Quality photo books.... shutterfly or other?

Mpix.com

I haven't used them yet, but I remember a photographer saying they were great.

Ha. I thought this was that discussion almost didn't click on it... Yes. MPIX, they are the consumer side of the shop that I use for my printing. About the best quality you're going to get without being an approved photographer.

http://mpix.com/Product.aspx/assembledalbums

They ya go, it was Matt

I save the link in my favorites was from the last thread, thanks Matt!

This is awesome! Thanks!!! I am totally going to give it a try when I get my CD of prints from my photographer!

Thanks matt! ive saved the link too. i might need it soon!

Well, I might look into using that site for my wedding book, but that is WAY more than I was looking to spend for my parents' book. What are the best of the more inexpensive options? I know Shutterfly will only cost me about $50 or so for 24 pages.

Pay now, or pay later... The paper used in the MPIX album is archival grade. 100 years in home display, 200 years in dark storage. The quality will FAR, FAR, FAR exceed what you're going to get from Shutterfly. So if you put this in your attic and in years after you've passed and can no longer make a Shutterfly album, this album will still have vivid images for the great grandkids.

The only "Downside" if you want to call it that is that their album designer online won't allow overlaid images. It just does straight images. You'll have to compose the page layouts yourself in Photoshop/Gimp, if you want overlays, custom backgrounds, etc.

Sign up for their mailing list, they run specials all the time.

And further, most people don't realize this... Monitors have a huge variance in colors. My images look TERRIBLE on my office monitor for my day job, they appear to be underexposed by 2-3 stops. A professional photographer (had better be) using a color correction tool on their monitor to calibrate the screen so when we're making edits to the images, you're getting an accurate color representation. This tool to color correct your monitor is several hundred dollars. Of course the average consumer doesn't need this level of detail. MPIX offers color correction service as part of their service. If you don't have a color corrected monitor, you're going to want to select this option.

Www.blurb.com

I use Heritage Makers - they have the best quality and service available and in my opinion beat Shutterfly, and other Photobook companies hands down. Heritage Makers offers a huge selection of beautiful Heirloom Quality Hardcover Storybooks ranging in sizes from 5x5 to 13x11. All Storybooks include 21 pages and are stitched and Library Hardbound with full bleed, full color pages printed on glossy paper. Full color front & back covers and expandable to 99 pages. Plus they have canvases in a variety of sizes. UNLIMITED photo storage with a premier account which costs under $9.00 a month, and complete access to over 60,000 digital designs and there is NO SET Template in which you have to follow. ( I currently have over 18 gb of pics stored online )

Your photos are kept in their original size and not deleted and are accessible anywhere, the publishing platform is all online, and compatible with Mac and PC. I use them exclusively for creating photo-storybooks and other products.

I LOVE my photo books from American Greetings Photoworks: http://www.photoworks.com/

Shutterfly books fall apart...

MPIX should be the way to go.

Many photos I've looked at have an extra, 'parents album' or whatever it's called. Is that what you're looking for? Or do you want to make one yourself so it will be more personalized?

This book that I'm making is not for wedding pictures. It's a book for my parents of pictures of them and myself from the day I was born until now. I want a quality book, but it is NOT within by budget to spend more than $50-$60.

Danielle, I hate to say it but quality comes with a price tag. You can try Adoramapix.com, their books aren't bad.

I guess when I say "quality", I'm not saying "top quality." Just something that looks good and lasts for awhile.

I custom created mine from www.heb.com I made one for my mom and my MIL. They came out great and I spent less than $100 for both of them. They look just like the ones you can pay thousands for!

Matt & Brian - what about Picaboo? What's your thoughts/experience with them? I just discovered it while googling last night. They have tons of design choices, and I like the custom layouts. We appreciate your feedback! Always so helpful =)