Wedding Photo Prints and Albums

[DisneyLeah]

Hi Gang!

I'm full of questions tonight! My next topic is Wedding Photo Prints and albums! I'm trying to decide which photo/prints package to sign up for with my photographer and I just don't know if I want to pay for all the prints up front or wait and order the ones I want afterward.

I know our parents will want some, but I can't see us using the 10-8x10's or 20-5x7's that come in the package I'll need to get 10 hours of coverage. We are just not the photo hanging type.

I'm thinking I should go with the "disc only" option and print my own or purchase them a la carte later as needed. (The photog gives the rights to re-print automatically.)

I think I'd rather save some $ now and use it towards an album instead.

What do you think?
Will I regret not buying the prints in advance?
Is there really a difference in quality when you print them using retail printers versus what the photographer will provide?

Or should I save the money to use towards an album afterward?

Please help!
Thanks AGAIN!
Leah

 

[pezaddict231]

I think with our package we get an album and the disc. I definitely wanted an album because the quality is much better than something you could print up yourself, I have seen co-workers ones that were amazing so I knew I definitely wanted a professional album for myself.

I didn't really care about prints since mostly I will just have them online or on the computer. And if you only plan to hang up 1 or 2 you can buy them from your photographer or print them yourself. I will say I ordered two 8x10's of our engagement pics and the quality is much better than what I've ordered from online sites in the past.

For the parents, I will be making their books online. They really just need them to flip through occasionally and show their friends, so no need for us to spend a ton of $$$ on them.

 

[lurkyloo]

If you print your photos using www.mpix.com, you will be getting the same quality prints that you would get from your photographer but at a fraction of the cost. Mpix is the consumer version of Miller Labs, which many many wedding photogs use for their prints. It is slightly more expensive than mainstream consumer sites like Snapfish and Shutterfly, but the quality is better and they have a wider range of papers and finishes.

For me, all I wanted was a disc so I could make my own prints and albums. If you are not crafty or simply won't have the time to make your own albums, then definitely consider getting them from your photographer.

There are two kinds of albums: Flush-mount albums, where they glue actual photos onto the pages (one photo covers the entire page), and photo books, where they print the pages on a four-color press like the books you buy on Amazon. Basically, you're getting a coffee table book rather than an album. For me, this was preferable, but it depends on your taste.

 

[disneybex]

The coffee table book sounds great.

I know you get minimal prints with the escape package using a disney photographer, does anyone have a list of prices for upgrades?

 

[lurkyloo]

I just posted this on your other thread, but here ya go!


40 prints instead of 20 = $155

60 prints instead of 20 = $305

Additional hours of photography = $175

Jasmine 5” x 7” Album Upgrade - $125
The Jasmine twenty (20) 5” x 7” print album is a
reversible album and customized with your names
and wedding

Photojournalistic Package with Digital Montage 36 - $700
This album choice is a popular design with a modern finish. The final
album layout builds upon the images you select. The final digital
layout is subjectively interpreted by a graphic artist, who is given
full authority to interpret your unique story with their vision.
Select up to thirty-six (36) prints for the Digital Montage 36 Album
(Album size 6” x 9”)

Additional Pages - $30 per spread
Add additional photos to your Digital Montage 36 Album
(1 page=2 sides)

Photojournalistic Package with Jasmine 5” x 7” Album -$400
The Jasmine 5” x 7” is a reversible album with a choice of either
Black or Pearl White for the album cover. (reversible = includes both
horizontal or vertical mattes, eliminating the need to turn book to
view) This album is 9” x 9” and makes an excellent memory of your
Escape Wedding.
Thirty (30) 5” x 7” print album


The following packages include a hi-res disc of all images. For a limited time you can get these packages at 25% off if you give up the disc and go with the older album style (they're blowing out the old albums).

