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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
bridal albums

 
 


Shadow
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Jul 21, 2006, 3:53 PM

Post #1 of 13 (1124 views)
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bridal albums Can't Post
Anyone know of a good place to buy some nice albums for wedding photos? This would be the type that the bride and groom receive.

Cheers
Heidi


RustyB
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Jul 21, 2006, 4:41 PM

Post #2 of 13 (1117 views)
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Re: [Shadow] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
I've been browsing on the internet for some of the more well known names, and applying for information. Since most of them won't sell to the public, you need to send off for a catalog for showing customers, and separate pricing information. I can see why the album-less photo packages are so popular with brides who want to do-it-yourself. The professionally made albums are EXPENSIVE!

If I'm targeting customers looking to pay under $999 for wedding photography, it'd be hard to believe they'll fork out $5000 for an album. Sly



Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

(This post was edited by RustyB on Jul 21, 2006, 4:41 PM)


Shadow
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Jul 21, 2006, 5:01 PM

Post #3 of 13 (1113 views)
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Re: [RustyB] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
Did you add an extra 0 by mistake there? $5000?
I must be getting cheap in my old age. I'd never pay that for a photo album, I don't care what is in it.

Maybe that's why I'm having a hard time finding pricing information on this stuff.

Thanks Rusty.
H


Scott Brooks
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Jul 21, 2006, 6:21 PM

Post #4 of 13 (1105 views)
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Re: [Shadow] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
You can easily find ablum companies enabling you to sell albums for under $1000 or even $500. Different tastes exist all over the place. Most of my albums run $900 and are included in a $1995 and $2995 package. The latter is tomorrows wedding where I will include a 30 page (15 spread) 9x12 album along with two 5x7 parent albums. The parent albums are clones and take no additional editing since they are the same ratio as the bride's.

Art Leather
Zookbinders
Graphi
Ausuka
Capri

Take a look at Candid 2000. Your cost is about $189 and they turn it around in 3 days. As long as you're happy with a white or black album you're ok.

Some videographers seem to have come to the conclusion that all photographers are making $5,000 to $10,000 on weddings and it just ain't so.

Look around ... you CAN purchase quality albums without going to some cheap slip-in type albums.


RustyB
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Jul 21, 2006, 6:31 PM

Post #5 of 13 (1104 views)
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Re: [Sparky] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
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...Some videographers seem to have come to the conclusion that all photographers are making $5,000 to $10,000 on weddings and it just ain't so...


I think all the complaining about how much photogs are making compared to us comes from the fact that if a customer budgeted a videographer at all, then you'll probably find yourself working with an expensive photographer on their wedding day. When in reality, most photographers are in the same price range as videographers, i.e. +/- $999. At least that's what I've found from browsing photog listings. However, for a $999 package, I'm sure a photog must have a higher profit margin than a similarly priced video package, especially considering the additional charges for prints and albums.

In the meantime, I've just dropped my price for a long form video+highlights package from $3000 to $999, in the hopes that I might book ONE video in 2006. Laugh



Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc


RustyB
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Jul 21, 2006, 8:28 PM

Post #6 of 13 (1093 views)
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Re: [Shadow] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
I think this is the link to a vendor I saw at an art festival here in Houston last year. They hand make leather journals and photo albums. I don't know how popular they'd be with most brides, since they're not the typical wedding album. Orginially created as travellers journals I believe, they look like something handcrafted in the renaissance...not some cheesy pleather album with "Our Wedding" stamped on the front. It would be cool to get a customer to buy one, just to check'em out. When I get the cash, I'm going to buy one to put my own photographs in it.

http://www.ionahandcraftedbooks.com/main.html



Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc


Shadow
Veteran

Jul 21, 2006, 10:17 PM

Post #7 of 13 (1085 views)
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Re: [RustyB] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for the link, those look really nice.

Rusty, I believe in previous posts you've referred to yourself as a redneck, if you keep putting posts like this you're going to be expelled from the (not so) secret redneck society. The gunrack from your truck will be removed and will be traded in for a jetta. You'll open your closet one day to find the prized collection of soiled tank tops replaced with ribbed polo neck virgin wool sweaters.

H


Scott Brooks
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Jul 22, 2006, 1:16 AM

Post #8 of 13 (1075 views)
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Re: [Shadow] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
Just curious ... how much do YOU want to spend on an album? Maybe we can go from there.


Shadow
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Jul 22, 2006, 8:21 PM

Post #9 of 13 (1060 views)
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Re: [Sparky] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
I don't know really how much to spend. I can't imagine anyone around here forking over big bucks for an album. I was more curious on the prices as I'm trying to come up with some package ideas.

