p.1 #1 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
[Final Edit]
Just another quick thanks for all the suggestions. I put many of them to use before sending it to the printer. I thought I'd do a quick review, 'cuz I know there are some amateurs lurking around like me, that might be interested in the consumer line books like this. I don't do much printing and have very little experience with books, but here are my thoughts anyway.
I used AdoramaPix and did their lay flat book. It was just a little over $50.00 for a 50 page book, which I'm guessing is quite inexpensive. Although I'm not sure what the really high quality books cost, because most of them don't seem to list their prices unless you have an account with them.
The first book that came was not quite up to their normal standard. But their customer service was excellent and they immediately shipped out a new book after a very nice phone conversation. The second book that I received was excellent. Some of the things I really enjoyed about the experience were:
- As I mentioned it's inexpensive, I think one of the more inexpensive ones I found for lay flat.
- I'm really happy with the print quality. I used the Lustre finish and really like how it looks.
- The pages seem nice and thick.
- They were super fast. I put the order in last weekend and had the book on Wednesday.
- The online interface to build the book was fairly nice and straight forward. But I like to build everything myself, so I just uploaded my pictures and used my own format. It would be nice if they had a PSD template to use, especially for the cover. I couldn't find one, unless I just missed it.
- I was extremely happy with their customer service.
One thing to be aware of is that the first and last page are glued directly to the cover by design. You can see where the cover wrap ends, because there's a about a 1/2'' thick ridge around the border of the first and last page. It's not bad and can only be seen in certain light, but just something to be aware of. http://neighbourboy.smugmug.com/photos/i-pCWwpVc/0/O/i-pCWwpVc.jpg
I did some photos for my friends in Uncle Bob capacity back in 2009. I think the whole wedding was done for under $1000.00. Most of the stuff was done by friends for free: cake, locations, decorations, photos, so it was a very simple affair.
I was planning on surprising them with an album shortly after the wedding, but they moved outta state, we lost contact and I kinda forgot about it. Well they moved back in state, so I remembered that I was going to do this and I'm putting it together very quickly. I'm planning on trying the lay flat books by Adoramapix, because they seem to be the only consumer end printer that offers the lay flat books. All the other guys want you to be legit, which I'm not.
I'd love to get any thoughts on the layout. Or if you just want to make fun of uncle Bob, I'm cool with that too.
I tried to stick with a very simple layout. The bride's father is also pretty prominent throughout. She asked me to get lots of pictures of him during her wedding, because at the time he had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
p.1 #2 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
1st I think you did a very good job capturing the day. I like your composition in most pictures. You have a great eye and perspective. I'm not a big fan of the processing, but to each his own. As for the album layout, I think it is very basic and lacking interest. It most certanly does the job but doesn't do your photos justice. The album design should do as much for the experience as the photos do, if that makes sense.
Overall good job, I'm sure they were happy with the photos.
p.1 #4 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
Thanks very much for the feedback. I was worried that if I tried to step outside of the very basic layout, It would end up looking cheesy, because I don't think I'm good at design.
Here it is in white as well as you suggested. I thought it looked good with the BW pictures, but for some reason, it looked funny with the color ones to me. What do you think.
p.1 #6 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
Best uncle bob pictures I ever seen!
I like your layout, clean and simple that's the way it should be IMO but would definitely go with the white, it looks sooo much better.
a few comments:
1. not sure how to explain this in English but I don't like it when all the photos in the same spread are not aligned in the outer frame (unless they are of much smaller size) like in 9-10 11-12 19-20 21-22. I would crop them so they will fit.
2. 19-20 don't like the layout of the left page.
3. 21-22 the images in the left page are so much nicer than the right one so it's a shame that they are small and the other one is so big, I understand you did it since the left ones all go together and the right one is different but if it were me I would just remove the right one and create a new layout of just the other four.
p.1 #7 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
jbrandt378 wrote:
As for the album layout, I think it is very basic and lacking interest. It most certanly does the job but doesn't do your photos justice. The album design should do as much for the experience as the photos do, if that makes sense.
Couldn't disagree more, I think the album should be about the photos not about the design, the design should compliment the photos and not compete with them IMO. more is less.
p.1 #9 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
I'm a bigger fan of the white background. Great job Uncle Bob. I certainly haven't see an Uncle Bob'd wedding turn out this well around these parts before! B&G will love the album.
p.1 #11 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
canerino wrote:
good job, david! white is better by a lot.
watch your spacing on some of the layouts (some uneven gaps and different photo sizes).
i'm serious, you could shoot weddings (if you wanted to).
i'd agree... the white is much better.