Cinderella’s Collection A - $1,225
• Your choice of forty (40) 8” x 10” prints in a Disney-themed
album in either pearl white or black
• One (1) 11” x 14” portrait of your choice
• 4” x 6” keepsake prints
• Proof Book, website and posting

Cinderella’s Collection B - $900
• Your choice of twenty-four (24) 8” x 10” prints in a
Disney-themed album in either pearl white or black
• One (1) 11” x 14” portrait of your choice
• 4” x 6” keepsake prints
• Proof Book, and website posting

Cinderella’s Collection C - $825
• Your choice of forty (40) 5” x 7” prints in a Disney-themed
album in either pearl white or black
• One (1) 11” x 14” portrait of your choice
• 4” x 6” keepsake prints
• Proof Book, and website posting

Cinderella’s Collection D - $750
• Your choice of twenty-four (24) 5” x 7” prints in a
Disney-themed album in either pearl white or black
• One (1) 11” x 14” portrait of your choice
• 4” x 6” keepsake prints
• Proof Book, and website posting

 

[DisneyLeah]

If you print your photos using www.mpix.com, you will be getting the same quality prints that you would get from your photographer but at a fraction of the cost. Mpix is the consumer version of Miller Labs, which many many wedding photogs use for their prints. It is slightly more expensive than mainstream consumer sites like Snapfish and Shutterfly, but the quality is better and they have a wider range of papers and finishes.

For me, all I wanted was a disc so I could make my own prints and albums. If you are not crafty or simply won't have the time to make your own albums, then definitely consider getting them from your photographer.

There are two kinds of albums: Flush-mount albums, where they glue actual photos onto the pages (one photo covers the entire page), and photo books, where they print the pages on a four-color press like the books you buy on Amazon. Basically, you're getting a coffee table book rather than an album. For me, this was preferable, but it depends on your taste.

Carrie to the rescue! Thanks! This is great info and really helps me. Mpix has some nice options for albums as well. This could save us a boatload. I'm happy that there are some companies that offer consumer printing, but are a step up from the typical online vendors.



My only remaining concern is whether or not prints made here would suffer from the same distortion I've sometimes experienced when I printed photos which have been cropped or edited. It seems like the ratios have to be right or things come out wacky.

Has anyone had trouble with distortion or other problems when printing photos from your discs via online printers?

thanks again!
Leah

 

[disneybex]

I just posted this on your other thread, but here ya go!


40 prints instead of 20 = $155

60 prints instead of 20 = $305

Additional hours of photography = $175

Jasmine 5” x 7” Album Upgrade - $125
The Jasmine twenty (20) 5” x 7” print album is a
reversible album and customized with your names
and wedding

Photojournalistic Package with Digital Montage 36 - $700
This album choice is a popular design with a modern finish. The final
album layout builds upon the images you select. The final digital
layout is subjectively interpreted by a graphic artist, who is given
full authority to interpret your unique story with their vision.
Select up to thirty-six (36) prints for the Digital Montage 36 Album
(Album size 6” x 9”)

Additional Pages - $30 per spread
Add additional photos to your Digital Montage 36 Album
(1 page=2 sides)

Photojournalistic Package with Jasmine 5” x 7” Album -$400
The Jasmine 5” x 7” is a reversible album with a choice of either
Black or Pearl White for the album cover. (reversible = includes both
horizontal or vertical mattes, eliminating the need to turn book to
view) This album is 9” x 9” and makes an excellent memory of your
Escape Wedding.
Thirty (30) 5” x 7” print album


The following packages include a hi-res disc of all images. For a limited time you can get these packages at 25% off if you give up the disc and go with the older album style (they're blowing out the old albums).

