While many photos will stand on their own, often it is the sum of a photo gallery that makes the biggest impact – together, each photo fits together like a puzzle to tell the story. Little details, big details, people and things. This is particularly true when it comes to my approach to photography. Using photobooks is a great way to preserve the whole story. I’ve been testing out some photobooks over the past few years and it has been a long process to find the right book that meets all of my criteria in terms of time invested, costs, options for covers and paper, quality. This article is not about recommending one company over another because I think that is a truly personal choice with so many factors to consider. I feel like it would be equivalent to asking someone to recommend a restaurant without giving them anything else to go on. Answers you get will be very subjective and your choice will depend on the occasion, budget, convenience, personal taste among a multitude of other things. So, instead, I offer some guidance I’ve learned the hard way that you should keep in mind when navigating the sometimes murky waters of photobook suppliers.
1) TIME
It takes a good amount of time to put together a photobook from the technical aspects of learning the software to the actual design of placing photos with intent, keeping in mind the flow and at the same time creating a visually pleasing, balanced layout. Everyone is busy and so, while you like to think you will get to it, a few years can easily pass and still nothing gets printed and photos continue to accumulate on phones, computers and tablets. Photobook companies will often offer design services – if this helps you to get the book finished, go ahead and use these services. I like the control of doing this work myself but if help is there, why not use it. If you invest in hiring a professional photographer to create beautiful photos, inquire about photobooks as part of the package to ensure that initial investment is translated into something tangible and printed. They can do the work for you. Yes, there is a cost but it will be worth every penny if it means preserving your family history and favourite moments.
2) STYLE
Some occasions might call for an upgraded lay flat album and others might not. Think about the subject matter of your photos, who the book is for and how you want to display your photos. A wedding photobook will likely look very different from a book you make of all your Instagram photos. Find the right style and book for your needs. Think outside the one size fits all approach.
3) COST
There is a huge price range when it comes to photobooks. Since many popular photobook companies are outside of Canada, what may look like a good deal at first isn’t so sweet by the time you factor in exchange rates, shipping and duties. This is not to say you should always go the cheapest route because that isn’t always a recipe for success either. Just keep in mind before you pour hours into creating a book that the cost at checkout will likely not be the “starts at” price – you will see added costs for extra pages, when selecting higher quality finishes or papers, shipping etc.
4) KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Sometimes too many options is just as bad as not enough. I know I can easily get paralyzed by indecision when faced with too many choices and the anxiety of not making the right choice for the cover material, the paper type or what layout to use. Simple is good and most often, timeless.
5) QUALITY
The quality of printing, materials and binding are so important. The last thing you want is to spend all this time designing a book, invest a good amount of money and then be disappointed by seeing your priceless photos in a less than perfect book. You often get what you pay for, yet sometimes you pay more and still don’t get what you want. This is where customer service comes into play. Don’t be afraid to contact the company if you aren’t happy but know that some are much stronger than others when it comes to rectifying the situation. Do your research on return policies and client support available. Sometimes, ordering some test prints before investing in a book is a good way to test the quality of printing and service.
I started out the article by saying I wouldn’t make this about recommending one company over another. I will however, let you know which printing companies I use. For most projects lately, I use Pikto. This is a relatively new switch for me but their products suit my needs and I like the simplicity of their options. The customer service has been wonderful so far and I love that they are a Canadian company using Canada Post for shipping. The shipping times are better than I’ve experienced elsewhere. I also use GTA Imaging based in Toronto which is a family owned business offering a great range of quality products exclusively to professional photographers.
It is so worth setting aside a budget and the time for printing photobooks. Don’t let those photos sit on a computer or think of them only as something to post on social media where their lifespan will be short-lived, quickly buried in your feed. Display them in your home and flip through them with those you love to remember how things once were.
