Photobooks

Carrigman

Has anyone here had a photobook produced? To quote this month's Digital Photo: "the photo album has finally been thrust into the digital world. Instead of printing your images and placing them behind a slightly wrinkled sticky film, you can now build a virtual photo album from your computer, then send the whole lot off to be printed into a professional looking book". They go on to test a number of such offerings with products by Bonusprint, Contrado, and Fotobook coming out on top. Prices on average aren't that bad - around £30 sterling for a 40 page book. (The Contrado product is the most expensive at £95 for 40 pages). Ideal for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, christenings, etc.

I've got a wedding to do in August and am thinking of this option as against the old album format where you pay a king's ransom for a basic album - even at trade prices - into which you insert the 10x8s. The photobook allows for far greater choice of photo size and presentation and would probably have greater appeal to the clients. It would work out cheaper too (in this instance for me as it will be a wedding present).

I'm interested in any feedback.

Thanks.

rymus

was actually thinking of doing this too for a friends wedding next year. Seems rather expensive. Only looked at the photobox option. They dont seem to allow alot of photos per book.

ladgie353

I got one done by Photobook.be.
Took longer than adverised, and the company's communications weren't the best but
I had it sent to my parents (in Belgium) and I only heard good things about it.
I should see it in a while and will let you know.

Fajitas!

I'd advise you check out local prices like in Snap printing too...

Carrigman

rymus wrote:

was actually thinking of doing this too for a friends wedding next year. Seems rather expensive. Only looked at the photobox option. They dont seem to allow alot of photos per book.

Photobox now offer up to 50 pages per book. That's good. I also downloaded the software from www.fotobook.co.uk - the winner in the Digital Photo test- and it seems very slick with lots of layout options.

Given that the conventional wedding album would have, at most, 36 photos I think the prices quoted for the photobooks are very attractive.

Broadband of course is a necessity for any such venture as there would be very large files to upload.

zokrez

I see this is also an option.

http://www.foto.com/ireland/fb_ap.asp

Anyone use them yet ?

rymus

50 pages eh? That's more encouraging. Last time I looked at them I think the max was 20.

unklerosco

I got one done off photobox.ie last week, got it on a discount so was only €20... Print quality isn't the best so be warned!!! On full page images its grand but for some reason if u put 3+ pics on a page the quality deteriorates... Id still get more but for pro/semi pro use i wouldnt recomend them...

Deffo woulndnt replace a normal wedding album... But still, its only starting off so it can only get better.. Brilliant idea tho..

Greysoul

I've had a book done through Lulu.com (a self-publishing service for books, CDs, calendars, etc)... high print quality and complete control over the project were extremely important to me, and I've been very happy with the results. Plus, you can get an ISBN number for your book so it can be listed on Amazon.com and ordered by local bookstores.

rymus

that website is genius. I love it. If only I had something worth putting into a book.

ChityWest

Same here ! who knows maybe in a year or 10 Plus going by what Greysoul was saying about control and quality that site looks pretty good.

ladgie353

Greysoul wrote:

I've had a book done through Lulu.com (a self-publishing service for books, CDs, calendars, etc)... high print quality and complete control over the project were extremely important to me, and I've been very happy with the results. Plus, you can get an ISBN number for your book so it can be listed on Amazon.com and ordered by local bookstores.

That looks really good.
What format did you submit the book in?

Greysoul

ladgie353 wrote:

That looks really good.
What format did you submit the book in?

Thanks. In PDF format - I made the book with Adobe InDesign CS.

DotOrg

www.digitalalbum.ie has just been launched

50 or 70 pages, the paper is really thick, card almost and you can have the image over a two page spread as there is no centre fold as such to distort the picture

zokrez

Zakrze wrote:

I see this is also an option.

http://www.foto.com/ireland/fb_ap.asp

Anyone use them yet ?

Finally got my act together getting a few photos together. Anyone use these ? Any better options ?

FranknFurter

Well, Greysoul's just done a NEW book via lulu.com and yet again, they seem to have done him proud, great quality and they seem very helpful.

So I think its fair to say they get our vote!

b