PhotoPass - Photo book quality?

[hokie98]

Just curious if anyone has ordered a photobook recently from PhotoPass, and what your opinion was of the quality. I pre-ordered a PhotoPass CD before our trip a couple of weeks ago, knowing I could get a refund if I didn't like the pictures. Well, I wasn't expecting terrific pictures, but I'm rather disappointed in the ones we did have taken. I should have asked the photographers to also use my camera, so at least I'd have similar pictures, for free, on my camera. The composition on some are awful, but at least I can crop those (they cut us off at the ankles), and some are WAY overexposed (I'm thinking the camera was knocked off it's setting, to maybe manual). The one time I did ask a photog to use my camera (which is a D90, the SAME camera they are using), he didn't know how to...he kept trying to manually focus it with the focus ring...sigh... I wasn't expecting GREAT pictures, but I'm so underwhelmed with them that I'm not so sure I want to pay for the CD. So I'm thinking of just doing a book instead, so I can at least get copies of the pictures I want (which are pictures of the whole family since I took 95% of our pictures)...although SnapFish has Disney themed books for alot less. If PhotoPass has a really nice quality book, that would make it an easier decision.

 

[2Tiggies]

You made me laugh with some of your comments - not because they are funny, but because they are a verbatim echo of some of the comments I made on or after our recent trip.

Also have a D90 and have never ever used any of the preset auto modes. So I was surprised whenever I stood and got my settings adjusted and then handed the camera to the photographers to see that they immediately flicked it onto full auto (or night auto mode for night shots) after all my efforts. I actually asked one of the girls who did this if there was a reason and there is: They apparently use auto/presets for all their shots too.

Regarding the photo book, it's pretty good quality as photobooks go, but to be frank, I can have much more creative versatility and for a lower price and make my own backgrounds etc on other sites. If you're not that way inclined then you won't miss anything by going with the Photopass photo book but if you like to be very creative, then you may feel somewhat limited. Having said that you were disappointed with many of your photos, would it not be better to use the ones YOU took instead?

 

[hokie98]

You made me laugh with some of your comments - not because they are funny, but because they are a verbatim echo of some of the comments I made on or after our recent trip.

Also have a D90 and have never ever used any of the preset auto modes. So I was surprised whenever I stood and got my settings adjusted and then handed the camera to the photographers to see that they immediately flicked it onto full auto (or night auto mode for night shots) after all my efforts. I actually asked one of the girls who did this if there was a reason and there is: They apparently use auto/presets for all their shots too.

Regarding the photo book, it's pretty good quality as photobooks go, but to be frank, I can have much more creative versatility and for a lower price and make my own backgrounds etc on other sites. If you're not that way inclined then you won't miss anything by going with the Photopass photo book but if you like to be very creative, then you may feel somewhat limited. Having said that you were disappointed with many of your photos, would it not be better to use the ones YOU took instead?

Thanks - glad to know I'm not the only one ;-).

I was thinking of uploading my photos to PhotoPass, then making one book of both PhotoPass pictures and my pictures. While I would love to get a little more creative, the reality is, I'm much better off using a template. Otherwise the book may never get finished, especially since the holidays are upon us!

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks - glad to know I'm not the only one ;-).

I was thinking of uploading my photos to PhotoPass, then making one book of both PhotoPass pictures and my pictures. While I would love to get a little more creative, the reality is, I'm much better off using a template. Otherwise the book may never get finished, especially since the holidays are upon us!

That is the major deciding factor - time!

In your case, if you are just wondering about the quality of the photopass books, they are above average in my opinion. The paper is a good quality and you won't get much more Disney theming unless you do it yourself so I think you're pretty safe to go with that one if you are happy with the photos you have to add to the book.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I last used their service in 2010. I uploaded my pictures and used a combination of theirs and mine (majority were mine). The quality was very good. My only complaint was the images came out darker in the book than they actually were. If I were to do it again, in PP, I would lighten them so the end product would be perfectly exposed.

 

[ILoveWD]

I agree that the photos in the book can show up a little dark.

I have made 2 photopass books because I do not have the creative energy to start my own book on another website and I liked the Disney templates.

Be sure to allow room in the center of your book for the binding. Do not place pictures too close to the middle of the book or place people too close to the middle of a full page picture. I always use the max. number of pages and ended up with a few people too close to the center of my first Disney book.

You used to could upload your own pictures and use those as well.

 

[hokie98]

Thanks all! I've used Shutterfly in the past for books, and I think they tend to print a little dark too, so thanks for the heads up. I think I'm going to give it a try. After all, I'd just be getting either the CD, or buying soft copies of a couple of pics just to turn around and do a book elsewhere. Even though their books are pricier than others, I think I will still come out ahead money-wise.