Cinderella’s Collection A - $1,225
• Your choice of forty (40) 8” x 10” prints in a Disney-themed
album in either pearl white or black
• One (1) 11” x 14” portrait of your choice
• 4” x 6” keepsake prints
• Proof Book, website and posting

Cinderella’s Collection B - $900
• Your choice of twenty-four (24) 8” x 10” prints in a
Disney-themed album in either pearl white or black
• One (1) 11” x 14” portrait of your choice
• 4” x 6” keepsake prints
• Proof Book, and website posting

Cinderella’s Collection C - $825
• Your choice of forty (40) 5” x 7” prints in a Disney-themed
album in either pearl white or black
• One (1) 11” x 14” portrait of your choice
• 4” x 6” keepsake prints
• Proof Book, and website posting

Cinderella’s Collection D - $750
• Your choice of twenty-four (24) 5” x 7” prints in a
Disney-themed album in either pearl white or black
• One (1) 11” x 14” portrait of your choice
• 4” x 6” keepsake prints
• Proof Book, and website posting

Brilliant! That is so helpful, thanks!

 

[lurkyloo]

No problem!

My only remaining concern is whether or not prints made here would suffer from the same distortion I've sometimes experienced when I printed photos which have been cropped or edited. It seems like the ratios have to be right or things come out wacky.

Has anyone had trouble with distortion or other problems when printing photos from your discs via online printers?

That distortion could be a result of printing low-resolution photos at too large a size. The discs you get from wedding photographers and can buy from Disney have hi-res images that can be printed at large sizes.

I've never had trouble with distortion using Mpix, Snapfish, Shutterfly, etc. - these days they have a little triangle with an exclamation point in it that pops up if your photo is too low-res to print at the size you want.

 

[DisneyLeah]

No problem!


That distortion could be a result of printing low-resolution photos at too large a size. The discs you get from wedding photographers and can buy from Disney have hi-res images that can be printed at large sizes.

I've never had trouble with distortion using Mpix, Snapfish, Shutterfly, etc. - these days they have a little triangle with an exclamation point in it that pops up if your photo is too low-res to print at the size you want.

Thanks for the info - again! I've had trouble with photos I've edited or changed the size on. For example, if I cropped something out and the picture didnt maintain the orginal rectangular dimensions, it didn't translate well when printed at 4x6. I've *thought* that I made the dimensions appropriate for printing rectangularly (is that a word? hah), but I guess I didnt get it quite right.

I take many, many gigs of photos each year, but I really almost never print anything, so I really need to learn more about it! Thanks for your help and the info!

Leah

 

[figmentfan814]

I agree mpix is a great site and I have ordered quite a few prints from them. I can say though that we ended up getting our album from our photographer and then bought prints from mpix for our parent albums. Let me just say the quality is amazing on their products, but it does take a lot of time and effort on your end.

I am glad that I was able to get our album from our photographer (Randy Chapman) and then only had the stress of sorting and picking for our parent albums. I feel this way we were able to get the best of both worlds

 

[slpnbeauty]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the old ones and the new ones? I believe it was Lurkyloo who said they are blowing out the old albumns.

 

[figmentfan814]

I'm thinking by traditional you mean the ones that have actual pictures put in the frames. The new flush albums are the images printed on the thick pages of the album. I had a traditional one. A black album with the different size prints placed into the album.

In this shot on Mpix you can see how these images are right on the album pages and not pictures slid into the album.
http://www.mpix.com/Product.aspx/assembledalbums

Hope that answers your questions

 

[lpizzuro123]

Thanks for all the info. Misty was our photographer and we received over 3,500 pictures from her on 4 disks. Our package also included 800 4 x 6, some 5 x 7 and 8 x 10 and one framed enlargement. Honestly, I took the disk up to CVS and printed a load of pictures this way and they came out great. I think if I had realized it I would not have had the 800 4 x 6 - maybe we could have gone with a smaller package.

Thanks Carrie and Vanessa for the Mpix info. I am thinking of doing a small 24 or 40 page book from them on the metalic paper. Anyone have any info on these.

I did a Shutterfly 12 x 12 101 page book with a padded photo cover. This is our "official" wedding album. I love it because I was able to put over 500 photos in the book - we got photos of all our guests, loads of great dancing shots and even a whole page dedicated to our food (thanks Carrie).

I love hearing everyones suggestions.

Linda