The album-less packages are sounding very appealing at the moment.

Thanks for the links.
H


Jenn M
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Jul 31, 2006, 7:49 PM

Post #10 of 13 (1007 views)
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Re: [Sparky] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
I have to say that the Candid 2000 website has been the best at explaining the process of designing and ordering an album from start to finish. I was starting to feel really confused, or really stupid, looking at some of the others. I do NOT want to assemble any albums myself, so that option is out.

Have you physically handled any of these books (Candid 2000). To me, it almost looks too good to be true. But I know you get what you pay for... I would feel terrible if I delivered an ablum and they passed it around to their friends/family and the stupid thing fell apart.

Thanks for any insight.


Scott Brooks
Veteran

Aug 1, 2006, 12:50 AM

Post #11 of 13 (993 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
I've not used them yet, but I did build an album using their system. It was not the easiest thing I've ever used.

I do plan on creating at least one album through them this year ... if nothing else than for a sample.

I do know of several other photographers from the DWF that have used them that have been pleased.


Jenn M
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Aug 1, 2006, 10:39 AM

Post #12 of 13 (978 views)
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Re: [Sparky] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
Geez - now I can't get the site to work - Candid 2000. I knew it was too good to be true. Wonder if I crashed it somehow. Sly I clicked on it so many times yesterday while doing some album research. Shocked

Golly - I'll tell ya... I am not looking forward to this whole album thing. Feels too much like video editing which I'm getting burned out on.

Have you made any albums yet? If so, who did you use. I don't understand why it has to be so freakin' difficult or complicated. Unless it just seems that way to me. There are waaaaay too many companies, waaaay to many options. I just want a stupid book with pictures in it - something that can sit on their bookshelf and collect dust. sigh...

I've checked all the main companies. Signed up for some info. Now, I'm waiting, waiting, waiting - always waiting. But I still don't understand the process from start to finish. Do I send physical photos - or do they accept jpeg files? Does it depend on the company? What is the simpliest solution?

If anyone wants to walk me thru a scenario of a typical album order, I'm all for it. I"m hoping most couples won't even care. But in case they do, I want to be prepared.


Scott Brooks
Veteran

Aug 1, 2006, 12:04 PM

Post #13 of 13 (975 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] bridal albums [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Geez - now I can't get the site to work - Candid 2000. I knew it was too good to be true. Wonder if I crashed it somehow. Sly I clicked on it so many times yesterday while doing some album research. Shocked

Golly - I'll tell ya... I am not looking forward to this whole album thing. Feels too much like video editing which I'm getting burned out on.

Have you made any albums yet? If so, who did you use. I don't understand why it has to be so freakin' difficult or complicated. Unless it just seems that way to me. There are waaaaay too many companies, waaaay to many options. I just want a stupid book with pictures in it - something that can sit on their bookshelf and collect dust. sigh...

I've checked all the main companies. Signed up for some info. Now, I'm waiting, waiting, waiting - always waiting. But I still don't understand the process from start to finish. Do I send physical photos - or do they accept jpeg files? Does it depend on the company? What is the simpliest solution?

If anyone wants to walk me thru a scenario of a typical album order, I'm all for it. I"m hoping most couples won't even care. But in case they do, I want to be prepared.
The easiest company to have an album done by is Vision Art Book. They have a completely different look to them. It's a hard cover / lay flat type book with no gutter. You download their template, design in PS and then FTP the files to them. It's more of a fine art book. Printing is done on matte paper, so this is NOT a glossy look. They are the only ones I've used so far. Turn around time is under two weeks.

Honestly I got scared off myself when it came time for albums. You have to have prints made then send them off ... etc. No one around here to teach me that stuff. That's why I went with them.

Jenn ... if you guys are truly serious about photography then you need to join the Digital Wedding Forum. It has a 30 day trial period and it costs $99 per year. I have more than made that back ... if nothing else through product codes when it was time to purchase a new lens. The archived threads alone are full of information that will answer many of these questions.

As for albums ...

I'm in the process of redoing my packaging. I'm going to take the album out and make it a la carte. I too am sick of editing (video) and prefer to simplify the process. I find creating albums to be the same PIA that editing is.

My plan is to provide the couple with a corrected CD of jpegs, some 8x10 and 5x7 prints ... maybe an 11x14 artist's print and that's it ... no proof book or 4x6 proofs.

I'll provide a discount if they purchase the album within 60 days of the wedding, but I'm guessing once the wedding is over many will forget about it ... and that's fine.

I'm going to make it as simple as I can for both the couple and myself.