Photobook?

[RusherRacing]

Over the past few years I have been on some great vacations and taken thousands of pictures. I typically sorted through and grouped my favorite then printed of a few and put them in an old photo album.

However I want to do more and have really began to like the books that so many places are coming out with, leatherbound, spiral, metal plate etc..

I plan on making 3 books maybe 4 but I don't want them all the "same".

Each "site" has different software, book finishquality etc. I haven't selected a source to make my final photobooks but I have played around with two and neither one I am really happy with. (Walmart and Shutterfly)

I need something that is user friendly, light on the internet usage side (I have poor internet connection-wild blue or verzion wireless card), and decent quality with multiply travel orientated backgrounds/themes

So far both have been very "canned" and I can't do much as for customization, cropping etc.

What do you use or recommend?

 

[Lostmanifesto]

Apple Iphoto.

Super easy. Can customize anything you want. You load all your images into Iphoto, select Book, choose layout, customize colors/borders/pix/text, click order, done.

I have made 10 photo books so far and all of them are perfect quality.

 

[loren85022]

I use Blurb for vacation books. It's easy enough and I like that the colors are wysiwyg. I have a pref for hard back with sleeve. Great glossy look. Not sure how they price compare. They suit my budget.

Examples of trips to Lake Powell and Costa Rica under author 'mind-bent'

 

[RusherRacing]

Apple is out as I use all PC's... But looks like great software

Blurb looks very promising thanks! I like how you can download the software and create your own layouts. I will need to give that a try when I get home.


Loren - great books!! and great photos!

 

[off-roader]

In addition to Blurb, My Publisher is also pretty nice. You can download their book making software to your PC, make the book there, then upload the finished result.

I've made a paperback book using their service but have not yet made a hardbound book. I have seen hardbound examples in stores since they are also pushing their services via retailers like Best Buy, etc.

 

[RusherRacing]

My biggest issue with both walmart and shutterfly is it doesn't allow me to make customized layouts. - It crops my pictures to fit the layout - which I already have cropped the photos the way I like.

I will try blurb, and one from a local "pro" shop that has a downloaded able software option.

My Publisher looks user friendly and the leather bound books especially look nice but their pricing is a little out of line. Especially once you start adding pages.

After looking at samples etc online. I believe "less" is more. I want something that all can enjoy without being overwhelmed.

Since budget was referenced. I am thinking between $50 and $100 bucks for each book. The trip costs $$$ so spending a little to have a quality piece to remember it by in my opinion is worth it. I don't spend hardly a dime on touristy crap to remember my trips by so I can spluge a little on a photobook and not feel guilty.


Any other suggestions before I lock myself in my office all night and work on these? Lets hope my internet isn't haywire like it has been.

PS - I REALLY dislike wildblue/hughes net makes projects like this miserable some days.

 

[off-roader]

My Publisher looks user friendly and the leather bound books especially look nice but their pricing is a little out of line. Especially once you start adding pages.

That's interesting... When I checked 6 months ago when I was considering making a leather bound photo book of my macro photos, their pricing was very much the same including added pages.

Plus they regularly (monthly? bi-monthly?) offer 2 for 1 specials on their books.

 

[RusherRacing]

Well double checked pricing it does look similar. I was looking at a larger book. Apples to Oranges.

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

I've used Mpix a few times before and it's pretty simple to use their software and they offer tons of options when it comes to backgrounds and layouts

Their print quality is pretty nice and they have a super fast turnaround time too

 

[RusherRacing]

Well I decided to use photobookusa - same as photobookcanada..

They use the same software as Mpix, only with Mpix you are limited to set page qty's.

I will provide a quick review of all the sites later in the project. It is a little more expensive than others. It isn't as user friendly as some but it will allow me to do what I want.

Now I have a couple hundred hours in front of me putting together 4+ books of my travels over the last 5 years.

 

[nwoods]

Please post photos of the books once you recieve them!