Posts Tagged ‘wedding photo books’

The look of photographic paper at press print prices! How you can wow your customers and fatten your wallet!

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

At Zookbinders, we are constantly re-examining our product line in an effort to bring new innovation to our pro photographer customers. In the past year we have brought matte finish paper to PhotoBook / PhotoBook Plus; we introduced the photographically printed LustreBook line; we launched our design, print and bind service called zookie pro; and we’ve added folded panorama construction and upgraded packaging to Zook Books. Despite all this activity, we’re really just getting started!

This week we launch of our latest offering which is a satin paper finish for our press printed PhotoBook and PhotoBook Plus product line.

When we introduced digital press PhotoBooks in 2007, we did so with a high gloss, laminated paper finish that is durable and really makes color pop. While the attractive pricing opened up a wealth of new sales opportunities from companion albums to high school senior keepsakes, many photographers wanted something not so shiny and less prone to finger printing. After one false start in 2009, we re-introduced our current matte paper surface in mid 2010. This paper has a rich, pebble texture and an almost water color reproduction of color and contrast. This paper has high appeal for those looking to add an artistic touch to their imagery. Still, many photographers just wanted their PhotoBooks to look more like PHOTO albums.  

Our new satin finish fills that sweet spot for those who find the glossy too shiny, the matte too dull, and books with photographic paper too expensive. We believe it’s our most attractive look ever in a press printed book! It looks so much like e-surface photographic print that we can’t even show you the difference here online! We’ve already begun to see many orders for satin finish only 4 days into its availability. We’d love to hear from those of you who have placed the first orders once you have received your books. Add a comment below or on our Facebook page!

We at Zookbinders feel that our new satin paper surface is a big deal. After scores or tests involving dozens of papers and manufacturing techniques, we’ve hit upon the right paper and manufacturing formula to pass our rigorous environmental testing, and we know your clients will love it!

To order satin finish PhotoBook and PhotoBook plus, simply select “Satin Pages” from the page finish tab found in the cover options palate in ROES.

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The essence of matte paper printing, an elegance all its own!

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Since we released the matte paper option for  press printed PhotoBook and PhotoBook Plus products, many of our customers have given it a try. While many customers sing it’s praises recognizing, as we do, the richness of the pebble texture and the ethereal, almost water-color reproduction of color and contrast, other customers have questioned the print quality or have been unhappy with the tonal range of the paper.

We recognize these opinions and, given that it is not in our best interest to deliver a product that a customer is unhappy with, it is perhaps wise to review the different paper surfaces and print methods.

We run two different print processes here at Zookbinders. Our premium album products, including the Zook Book, Matted Albums and LustreBook are true photographic albums printed on photographic paper, sometimes called silver halide paper. Photographic printing means that the prints are made by exposing chemically sensitized paper to light. The photographic printing process has existed in one form or another since the dawn of photography, and it remains the gold standard for image reproduction with the richest and truest colors and widest tonal range.

Other products we offer including PhotoBook Plus, PhotoBook and Soft Cover Press books are all press printed products. They are printed on high-speed digital presses that apply four color inks to a variety of paper surfaces and thicknesses including the matte paper surface available in PhotoBook Plus and PhotoBook. The efficiency of the digital press together with the lower cost of paper materials are largely responsible for allowing us to offer books at a much lower price point than photographic albums. This cost savings has resonated with our customers and these products have found their place in the market as add-on “parent” albums for weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs, as well as the high school senior and portrait markets.

Although the HP Indigo presses we use are state-of-the-art, press printed material has its limitations and cannot always compare to photographs. This is the trade-off for speed and lower cost. The full spectrum of colors that can be achieved in the RGB world of photographic printing are simply not possible in the CMYK press world. You can see this for yourself in Photoshop by opening an image with bright, saturated blues or greens and clicking image > mode > CMYK Color. The diagram below also shows the spectrum of light that is available to both RGB and CMYK color printers.

Getting back to matte papers they, as a whole, also tend to be less contrasty than glossy or satin finishes. Matte paper’s ability to show tonal range in the darkest areas of an image is limited. This is in part what gives the “water color” look to the finished product.

If accurate, saturated reproduction of color at the edges of the color gamut is most important to you, or your clients, selecting from our photographically printed product line of Zook Book, Matted or LustreBook is your best bet. On the other hand, if you or your customer is more price sensitive, or you desire the matte or glossy paper surfaces,  then the press printed PhotoBook Plus and PhotoBook product lines may be just the ticket.

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Photographers Love the New Matte Finish

Monday, June 7th, 2010

With one week under our belts, we’ve received nothing but positive comments on our new matte finish for our PhotoBook and PhotoBook Plus lines. Orders for our all PhotoBook products are up noticeably and over 25% of orders are being made with the new matte finish – after just one week! Photographers are loving the rich, pebble-like finish which is a great compliment to our glossy finish. Unlike our glossy finish however, which is created using a glossy laminate, our new matte finish is printed directly on coated paper without use of a laminate.

