Thursday, January 24, 2008

MyBook Photobook Kit


I have been looking for a good quality photo book that is inexpensive enough to offer to my retail clients for a few months now, but haven't found anything until now.

MyBook Photobook Kit seems to be the answer. I found them through Unibind. They both offer photo book kits and binding options.

Here is what the MyBook Photobook Kit comes in.
Available in both black & white


Kit Includes:
(1) Black 11 x 8.5 photobook - Holds 1-15 sheets
(2) Clear plastic end sheets
Layout Software

The Unibind PhotoBook

These books appear to be geared toward the professional market and offer many more styles and sizes than the MyBook PhotoBook Kit

Here are some spec on the Unibind Photobooks They range in sizes from 12" x 12" to 4" x 6", PhotoBooks Letter Size are available in 9 different colors:
black linen, white linen, metallic blue, metallic silver, metallic pink, bordo leather, blue leather, black leather, black genuine leather.

All 8.5 x 11 PhotoBooks come standard with a 5 x 3.5 photo window cut centered in the cover.

In the other formats a window cut is optional.
We have several sizes and shapes to choose from: square,rectangular, round and oval in different sizes.

We have a wide selection of materials available and can offer you personalized window cuts, hot foil stamps or printed covers.

The binding system is the key to this book. The website really doesn't give to much more detail except to the demo you can watch.

And again there are no prices so I have written both companies and ask for more information especially prices and hopefully a sample to see the quality.

I like the MyBook Photobook Kit as it allows for very simple production basically you print the pages using there software and then staple the end put the pages in the book and pull the adhesive strips and press the book closed and your done.

The Unibind Binding System
requires the purchase of the binder and seems pretty straight forward, you line the pages up in the book and place it in the binder which heats the binding, sealing the book and then you let it cool.

I'll post a follow up on the prices and any other information I get as soon as I hear from them.

NOTE: I was able to find the Unibind Photobook Creator online at Adorama it's $99 there which is the cheapest I found other places like Best Buy & Target had it for $119. It appears to come with 2 to 3 binders and the binding unit.

This is defiantly on my short list of things to get as many of my clients ask for these photo books. What would make it more economical would be to get a very good photo printer. The one I have works fine but it is several years old and I think getting a photo printer with at least 6 colors is a must since I am selling them for quality prices. I could also use it to print out larger prints for matting and framing.

But first I need that new camera. :)

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Links to Photography & Camera Site

Here is a list of links I thought everyone would find useful. Thanks to Fotohacker for some the inspiration of this post and for some of the links.

Educational
* Digital Photography School
* Canon Digital Learning Center
* Nikon SLR Learning Center
* Pentax: Taking Better Photos
* Olympus Learning Center
* Sony Learning Center
* Kodak Digital Learning Center
* HP Free Online Classes
* Outdoor Photography Magazine How To
* PC Photo Mag How To
* Fotohacker
* All Day I Dream About Photography
* You Tube Photoshop Lessons
* You Tube Photography

Selling Your Artwork
* Redbubble
* Fotolia

Photo Sharing Sites
* SAOPhoto
* Flickr

Prints, Albums, Gifts and Supplies
* Shutterfly
* Kodak
* PhotoWorks
* Moo Cards
* Photographers Edge
* Snapfish
* WinkFlash
* 400+ Free Photo Prints and Gifts

Photo Contests
* Saophoto
* Photo Challenge
* Your Shot National Geographic

Well these certainly aren't all the links I have but they are the best ones. If anyone knows of a site that should be added please feel free to send me the link and I'll take a look at it.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Win a New Canon or Nikon Camera or Good Old Fashioned Cash!

Red Barn in Winter
Just thought I would let you guys know that Outdoor Photography magazine is having a "Winter" Photo contest -
"The timing and theme of this contest is winter, but that doesn’t limit your submissions to snow and ice. Maybe winter for you is a Caribbean sunset, a marsh in Florida, a canyon in the Southwest or a market in Saigon. Whatever your take may be, now is the time to show us your coolest shots!

Winter Contest Prizes Here’s your chance to win one of the following prizes: a Canon EOS 40D camera; Nikon D300 camera; or $1,500 in cash—plus publication of your winning image in Outdoor Photographer magazine!"

Click HERE for more info. Deadline is Jan 20, 2008.

Also PCPhoto is holding a similar contest -
" It's about you and the inspiration in your photos! Here's your chance to win one of the following prizes: a Canon EOS 40D camera, Nikon D300 camera or $1,500 in cash—along with publication of your winning image!"

Deadline for this contest is the 15th of Feb. 2008
Click HERE for more info.

Make sure you read the rules carefully, for instance Outdoor Photography you can enter two photographs but they have to be very different from each other.

I hope everyone enters as it is free, so you have nothing to loose and who knows you might win! I know I could use a new camera! :)

Sun Rays

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Photo Gallery Now Up

I design websites, although not a huge amount I do consider myself pretty good. But when it comes to doing my own site I am like the mechanic who never has time to fix there own car! LOL
I just wanted simple yet professional looking web gallery and Godaddy, my hosting company offers free photo gallery with domain and hosting purchase. I tried it but it just didn't have the look I wanted not to mention it appears to allow people to purchase your photographs, although you can turn tat feature off.
So I started looking for some templates in hopes of finding a nice yet simple free template.
Eventually I found Web Gallery Wizard. The software is $24.95 and comes with a bunch of pre-installed templates and more you can download from there site.
It has some flashed base templates and they are all very nicely done. So check it out and I would appreciate any feedback on it. Keep in mind I am far from finished I still have more photo's and I have to put up the contact page but I am working on it.
Sam Lamp Photography

Sun Rays
I took this photography in the Old First Church Cemetery at sun rise. I sat on the ground there for what seemed like forever taking photographs and waiting for this shot.