Can you recommend a good website for publishing photobooks? I am assembling a "baby's first year" type album and want to give them as christmas gifts to the grandparents. We tried using snapfish, but certain of the photos printed very dark or blurry. I need some help with the photo editing, and would pay a small premium for some professional designer to give the book a once over and help with the color/ light balance/ photo quality before the books ship out to me.
This is what I use.
Both great.
They often have sales and specials for their photobooks. Especially now, with the Holidays coming up.
And per these photobooks, you can add text.
Per photo quality... it depends on your own photo and the resolution on it and its quality.
What kind of computer do you have???? A Mac, makes it real easy to 'edit' photos. Once you edit your photos on your computer, you then 'save' it. Then upload this edited photo, to the photobook website that you are using.
Always make, a separate 'folder' of photos, that you are going to upload to your photobook website you are using. That way, you don't get all the photos you choose, for the photobook, all mixed up with your own, library of photos, on your computer.
ie: "photos for Christmas photobook." , "Photos about Summer Vacation.", etc.
I have used www.shutterfly.com to create my digital photobooks. They have a good selection of formats and it is easy to navigate. They also tend to have good discounts available quite a bit.
HTH,
Angie
I created some special books last year. I used Walgreen.com and they turned out great. However, it did take me many, many, many, hours to create the books.
I have used picaboo and also mypublisher.com
I make a book for every year of my childs lives. I spend about $40 per book on average. There are lots of codes you can use or coupons.
I did an awesome one for my daughter's high school years as a grad gift through walmart.com. It ended up costing about 80 bucks, but it was over 60 pages. (she had a TON of pictures from theatre, etc) The quality was amazing, and it had a leather cover too. I loved it and so did she. It took me a while to put together online, and I added words in a little poem for her, but the program is quite easy. You line them up, brighten and "fix" or edit the pictures as you go with their program, and it is really an easy to use "idiot proof" system. (which is what I needed at that point with the graduation, her grad party, and college planning going on all at the same time) LOL! Good luck. They make great gifts!!
If the photos are blurry, it sounds like they may have been blurry to start with. There should be no reason the photos turn blurry in the process of making a book.
Color and exposure also depends on the settings in your camera and the print lab. You need to first calibrate your monitor according to the specs of your print lab.
I make albums for my brides. I would be willing to look at your files. Contact me via [email protected] if needed.
I use Creative Memories. I can design my own books and they have a wonderful software that you can try for FREE for 30 days to see if you like it. Here's the link to a video tutorial:
I've had great luck with Snapfish and they are running a special right now, buy one get two free, maybe it's worth trying again. If not, my SIL who is a photographer recommends mpix.com. I have ordered prints from them and I am assuming they do photobooks, but they are pricey.
I have made at least 10 photobooks on Shutterfly and I think they are by far the best site. I've been happy with every single one of them. They also have so many choices in terms of page style, colors, fonts, etc. AND, they often have fabulous sales on their photobooks; some I've purchased for 50% off. What a deal. We do a yearly photobook for our daughter's birthday that is basically our family album for the year.