The "How" and "Why" of making your own Photo Books and Portfolios

There is no secret that most people don’t make prints anymore. Im not going to be one of those people who sits here and tells you that if you don’t print you will lose your images forever. But what I can say is making physical prints and sharing them with the world leaves a lasting impression.

AdoramaPIX Photo Book Discount Code “pxfro35md” Get 35% OFF all of your Photo Books until May 15th 2015.

Today many people make “digital” portfolios and pass around their phones or ipads and think that leaves an impression. I on the other hand have always liked physical prints, books and portfolios. Not only do they put something of substance in someones hands but they act as a great marketing tool.

Just about every time I finish I job I deliver a photo book as a leave behind. I don’t charge the client for this and they don’t know I do this. But when I see their face light up because they have something physical to look at I know the money was well spent. I have clients who tell me that the photo book I created is one of their most prized possessions.

I created this video to show you how easy it is to make a photo book and lasting impression. I so happen to use AdoramaPIX for my photo books and have been for close to six years now. There are many options out there to choose from but personally I love the quality I get from AdoramaPIX.

The books are very simple to layout online. Now I will warn you that the software can be quirky at times but for the most part it is extremely powerful. Here are a few quick tips to help you make a lasting impression.

Make sure you export your images at the highest res possible to allow for cropping if you crop but also for the best quality.

Select a book size that fits the story you are trying to tell. If you like printing full page spreads without cropping you may want to look at the 12×9 book which is what I personally use.

Don’t over complicate your layouts with cheesy designs, stickers and boarders. Yes AdoramaPIX gives you all of these different design elements but I would suggest staying away from them. Simple sells and makes a much larger impression in my opinion.

Consider adding on smaller companion books either for yourself or as added value for the clients. It’s great to deliver them a nice sized book but leaving them with some smaller ones to give to friends or family will make you look even better.

Select a photo paper that is right for your images. I like to stick with luster personally because it’s not to shiny and not to dull. Of course if you are trying to make a huge impact with very artistic images you may want to look into doing high gloss or flat matte. Paper choice does come down to personal preference.

You have the option of adding blank pages after the cover which I recommend you do. This will mean you wont be printing on the inside cover of the book which tends to not be the best place for an image.

You will see an option to have adoramapix do color corrections for you, I personally don’t let them make changes to my images. This all depends on your screen and if it’s color is calibrated or far off.

My last suggestion is to take advantage of the 35% OFF Discount code “pxfro35md” to either run some tests or create lasting impressions with photo books. (The code is good until May 15th 2015) I know the first time I ever ordered books I ordered six portfolios and was extremely happy with the results.

Good luck and keep on printing.