So I found a way to get these great fair trade, handmade 13x11 inch albums. they are made completely out of natural materials like tree bark and leaves. I am going to be offering them filled with 80 4x6 photos for $150. let me know what you think of them!

I think they're... impractical.

Ya, we got suckered into buying one of those in Dominican. They're okay until you discover the insects you inadvertantly brought back with you...eating the pages.

We got one just like that in Ocho Rios on our honeymoon, what a POS dollar store product we bought! Unless the couple is a tree hugger, I think people would prefer a more classy, leather cover. Just my opinion.

~Jim

I couldn't imagine these lasting very long . . . at all. Wouldn't the bark and leaves just start to wilt / deteriorate and crack? Even though they might get sprayed to preserve them, but, they look like they are just going to fall apart in 1 month.

Would then spraying them defeat the whole "green" appeal?

If you are selling them for $150, what is the cost?

Not for me!

BK

It's surely different. But I can't imagine it holding up for long. I really do like the different look that it has.

Acid free?

wow!!! that's a crazy album. looks very fragile. the photos don't really match the whole theme

but, man. still a crazy album.

//ed

McGrattan wrote:
Ya, we got suckered into buying one of those in Dominican. They're okay until you discover the insects you inadvertantly brought back with you...eating the pages.

so much for archival quality!

ugly

Not feeling it... if you want the natural look Pictobooks, ImageCapsule, and Fiona have lots of natural themed albums that are far better than this.

I got one of those on my honeymoon in Hawaii a few years ago. They are fun for vacation stuff, NEVER for wedding pics.

Wow! thats an overwhelming amount of "no ways!"

I personally love them. I am not as much hooked on the fact that they are natural but more excited that they are fair trade. Oh well. I will still offer them!

I think they're cool and definitely niche. Remember, people on here are very opinionated and even wrong at times.

I think if you promote them as fair trade (as you probably plan to do) you should do well and there is the 'interesting' factor.

I like this album and for 6x4's I really don't think the 'durability' matters so much. Its not like you would be promoting it as a wedding album. It would be more like proof album with a twist - I assume.

I think your customers are going to like it.

I'm not sure about the archival quality of these...But dry leaves, if not properly treated and protected will crumble. IF they are properly protected and treated, and the album is of archival quality, the album would look fantabulous with sepia tinted pictures. Even if you don't end up offering these, you can atleast create a studio sample to get your clients' attention!

bensassophotog wrote:
Wow! thats an overwhelming amount of "no ways!"

I personally love them. I am not as much hooked on the fact that they are natural but more excited that they are fair trade. Oh well. I will still offer them!

What's a "fair trade"? I like the cover. But I'm afraid I will ever get LIVE BUGS IN MY LENS!

My boss gave all his employees one of those when he came back from a trip. I would say within a year or two, it completely fell apart. Everything crumbled. And we're in a really humid climate, so I can't imagine what would happen in dry/arid areas.

I think people are trying to tell you something Ben...

There is a reason that wedding photographers can charge upwards of 2K for a wedding album; this is NOT one of them!

Fair trade means that the people who make these are paid fair market value for them instead of being cheated out of money because of their desperate situation. I understand that some wedding photogs charge upwards of 2k or an album and I know this is not one of them. That is why I am selling them for $150. I wouldnt even mind replacing the actual album for someone once or twice if the first one falls apart after a while. I think offering these is a great way to spread the knowledge of fairtrade to people who might not know what it is. I do not offer these as part of a package(that is where they typical books and albums are) but I offer them as an add on because I know not everyone digs them.

Any who, Thanks! keep the comments coming if you want.

It's a great idea to support the fair trade movement, but I would think this would do better in a retail market vs something that reflects directly on your own quality control.

Your heart is in the right place though.

Ben. There is a huge elephant in the room. Didn't you notice?