If you haven’t gotten a sample of the new finish please contact Zookbinders for a free sample page. You can also check out this link to access our sample code and order yourself a new sample book with the matted finish at 50% off. Call Zookbinders at 800-810-5745.

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Better Use of Your On-Camera Flash

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

For me, photography is about light. Without it, it is kind of hard to make a photograph. With the large number of people getting into the paid photography arena without formal training in the craft of lighting and photography, I always find it good to be able to share great insight into photographic techniques. A new book out by Neil van Neikerk does just that. In his book On-Camera Flash: Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography, Neikerk discusses how to better use what is the only light source many new photographers have available to them.

The following review was posted on DWF and I think sums up the important information reviewed in his book.

“The techniques he shares in this book and on his blog are not earth shattering for anyone who uses on-camera flash regularly and creatively, but are a well thought out, systematic approach to lighting using one of the most basic, portable, and easy to use lighting systems available to professional photographers.

The book is dividing into three parts. The first covers some basic concepts about lighting and equipment. The second covers the technical stuff: Exposure metering, flash modes, sync speeds, etc. The third part is the heart of the book, outlining techniques: bouncing flash, balancing color temperatures, and using flash in broad daylight.

The knowledge contained in this book is important, but it is not as important as actually practicing the techniques Neil talks about, and finding what actually works for you. Neil spends a number of pages early on describing the difference between how his (then) current Canon and Nikon camera systems differ. This is not, in my reading, an absolute “if you are shooting Nikon, then here’s what to look for”, as his observations on how the cameras’ histograms display information may change with the next generation. Instead, these are observations that Neil has made by becoming intimately aware of his camera, his flash, and how the two interact. It’s up to you to learn how your gear works, using what Neil writes here as a starting point and as a baseline.

Now the $34.95 question: is this book worth picking up? If you do not have an intimate knowledge of your flash, how it behaves in different lighting situations, how to dial in exposure compensation, and how to use everything at your disposal as a light source, then absolutely. Owning this book will give you a college-level course worth of instruction on the hows, whys and wherefores of on-camera flash.

Even if you (think) you have a complete understanding of your flash and how to use it, this book can be a good read. As we use our gear, we start to develop ruts: ways of using things that become habit over time. This is not a bad thing, but sometimes we need to be reminded of some of the other ways of using gear, or other techniques, or just to see how other people are dealing with the same issues we are.”

To learn more about this book and the many other books Amherst Media offers check out their web site.

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Forget Tupperware, Have an Album Party

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

I’m old enough to remember being dragged around by my mom to Tupperware parties. Today there are candle parties, jewelry parties and a host of other items you can look at and purchase in a party environment. So why not host an album party at your studio? What better way could there be to share with many current and prospective clients all of the different album options you offer. This is also your opportunity to show that, even in the digital age, there is no better way to preserve your special memories than in a professionally designed photo book or album.

Start by designing your collection of books. This will be based partly on the services you offer as well as how you package your products. With Zookbinders you have the choice of two photographically printed and leather bound album styles. The matted album and our flush mounted, all panoramic album, the Zook Book are our premium books. Next we have the PhotoBook and PhotoBook Plus. These more affordable, press printed books give your clients the option of leather in the Plus sizes along with great package combinations in the smaller sizes. And finally, we now have our Soft Cover Press Books. These very affordable, soft cover books make for great accompaniments to larger hard cover books, proof books, and sample books for marketing. You could even design a soft cover promotional book as a take home item from your party to promote your business.

As you design your various collections, remember to show all of the different uses of these albums. Of course weddings and parent albums are the natural fit for any photo book or album, but don’t forget family session books, baby’s first year books, senior session books, engagement / guest books, Bar and Bat Mitzvah books and books from any type of event you photograph. Also remember to show various album sizes, formats and cover options so your clients can see the wide variety of ways in which they can package their images into an album.

Once you have your products lined up, pick a date and start promoting the event. A week night, after work for a few hours or part of a Saturday usually works best. Offer up refreshments and a relaxed atmosphere where guests can browse through the many options you offer in a low pressure environment. Use your client base, Facebook and Twitter to promote the event and to create buzz about this unique opportunity. While your photography will be viewed, focus on albums. Print up a basic info sheet that can be handed out to clients and prospects telling them of the many benefits of a professionally designed album along with the services you offer. Keep the event low key. Have one-on-one discussions between your staff and clientele. You may also want to have a couple of formal presentations to everyone assembled. In the end, you may up sell many of your current clients, bring in new clients for your photography, and maybe even bring in some album only business from “orphan” brides with only a disc and no album from their day.

Sure it’s a bit of work and an investment in several samples but since you can’t sell what you don’t show you should have several samples already made and be designing new products to sell to your current clients anyway (of course we at Zookbinders do offer studio sample discounts). Finally, think of the great buzz you’ll create when you host a party and show off the beauty of photo books and albums.

Feel free to contact me if you need any help organizing your party and let us know how it goes. Contact me, Scott Patrick, at Zookbinders, 800-810-5745, spatrick@zookbinders.com.

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