I also think you have some decent talent as a photographer... not mind-blowing, but I can see that you have basics figured out and if you decided to focus on it, you'd probably improve rapidly.
p.1 #13 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
RichardLavigne wrote:
I also think you have some decent talent as a photographer... not mind-blowing, but I can see that you have basics figured out and if you decided to focus on it, you'd probably improve rapidly.
you should see his growth in the people forum....its been awesome to watch. i have no doubt that if he shot four weddings he'd be producing really fine work.
p.1 #14 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
Wow! Awesome feedback. Thanks very much.
White it is. I don't know why, I still like the black, but I'll be going with white.
Lee: Great advice about the outer edges. I wasn't completely sold on how I did that, so I'm going to follow your advice and crop/resize them, so they all match up.
for 19-20, maybe do something more like I did in 11-12 and line up the two on page 19, so they are top and bottom, and of course resize so the edges match up to page 20?
21-22. Completely agree. The big picture on 22 is actually one of my least favorites - photography wise. It was one of those late night, my dad is leaving, can you grab a shot real quick, type deal, where I nuked them with flash. But it was one of her favorites because of her dad, so I gave it more prominence than the others.
BK: Funny man. I love the way you say stuff.
huddy: I dunno, I've seen a couple - maybe not Bobs - but 1st timers that blew me away. But thank you.
Chuck: Thanks buddy. Maybe some day, I'll break into it a little more. And you already know that I think nobody has grown more than you, it's been amazing to watch! And yeah, I'll spend a little more time on the spacing, I'm still too dang cheap to by any of those products you recommended :-)
Richard: Thanks much, that means a lot from you. I'll keep working on progressing.
CB: I agree, my flash work is not very good, I've never been happy with it.
p.1 #17 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
Yo dude you need to send that album back and bit*h them out!
NO WAY it should come all banged up.. Refund right there. Then with those pages like that...
Nope.
Why not go with someone like BRI or Vision ART. They make really nice affordable albums.
Anyway. Chuck is right, you could shoot weddings. You have a unique eye and it would lend it self good to weddings.
p.1 #18 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
hardlyboring wrote:
Yo dude you need to send that album back and bit*h them out!
NO WAY it should come all banged up.. Refund right there. Then with those pages like that...
Nope.
Why not go with someone like BRI or Vision ART. They make really nice affordable albums.
Anyway. Chuck is right, you could shoot weddings. You have a unique eye and it would lend it self good to weddings.
Doug
Thanks Doug, I'm kind of a sissy and not very good at calling and cursing people out. But I think I will drop them an e-mail and see what they say. Do BRI and Vision Art sell to normal consumers like me? It seems like most those places require you to have a business license, or want to review your website before they even deal with you.
sherijohnson wrote:
David, What paper did you get for the inside pages of the book? I am curious since you mentioned the color change in the crease on some.
There are two choices for the book
- Kodak Lustre
- Fujifilm HD paper with a fingerprint resistant glossy finish.
I went with the Kodak Lustre. I don't know much more about it, though.
p.1 #19 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
I had some of the same complaints about AdoramaPix books. IMO they're OK for personal stuff, but I wouldn't want to sell them to a client. Like you mentioned the pages glued to the cover show that ridge- that was one of my biggest gripes.
That page that's peeling up and the color chipping on the spine? I'd say something about that.
Contact Helen Oster at Adorama and tell her about it and send her a pic. See what she can do. She's really good about customer support, and is very active on another forum I frequent. Helen (at) adorama.com
As far as the pink gutter on B&W shots, I've read that some papers do that. AFAIK, Adorama used to the same paper as KISS albums- Fuji Crystal Archive paper, but it appears they now use "Kodak Lustre, or Fujifilm HD paper". [edit: you mention this above, I was writing while you were]
Other than that, they are pretty cheap. IMO, if you'd want this to be a nice gift I might spend a bit more on a nicer album as Doug mentioned. Great images too!
[Edit 2: Yeah BRI and most album companies require a Tax ID number I think. Do you not do portraits for business? At least on the side?]
p.1 #20 · Uncle Bob does an album (updated w/album review)
I ordered one with the new HD paper for a quick book I needed for tomorrow and I have heard it doesn't have the discoloration issues. You should tell them it arrived damaged. Mine was replaced this week due to an issue with the glue and the one that came yesterday is perfect with no issues.
