looking for photographers to do coffee table books

[memphis]

I recently started working for a company that is a large publisher in the Memphis area, and we have a tool designed for photographers and artists that allows them to create their own coffee table books. We are about to roll out the site specifically for photographers... in the meantime, the software we've got is very passable for photographers. All I ask is that you overlook the web design as I had nothing to do with it... The software is useful. Our printing quality is top of the line, and we offer many more features than our competitors. Everything is done in house. We'll be selecting some of the photographer books as showcase books. The cost on a fully developed book is @ $25.00. If you have questions about the printing / binding or other technical processes, please let me know.

I have already designed a promotional calendar for my photography business -- using alien sklin blow up and photoshop with 72 dpi images, I managed to create a killer calendar for giving to clients... I also used 600 dpi scans... I would like to invite you to take advantage of this tool and get that coffee table book you've always wanted done. It's an impressive way to showcase your photography.

this application will work with any digital image... it's pretty cool and my buddies here @ rangefinderforum get the first shot at using the new software:

I would like to invite you to see our latest software designed to facilitate Publish On Demand books and calendars.

It’s my pleasure to introduce our company to you. We specialize in Publishing on Demand. We have created a new free software application designed to allow users of our software to create professional quality coffee table books and calendars using your digital images. Our new product can be found at http://www.familymemories.com/ .

Our software is designed to be easy to use without limiting creativity. The books and calendars created with our software can be used as family gifts, marketing and promotional books for companies, or art books for artists, photographers and people seeking to publish their own book.

Our software enables you to create 12”X9” linen hard cover photo books with either a die cut window on the front or a custom full color dust jacket. Our software also allows for the creation of 9”X9” photo books and 12”X9” calendars.

Our features at a glance:
• 30 initial pages instead of the 20 offered by other companies.

• Unlimited photos per page.

• Usage of system fonts. Our software allows for the embedding of any fonts on your computer.

• Unlimited Text Boxes per page.

• Rotation of text and photos in any direction.

• Photos and text can be placed on top of each other.

• Integrated photo editor to give you more control over your final product

• Photo borders available in any color

• Special effects such as sepia, negative, and b/w conversion.

• Our software utilizes layers to allow precise placement and layout of images and text.

• Pages can easily be rearranged in any order

• Hundreds of page elements available to accentuate your design of your book.

• Photo frames are available to give your photos a unique look.

• Over 100 layout templates available.

• You can create a 2 page layout that completely fills the open page.

• Online updates to provide free access to the latest templates, designs, and software updates.

I would like to take a moment to ask you to explore our software and consider mentioning or reviewing our product on your website.

For the more advanced user, we also feature a service that allows for the creation of completely custom books, http://www.instantpublisher.com/ .

We try to serve you better by providing the highest quality printing and binding for your books.

Thank you.


Sincerely,
Memphis
Blake Billings
901.598.6071
blake@cookbooks.com

[CameraQuest]

It seems to be an interesting idea, and something many photogs could use,
if as a new service you are able to work all the new service kinks out and deliver on time as promised.

Stephen

[memphis]

I will be the point of contact as well as retooling all the web stuff -- for the record, the phone number given is my personal cell and I'll answer any questions any time --thanks.

Can we put together an RFF book of the photos from our photographers?

[sienarot]

I'm shooting a wedding next week, after which I will be putting together a photobook for them. This came at the right time. I'll definitely check it out!

[memphis]

I'm shooting a wedding next week, after which I will be putting together a photobook for them. This came at the right time. I'll definitely check it out!

that's one area where this excels -- you can cut your cost and improve your margin of profit... good luck with the wedding -there's a lot of upsell potential here for wedding photographers... let me know and I'll personally handle the QC and making sure things are prompt

[memphis]

I've already been asked a lot of questions offline, so, to summarize as best I can:

current software requirements:
Operating System:
Windows 2000, XP and Vista
CPU:
1.2 GHz minimum, 2.2 GHz is recommended
Memory:
512MB minimum, 1 GB or 2GB is recommended.
Required Disc Space:
100MB minimum
Average Estimated Project Size:
Full color 20-page book at size of 25MB.
Latest Version Release Time:
Version 1.0.0 Wednesday, May 14, 2008


within 6 weeks we should have a mac version

2. Can users design their own templates? Yes, users can customize their own templates -- you have full control over the page -- also, I can provide personaly more templates.

3. Does the software allow for full pagebleeds and text wrap across a spread or multiple pages? What about photos across the gutter? YES that's fine and allowed

4. Does the application use OT fonts? Yes, I used OT Fonts in my test calendar
6. Is it halftone or stochaic printing? For halftones, what lines screens can you print? halftone printing - not sure about the lpi, but I'll find that out for you
7. What color options? CMYK? Spot colors? Varnishes? CMYK, Spot Color, no varnishesperfect or case binding
foil stamping available
100 lb gloss paper stock

Shipping Cost
First Copy: $8.00

Any Extra Copy: $4.00 each


site is about to get a major workover as I'm now in charge of web design and it was designed by other parties in the company.

