Our Sample Design Special provided a number of photographers the opportunity to obtain important new samples for their studios. Having sample albums and coffee-table books available for viewing is an integral part of an effective and profitable plan. If you’re having a tough time selling albums, or realizing a substantial profit from those sales, one factor just may be the look of your samples. Maybe your current lineup isn’t very exciting to your customers. A unique design, one that emphasizes your photographic style within a sensible, complementary layout, will provide a fresh presentation and just may produce better results.
One photographer that took big advantage of our Special is Atlanta shooter Sainath Kamath, who came to DoodleDo with a well thought-out plan for acquiring samples that will clearly show his clients what he wants them to buy. It’s often difficult for a customer to make up their mind unless they see what they are going to receive from you, and this includes the design. Showing an album with a one-of-a-kind layout sets you apart and reinforces the idea that you are innovative in both artistry and product. DoodleDo can even develop design themes that are personal and fresh, while emphasizing the special qualities represented in the images you create.
One of Sainath’s sample designs highlights this uniqueness. The interesting family image collection, while not strictly a baby book, required an equally interesting layout. The result is truly original, playful, and surprising from one spread to the next – a delightful presentation that will certainly impress his customers.
Click the thumbnail to view Sainath’s wonderfully playful design!
Once again we take a look at Zookbinders, one of our favorite album suppliers. Their new line, called The PhotoBook, is outstanding. Printing, materials, and workmanship are always consistent in our experience. These press-printed books launched in 2007 as a very good, notable option in this highly popular, rapidly growing category. Zookbinders continually improves on this line and they are now exceptional in many ways. Plus, new features are being released soon, but to find out what they are, you have to watch the in-depth review. We have a bunch of these to show you in various sizes in this episode of What’s in the Box.
Correction: In our review we describe the page laminate as “UV” coating. It is not a UV coating that Zookbinders uses in The PhotoBook, but a high-quality glossy laminate which actually provides more strength, durability, and thickness to the pages. We apologize for the misinformation.
Zookbinders is consistently excellent! Overall: Album Quality: Print Quality: Customer Service: Packaging:
One of the challenges we face as designers is creating a unique layout with each new design. We strive for uniqueness from conception to presentation of the first draft, and are always anxious for the feedback from you, our photographers and clients. This feedback is especially important when you or your client has referenced a former design as an example of what they like, or requests a design just like one we created for someone else, which we do not do. We might create a variation of the design theme, but we never treat our designs as templates, plugging new pics into an existing layout.
This striving for uniqueness pushes us to develop new ways to build layouts, make interesting placements and patterns, and form subtle interplays between elements on a page or spread. A good recent example of the results of this constant exercise is a design for photographer, Andrea Murphy. Her request for something classic and romantic, yet not contemporary, perhaps a little retro, but ultimately “just gorgeous” really set our creative juices flowing. The final design with it’s multiple graphic layers and varying opacities is a visual delight, complementing Andrea’s beautiful images featuring rich color, lovely tone, and beautiful light.
Album Quality:
