all at once but the images may end up next to eachother at their house.
I don't know about blurb, but I do know consumer labs are not consistent on their output. They don't have the expertise, the motivation to keep their machines calibrated and adjusted. Someone here a while back said 'i use costco and they calibrate ever week!' - fine, my lab calibrates every day and every time they change paper or have a new batch of chemicals. They have a person that's been there 12 years inspect every print that goes out. And if it's not right it won't go out at all. Consumer labs don't work that way - sure they'll remake a bad print, but first they made the bad print, then they let it go out the door. Strike 1 and 2 right there.
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03/29/2009 07:05:55 PM · #11 |
maybe so, but like you said you "don't know about Blurb" so they could be the best thing ever.
And you can change the Blurb logo to your own (a nice touch) for a minimal cost, so the only way the client will know it's a Blurb book is if you tell them or send it to the client's address directly without changing the packaging first.
I'm just pointing out that Blurb has every chance of being a viable alternative to what you are suggesting. |
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03/30/2009 09:15:13 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by stultsphoto:
really looking into millers lab....has anyone order with them before? if so what did you think...pros cons? I looked at the lay flat press book. It can have many pano and has options on printed cover or leather. I think it will do everything I need but wanted to see if anyone has ordered one.
thanks
Shane |
Millers has always been a standard, at least that what I've been told. I've gotten some prints done there, and the quality and the turn around is great. Such nice prints too. |
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03/30/2009 10:40:03 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by Tez:
I'm just pointing out that Blurb has every chance of being a viable alternative to what you are suggesting. |
And I'm saying it's not. Reason being it may be recognizable by consumers as a Blurb book. And their 11x13 book is the same price as HH color lab's book, but HH doesn't charge shipping.
So you can get a book from a pro lab for LESS MONEY than a blurb book, and you don't risk of a customer (or her bridesmaids) saying "Ooh, I can get that same book for $20 off blurb - your photographer ripped you off charging $500!" (yeah, we know the value is in the photographs not the paper, but that's not what the smart ass friend is going to say!)
Is walmart or costco a "viable" alternative to a pro lab? In my experience, no. I feel the same about MyPublisher and just about every other 'consumer' lab out there. The average consumer can't tell the difference between good color and too magenta or red or dark or light, but they can tell the difference between $1 and $5 - so to get their business lowest price (not best quality) is the key to success. However, as a professional photographer it's quality first, price second. You can't compete on price and win, ever. (walmart's photo lab and craigslist shoot and burners will always be cheaper). Go for quality and build it into your price.
Lets say that the blurb book was $10 cheaper. So what? If that $10, as part of a $500+ album sale, is going to remove your profit margin you're doing something fundamentally wrong.
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03/31/2009 09:21:34 PM · #14 |
Please do not go with Blub- the print quality is not good at all.
WHCC has some nice press printed books with different cover options you should check them out. Finao is awesome but it sounds like you're looking for inexpensive which they are not, although they have self mounts which would save you a bit... |
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