Let me know if you need anything -- that's my cell # on the original post and I'm always happy to answer questions

Cheers,
Blake

[sienarot]

Sounds great, Blake! I'll definitely check out this service when the time comes. I've played with some other book printing services before and many of them really limit your creativity with their templates.

[jbf]

This is pretty great actually....

I have probably thousands of images I made over the course of an eight week journey, etc through france that I would love to have made into a book.

I still have tons of imagery to go through and scan/edit/process but if i could be a part of this i'd love it.

[Igor.Burshteyn]

very interesting. I am working in print-on-demand division of Kodak, we provide digital printer connectivity and workflow solutions for businesses like yours. As a print buyer I am interested to know what kind of color management do you use. As a developer in this industry, I am interested to know what printers do you use and what workflow solution do you employ.

[pfoto]

Interesting (bump). :)

[FrankS]

Hi Blake! I'll definitely be looking at this after I get my European trip film processed. Can one mix colour and B+W images?

[tmfabian]

All I can say is, if black and white comes out black and white I'm on board. I've used sooo many companies for these types of things where my pictures came out purple.

[memphis]

our black and white is pretty amazing -- ask anyone who has received a copy of my book

[tmfabian]

our black and white is pretty amazing -- ask anyone who has received a copy of my book

sweet.
you know i can sometimes get away being lazy and just blindly send out color images to a printer and they come back fairly acceptable, but give most of these places a black and white image to print.....and good god is it awful.
Very cool memphis, I bookmarked the site, I got nothing on the burner right now that needs book form but I'm keeping it in my noggin for when I do.

[jja]

Thanks, I'll be looking for the Mac version when it is out. Can you compare your service to Blurb's (waiting for my first book from them)? Their prices are similar--my book cost $24.95 for 44 pages at 10x8 (yours is 12x9)--and the other features look similar. Most important thing is final output, so perhaps tell us more about that?

[memphis]

I really am not comfortable tooting my own horn - so, being objective... I've already sold 70 copies, I've engaged a retailer to carry the book, and have had many people handling my book with printing and imaging backgrounds, every body has been complimentary - several forum members have also ordered copies of my book - The print quality is impressive and is the same as anything you would find in a book store.

My personal process included using 72 dpi images resampled through alienskin blowup. I did a test run before going to print with this process. You can not tell the difference between a 72 dpi resampled image and a 600 dpi scanned from print image. The color rendition is amazing and the black and whites do not end up with a magenta or funny cast to them. The binding is a linen die cut binding that looks great --- if someone is reading this thread who has ordered my book would please give some comments about the quality...

[jja]

Thanks, I'll be glad to try it. I found the MyPulisher quality only okay and I'm about to find out what Blurb can do. Next time I do a photo book, I'll try your service.

[FrankS]

Blake, can you possibly talk to Rover or Joe Friday, as at least one of them has the RFF Book 2 files. It suffered from magenta cast of B+W images in the Lulu printing. Some of us have pictures included in that book but have not bought it because of this. If your company can print it well, I would buy a copy or 3.

[dmr]

Blake, can you possibly talk to Rover or Joe Friday, as at least one of them has the RFF Book 2 files. It suffered from magenta cast of B+W images in the Lulu printing. Some of us have pictures included in that book but have not bought it because of this. If your company can print it well, I would buy a copy or 3.

Actually, I would second this recommendation. My office has offered to buy a copy for the reception area, but I told them to hold off because of the print quality issue. A hard cover option would be great. :)

[ishpop]

I put a book together with mega retailer Blurb and I gotta admit, the printing was top notch, but so was the price $89 I believe.

I am curious about your $25 price so will go check out the site.

[totifoto]

Looks great. Do you guys send internationaly? I live in Iceland and have been trying out blurb.com and mypublisher.com and the black and white prints did not look good, kinda grayish.

[inuaart]

Looks great. Do you guys send internationaly? I live in Iceland and have been trying out blurb.com and mypublisher.com and the black and white prints did not look good, kinda grayish.
It looks like this company does not work with photogs outside US and Canada, at least it is impossible to sign in from other countries.

[memphis]

shipping and customs make it cost prohibitive to do international service

[inuaart]

shipping and customs make it cost prohibitive to do international service
Well Ok, but I think you should let the customer decide what is prohibitive. Companies like Blurb or Viovio does not have a problem with international costumers.
regards

[memphis]

not my choice - this comes from my boss -- it is a logistical nightmare to deal with customs, international shipping costs, and other factors. I'm pushing for it.

[inuaart]

OK Hope you succeed :)
Good luck - looking forward to it!

[gb hill]

Blake, I just found this. I'll be looking into this. I have a friend that just finished a Blurb book. I have been checking out VioVio. The main issue I have read are problems with B&W. My friends book was mostly color but I would like to do a book in B&W & have some ideas in the mix. I'll check out the site & if you have the B&W issue down then thats awesome. Your company should do really well.