Photobook Sites

[shirleyb]

What are some photobook sites that you have used and been pleased with? I've made a book at photoworks.com and been very pleased with it, but I know there are tons of options.

A friend and I are getting ready to make books for our sons who will be getting their Eagle Scout Award this summer chronicaling their scouting history, and I want to make sure we get nice books.

 

[hniki234]

I typically use Blurb.com, and I've been very pleased with the results!

 

[Ember]

I also really like Blurb. If you want a more scrapbook feel, Scrapblog also impressed me with their quality.

 

[Zephyr]

I just got a photobook from Shutterfly and was very happy with it. I also had a 40% off coupon through Borders Rewards and then found a free shipping coupon. The quality of the book is very good, I'm very happy with it.

 

[bcvdreamer]

I used mypublisher via the costco website, and they were offering a 20% off coupon. Now I always receive discount codes from mypublisher, sometimes for 50% off.

I made my dh a book filled with pictures of our family and he says it's the best gift I've ever given him, besides our kids.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

Snapfish and Shutterfly, comparable in product. Nice books, I think Shutterfly has more options for books backgrounds, layouts etc... at least they did. I use Artscow most of the time now. Takes a little longer to get them, but you have many more choices in layouts and such, same quality product, very inexpensive. They are always giving out free books, you pay shipping.

 

[3boymthr]

I've used numerous places (shutterfly, snapfish, photoworks+) and been pleased with all but one. I got a book from Memory Escapes and several of the pages were turned the wrong way. They were willing to replace it but it was a major hassle - took 2 weeks just to get the return authorization. I had done the book as a christmas present and as a result of their error did not have the book available to give.

 

[mouselovr]

I have done shutterfly with great results and Artscow is what I use most of the time because they give freebies all the time and I can get 20 pg 8x8 books for $5, you have to pay shipping! The grandparents LOVE them!

 

[vhartwell]

I used Walgreens and was able to use their coupon. Here is what mine looks like...

 

[mrodgers]

Not photobook specific, but just have to say that Snapfish is the absolute worst print quality I have ever seen.

I was into the photography thing for a few years but had never sent anything out to print before. I had 3 different photos (B&W, high color, and antique processing that I like) that I processed on my calibrated monitor and sent all 3 images to 3 different printers, 2 "professional" printers and Snapfish which I would consider a "consumer" printer. AdoramaPix and MPix are the other 2 and they were absolutely flawless and outstanding. The Snapfish prints that I got back looked like I sent them an image from one of the first cellphone cameras that came out. They were just horrid.

Snapfish keeps sending me emails with 50 free prints because I've never printed anything since. I won't even upload photos for free prints.

 

[bumbershoot]

Not sure comparing snapfish to two professional places is fair... But yes, of the places I've done prints through, snapfish is probably at the bottom. Sounds like there was a problem with your situation, as I've never gotten something THAT bad from it.



OP, I like shutterfly; their quality has gotten consistently better over the last few years, and I have a few "pretty disney picture" photobooks from them.

I've heard great things about blurb.

I use photoworks for small soft-sided books that I do for each year of DS's life. I think I'm behind on that though, gotta get to work! I like the books I get from them, and once there was a big error that they caused, and it was fixed quickly. The only thing that bugs me about them is I can't use them with firefox, I never remember that, and have to back out and use Safari. Annoying.

Of those I've used, though...inkubooks is *amazing*. If I didn't have a professional wedding album, and were doing one on my own, I would use them in a heartbeat. The pages are incredible, and the pictures are so clear. I did a "pretty nature pictures" book through them, and I just want to kiss the pictures they are so lovely in that book.

 

[Swimalie]

Not photobook specific, but just have to say that Snapfish is the absolute worst print quality I have ever seen.

I was into the photography thing for a few years but had never sent anything out to print before. I had 3 different photos (B&W, high color, and antique processing that I like) that I processed on my calibrated monitor and sent all 3 images to 3 different printers, 2 "professional" printers and Snapfish which I would consider a "consumer" printer. AdoramaPix and MPix are the other 2 and they were absolutely flawless and outstanding. The Snapfish prints that I got back looked like I sent them an image from one of the first cellphone cameras that came out. They were just horrid.

Snapfish keeps sending me emails with 50 free prints because I've never printed anything since. I won't even upload photos for free prints.

I agree. My sister and I will send the same print - me to Costco and her to Snapfish and you can see the difference in quality. Snapfish quality is so bad. You can see the graininess around the image. Costco is so much better. I just saw that Costco now has photobooks and I plan on trying them out soon.

 

[Alesia]

I love blurb. I was able to make an 80 page book for less than $45, including shipping.

 

[lindsey]

Another vote for Shutterfly.

 

[NaplesRI]

I have Artscow several times with great results. Only complaint is that if you are around a holiday their can be time delays in getting product to you.
Great deals though.

 

[lucky1]

Picaboo.com

 

[mrodgers]

Not sure comparing snapfish to two professional places is fair... But yes, of the places I've done prints through, snapfish is probably at the bottom. Sounds like there was a problem with your situation, as I've never gotten something THAT bad from it.

Well, they aren't really professional printers such as WHSS or whatever that place is, but they are places most recommended by the photography crowd with professional results I guess I should have said.

Adorama I think was $0.15 for 4x6, MPix was $0.19 and Snapfish was $0.09. But if you add up the shipping charges, it all came out to be about the same price, so they are comparable.