Choosing the Right Photo Book Publisher in 2010

In 2008 I wrote an article on how to choose the right photo book publisher. Since then there has been an explosion in photo book printer/publishers and even though my initial advice still holds true there are several other options to consider in choosing your publisher.

For those of you who are not familiar with photo books they are coffee table quality books that you make with your own photos. This is not your grandmother's photo album, but a bound book of your favorite pictures printed on slick book paper, not photo paper.

Choosing the right photo book publisher is still a highly personal matter. Each person has a different technical level, different quality expectations, and different theme desires. It is impossible to create a wizard that will spit out the right source for you.

Size Matters, But Not That Much

There are so many variations in photo book sizes that you might think you should choose your publisher/printer according to the sizes that they offer. If you have a project that requires a certain size book you are probably a digital scrapbooker and want a 8x8, 10x10, or 12x12 photo book. These are sizes that are quite common and should not guide your choice.

Another common size is the 8x11 - but each publisher seems to offer a variation of that size. There might be a variation of 1/2 to 1/4 inch on each dimension, but close enough for most people.

Quality Expectations versus Price Expectations
This one is probably the most important feature to consider. There are a lot of differences in photo book quality. Some may not be that important to you while others could be a deal breaker.

If you have a very special book and price is not the issue then there are just a few high quality photo book publishers to consider. These books offer premium paper, premium covers, and flush mounting or lay-flat pages. This is not the type of book you would make everyday - they would make a great wedding album or very special gift.

Coming down in quality you have the publishers who have a very high quality with great color conversion. These printers will be a bit more expensive than the average printer and should be used by people who design their own pages in another program and want a great color match. These could also be used for the average photobooker who likes a great look and is not as interested in the cost. You can find these printer/publishers because they may be a little bit pricier than the rest.

For the person who has average pictures and is not finicky, most of the other publishers will be fine. If you want a lot of books you might go for the lower priced publishers - but you might give up some flexibility in design or ease of use.

How do you store your photos?
Do you currently store you photos online or or your computer? If you store them on your computer it would be just as easy to use any printer. But, if you store them online you might want to choose a publisher who has a good interface to upload the pictures.

If you store your photos on Kodak Gallery, Snapfish, Shutterfly, AdoramaPix, CVS Photo, Walgreen's, Wal-Mart you should check into their photo books. Especially if you have been sharing photos from these sites with other family members and they share them with you from the same site.

Many of these sites will allow you to use pictures that your friends have uploaded. Snapfish has just launched a major interface with Facebook, and I am sure that there will be more that will follow. Many sites allow allow you to download pictures from Flickr, SmugMug, and other social networking sites.

Do You Want To Work Online Or Offline
Publishers offer two types of software: those you download and work on your desktop and software that you work with online. Some people really prefer either online or offline - if you are one of them this will guide your choice of photo book publisher/printer you choose.

Ready to Hunt for Your Favorite?
We have discussed several decision points. Once you think how you feel about these points your should choose a few photo book printers and upload a test book. You still do not need to order a book that you make. Decide if you like their interface and background choices. You may decide on using a few different publishers for different types of books. This should be fun and enjoy your search!