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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Books and Albums...

Laura K
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Oct 31, 2007, 3:06 PM

Post #1 of 18 (1384 views)
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Books and Albums...	Can't Post

What do you do in the way of books and albums for
your portraits and events?

Where do you like to get them?
L

"... it seems that if you're passionate about something, it freaks people out. You're considered bizarre or eccentric. To me, it just means you know who you are." - director Tim Burton

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

szerangue
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Oct 31, 2007, 10:04 PM

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Re: [Laura K] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Laura, I have been working with a local lab here for my prints and proofs but just today spoke with another local lab that I will be going with. I am trying to put a portfolio of items that I am want to sell and trying to determine cost and prices.
A local photog friend says she was using Miller (never heard of em) and Mpix.
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

Laura K
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Oct 31, 2007, 11:01 PM

Post #3 of 18 (1362 views)
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Re: [szerangue] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Miller I hear is expensive.
MPix I just started using and am very impressed.
The turn around was awesome and color perfect.

I'm looking for different options for proof books and albums.
I am also looking at the coffee table books too.
L

"... it seems that if you're passionate about something, it freaks people out. You're considered bizarre or eccentric. To me, it just means you know who you are." - director Tim Burton

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

szerangue
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Oct 31, 2007, 11:06 PM

Post #4 of 18 (1360 views)
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Re: [Laura K] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Are all the videographers moving into photography?
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

Postal Boy
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Nov 1, 2007, 1:03 PM

Post #5 of 18 (1347 views)
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Re: [szerangue] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just the ones with a lot of spare time on their hands....and that don't like to lug around so much equipment Wink

I wink because my photography equipment, although not as massive as my video equipment, is starting to get heavy, too.

MPix does a good job. Millers is the parent company of MPix. MPix is available to the general "whoever wants to use them". Millers requires a business license to register, but offers more specialty items, at a slightly higher cost. I haven't seen the need to go with them yet.

Any time you look at high quality albums, though, you are looking at quite a bit of money. For example, to get a good coffee table album from a good company, a 30 side 8x8 (15 pages, both sides) may COST over $xxxx just to print. Add the design time (which is considerable sometimes) into that and you may well end up charging over $xxxx for a 30 side album.

-Postal

(This post was edited by Postal Boy on Nov 2, 2007, 10:23 AM)

Scott Brooks
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Nov 1, 2007, 2:00 PM

Post #6 of 18 (1343 views)
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Re: [Laura K] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Mpix does a decent job. Millers ... you probably couldn't use if you wanted to. (Unless they've changed their policy.) Licensed business or not they require a certain level of usage to maintain an account. I got an invitation about a year ago from them because I used mpix for proofs and had a lot of orders. I never did follow through, but I also changed companies. I know I could get prints for around 19 cents from mpix, but instead I use another lab and pay a bit more.

eta: Oh yeah ... the only place I discuss albums is on the members only forum. Angelic

(This post was edited by Sparky on Nov 1, 2007, 2:02 PM)

Laura K
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Nov 1, 2007, 2:06 PM

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I think it's survival for a lot of folks that aren't in big markets. (big cities or next to them)
With me the reason I am looking at doing it is because so many people have asked me
to. I've had several parents ask me about senior pictures this year. If I only had been
ready to do them I could have made a bunch of extra money. Poor timing on my part.

I'm relearning what I used to know 20 years ago when I fooled with it.
Here are some of the shots I've been doing for Amanda (my senior).

Amanda's Gallery - Fall Evening Shoot

We will be doing several more to get her what she wants. This is just a start and all
I have is a Nikon D70s and a Gary Fong Puffer/Diffuser. The lens is a 18-70mm so that
is an issue. I deffinetly need some alternative lenses.

L

"... it seems that if you're passionate about something, it freaks people out. You're considered bizarre or eccentric. To me, it just means you know who you are." - director Tim Burton

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

Shadow
Veteran

Nov 4, 2007, 9:25 PM

Post #8 of 18 (1291 views)
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Re: [Laura K] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Laura

I ordered a small Tuscany album from Candid 2000, and everyone loves them. I have a few orders for them already.

The other type I offer is a traditional matted album, but they are really picey and no one seems to want them.

I tried one of the coffee table book people but they were fairly rude so I'll have to find a better coffee table book company, I have heard Asuka is good.

Graphi Studios has great customer service, but the albums are pricey - cool but pricey. You can order a sample/information package from them.

And I also offer the self stick albums. It is inexpensive for parent albums or for someone on a budget - only thing with most of these albums is they all have to be vertical pictures.

I looked at the quality of the local camera chain for the picture books, I wasn't impressed with the pages, they didn't have any "pop" to the images. It looked lifeless.

