Advice on Photobooks/Prints - where to get good copies

flightinfo

We've seen some photographers and are seeing a couple more this week. One of the photographers that we liked gives us the cd to get our own prints - he can do a photobook for us. I just wondered if anyone had any recommendations of any online companies that are good. I realise they are not going to necessarily be the same quality as a professional photographer's (although I am sure I could do a better job than one of the photographers we saw!) but I want something better than the normal run of the mill.

One photographer recommended mypublisher - I can only find an american company - which I don't mind but wondered if anyone had used them.

Any help appreciated - thanks.

sarah_elton

I use Kodak Gallery for both prints and photobooks and I like them. For the photobooks there is a choice of sizes, cover material, and then you design it page by page. For each page there are a selection of layouts (each using 1-9 photos) and for some layouts you can add captions.

Only thing - proof-read everything a million times! Once printed you can't return it if you made typos and I found one in one of our books and now it drives me nuts lol.

They also give 25% cashback with Quidco for your first order, and 15% on subsequent orders.

o_t_e

Yes it's a us company but they have a uk pricing website http://www.mypublisher.uk.com/

The software if pretty easy to use, you get 2for1 with your first order, not that expensive and if you get the deluxe hardback with a slip cover it looks a quality product. Of the print-on-demand companies it's one of the best.

Try downloading the software, pick a template and use some of your own photos to see whether you could make an album with them.

If you're after alternative I can recommend the bobbooks 'Photographic' book -

http://www.bobbooks.co.uk/photobooks/quality.html

I'm looking at a bobbooks photographic book right now next to a loxley infinity book (loxley are a dedicated, more expensive, wedding album supplier) - to my eyes, and those of everyone else who has viewed them, the print quality is the same. The Loxley has qualities that warrant it's higher price overall but the bobbook is still very impressive for the price, especially if you can do photo editing and can create two page spreads.

floss2

I've seen a very good one done by Jessops, I think that is who I will choose when we get our photos.

pretzelnut

I can vouch for the quality of the prints from photobox, i have tried every photo printing company going and photobox is the only one where the colour and clarity were perfect, most of the others printed to dark or the prints lost the sharpness.

Photobox also scored 92% in a recent digital SLR camera magazine, where they tested 10 companies on everything and phtobpx came out top.

They also use fuji crystal archive paper and can provide then in matt or gloss which many of the other companies only allow you to have gloss.

And super fast delivery too, i ordered some prints at 3.15pm last monday and they were here 1st thing tuesday morning, unlike truprint where it can take a minimum of 5 days if your lucky.


I ordered several photobooks from truprint i spent a week getting them sorted as they were photos of my baby daughters 1st week in the world, the quality was a bit rubbish, the paper has a really cheap feel and the colours were muddy.

flightinfo

Thanks for the quick replies. I'll have a look at all those mentioned. I have actually used Photobox for album and prints and was pleased with the quality. Just thought I didn't mind paying a bit more to get something special.

I know I shouldn't be surprised at how quickly I've received helpful answers from fellow MSE'rs but it really is appreciated. (I don't post very often but I'm always lurking.)

lofielectronic

I've found photobox to be far better than jessops, also had some nice books and a flip book done by bobbooks.co..uk