Laura K
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Nov 5, 2007, 11:28 AM

Post #9 of 18 (1285 views)
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Re: [Shadow] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks again. Candid 2000 is right in my back yard (so to speak)
like MPix so they could be really handy.

I've looked at the Graphi Studios stuff, but I think I would be hard pressed
to move that price point in my market. I've got to find my sweet
spot if I go to do this. The one where I make plenty of money!

I appreciate the notes. I want to be able to at least do this for my
senior shoots, we will see down the road if I move into weddings.
L

"... it seems that if you're passionate about something, it freaks people out. You're considered bizarre or eccentric. To me, it just means you know who you are." - director Tim Burton

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

Shadow
Veteran

Nov 5, 2007, 6:31 PM

Post #10 of 18 (1267 views)
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Re: [Laura K] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

That's great those places are local. Most things for me are an import and they charge for it.

Can someone explain what a seniors portrait. If we said that here people would think it is anyone over 65 wanting a picture.

Are they highschool or college seniors, and why are they having their picture taken? We don't do this here.

Brackish
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Nov 5, 2007, 7:01 PM

Post #11 of 18 (1266 views)
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Re: [Shadow] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Can someone explain what's a seniors portrait. If we said that here people would think it is anyone over 65 wanting a picture.

Actually, when I hear "seniors portrait", the first thing I
think is pic's of older folks.

So I'll be interested to hear what others have to say about
who and why they are having the "senior pictures" done.
It might be for the yearbook picture but, by me, they
have a photog come into the school to take the yearbook
pics so I'd like to hear more on this.

Laura K
Veteran

Nov 5, 2007, 10:02 PM

Post #12 of 18 (1259 views)
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Re: [Shadow] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

When I was refering to "senior pictures" I was refering to the photo shoot that goes on
to get that one special pic of the high school graduating senior. Funny thing is the best
pics usually aren't the ones that go in the yearbook. We shoot outdoors and studio. The
studio pics go in the yearbook.

I am also working on a senior video "portrait" for a mom that I think will be kind of cool.

Hope that helps answer that.

I was amazed that Brack said they only do the school pictures there. We've had the
photo shoot tradition around here for a long time. I'm quite sure it has helped feed
some photogs families when wedding season died down.
L

"... it seems that if you're passionate about something, it freaks people out. You're considered bizarre or eccentric. To me, it just means you know who you are." - director Tim Burton

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

Shadow
Veteran

Nov 5, 2007, 11:16 PM

Post #13 of 18 (1255 views)
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Re: [Laura K] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Neat idea - hope it takes off here at some point.

Brackish
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Nov 6, 2007, 12:02 AM

Post #14 of 18 (1249 views)
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Re: [Laura K] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

So, you're saying the senior pics are not primarily for the yearbook? What do they do with the pics?

Brackish
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Nov 6, 2007, 1:55 AM

Post #15 of 18 (1243 views)
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Re: [Laura K] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I was amazed that Brack said they only do the school pictures there.

Maybe it's going on and I just haven't heard about it.

Laura K
Veteran

Nov 6, 2007, 3:25 AM

Post #16 of 18 (1241 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

A lot of the kids have the shoot done. Some just do a studio shoot which
is what I did when I had mine done in 1983. But now the kids do outside
shoots that are like model shoots with lots of fun stuff. One pic gets chosen
for the yearbook, the rest are for parents to add to memory books.

It's like an expensive version of the old standby "school pictures". Most seniors
don't even get a pics from the school picture people other than the standard
for their lunch card. Then after the shoot they usually pic a fav or two to share
with friends for memory books.

L

"... it seems that if you're passionate about something, it freaks people out. You're considered bizarre or eccentric. To me, it just means you know who you are." - director Tim Burton

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

Postal Boy
Veteran

Nov 6, 2007, 9:17 AM

Post #17 of 18 (1226 views)
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Re: [Laura K] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

When I was back in school we ONLY had the standard yearbook mug shot, even for seniors. The only difference was that the seniors got theirs in color instead of BW. Now days I have heard of people ordering over $2000 worth of blowups, framed canvas, etc...It's like seniors are getting cars for graduation presents now...I got a watch. Crazy

RustyB
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Nov 6, 2007, 8:40 PM

Post #18 of 18 (1200 views)
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Re: [Postal Boy] Books and Albums... [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

That's how ours was too, but some parents would get their own professional senior pics done, and buy ad space in the yearbook to put them in the back....with some comments about how wonderful their kid is.

As always, I'm just jealous. Laugh

Player hater. My girlfriend was on about 10 different pages of the yearbook.....and I was just lucky to have my mugshot in there. Laugh

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