Need Album in 3 Weeks

[bhurdle]

So, I need a little advice very quickly. I have a bride who I am meeting on the 16th of next month. She's getting married here in Austin but lives elsewhere and we've been communicating for the last couple of months.

While I have a small portfolio of 4x6s, that's all I have. I'm just getting started. So, in regards to our consultation, she asked if I could bring "some albums and things like that" for her to see. I don't have any. I've never had any real ones printed. The closest I've gotten are a few Aperture created Apple albums.

Any advice? I have a wedding that I'm finishing processing prints from. Should I try and rush and get that album sent of and printed somewhere? If so, where? Should I have a professional album printed for a portfolio (full of photos from different weddings?) Or, should I put something together and have it printed locally from Precision?

While I'm not trying to hide the fact I don't have anything I would like to put my best step forward and not let this be the reason I don't close the deal. I wouldn't even mind telling her that I put this together to show her a sample of what I can provide her. My budget for putting something together is <$400 but I don't have a lot of time to put it together.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

-Brian

[janetg]

something i did before i had some albums, was a small scrapbook - it looks awesome, that had slip in pages. i designed my albums as i normally do, had them printed at costco in 8x8 sizes. i told the bride i would rather invest in gear at the moment, than albums for lug around. worked for me.

[bryanlindsey]

I'm in the same boat. I have one (ONE!) sample album. I just finished ordering a second. Asuka Books. I'm not overly impressed so far.

My thinking is that you've GOT to go in there with SOMETHING if you expect to close the deal. If I were the customer, excuses wouldn't cut it with me.

[AllenAyres]

If I am meeting with a client, they've already seen my work extensively online. It does help to have something for them to hold in their hands tho - large prints are a possibility, sample albums too.

You might try an album from black river imaging - turn-around time is a week and the quality is good for a hinged-paper album - pricing is very reasonable. I'd say, the design needs to be good or you may shoot yourself in the foot if it looks bad.

[koppiwrite]

Miller's has 24 hr turnaround on the layflat press books. I know the album turnaround is pretty quick as well.
Depending upon what exactly you are looking for mpix or mpixpro has nice assembled albums and super quick turnaround.

[ronocnikral]

while understanding that you are in a pinch, and I can't help you with any options dealing with quicker turn around times, I can comment going forward. I would definitely get a sample album of your work.

I would show what you want to sell. how do they say it, oh yes, show big sell big. for us, our albums are all decked out and priced how we show them. even upselling with just swatches is difficult imo. +1 to what Allen said about the design, show what you are selling. you can get a design from somewhere in your timeframe, but we always have changes and that adds $ to rush or time. but, if you are going to do the design yourself in the future, i would log some serious hours this weekend getting it done. if you are going to use a design company, i would have them do it. then do what janet suggests. it may help you get the contract, but you most likely won't sell an album (which is probably the correct business answer to this) without something to show. there is always after the wedding, but it is very difficult to get people to spill money afterwards, especially when the first credit card statement rolls in...

most album companies can print and bind in two weeks with their rush. But, it cuts into your discount.

ps, i appreciate that Jamie didn't call press printed, lay flat books a flushmount.

[Bennie]

Collages.net can get you a BEAUTIFUL 10x10 30 side Flushmount for about $250 (with metalic photo cover) in two weeks. They can even design it for you for a buck a photo.

[janetg]

i might add, that when i finally had the extra money, i spent $1000 on sample albums and often you will find the album companies give a 50% discount (sometimes less) for your samples. so i now have a variety of covers and styles, 6 total. i might also add, that now it's a PITA because those suckers are HEAVY to bring to a meeting.

I also had to more or less become a hermit for a week, and designed all 6 in one week - it was just something that had to be done, and it worked out great.

[a2rob]

Originally Posted by janetg

i might add, that when i finally had the extra money, i spent $1000 on sample albums and often you will find the album companies give a 50% discount (sometimes less) for your samples. so i now have a variety of covers and styles, 6 total. i might also add, that now it's a PITA because those suckers are HEAVY to bring to a meeting.

I also had to more or less become a hermit for a week, and designed all 6 in one week - it was just something that had to be done, and it worked out great.

++

[ronocnikral]

6 in one week?! super woman. agreed, just sit down and do it.

yeah, I know picto and forbeyon offers 50% off. forbeyon's shipping to houston is next day, austin is probably similar.

[The Loft Studios]

What I did years ago was "Buy" sample albums. Some of these companies have pre-printed Albums already made up and ready to sell as "Samples". I purchased some from White Glove, Picto Books, GraphiStudio and DigiCraft..... The cost was about $200.oo each.

Originally Posted by bhurdle

So, I need a little advice very quickly. I have a bride who I am meeting on the 16th of next month. She's getting married here in Austin but lives elsewhere and we've been communicating for the last couple of months.

While I have a small portfolio of 4x6s, that's all I have. I'm just getting started. So, in regards to our consultation, she asked if I could bring "some albums and things like that" for her to see. I don't have any. I've never had any real ones printed. The closest I've gotten are a few Aperture created Apple albums.

Any advice? I have a wedding that I'm finishing processing prints from. Should I try and rush and get that album sent of and printed somewhere? If so, where? Should I have a professional album printed for a portfolio (full of photos from different weddings?) Or, should I put something together and have it printed locally from Precision?

While I'm not trying to hide the fact I don't have anything I would like to put my best step forward and not let this be the reason I don't close the deal. I wouldn't even mind telling her that I put this together to show her a sample of what I can provide her. My budget for putting something together is <$400 but I don't have a lot of time to put it together.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

-Brian

[ronocnikral]

Originally Posted by The Loft Studios

What I did years ago was "Buy" sample albums. Some of these companies have pre-printed Albums already made up and ready to sell as "Samples". I purchased some from White Glove, Picto Books, GraphiStudio and DigiCraft..... The cost was about $200.oo each.

I personally find this to be a bad practice. mainly b/c I would never show a client something that wasn't my work. It stinks to have to exaplain why your work isn't in there. Besides, you can get a 20x20 w/ 20 pgs from forbeyon shipped for about the same price, even cheaper depending on what cover material you want.

Graphistudio will normally send you their "sample" for free. Ours is hidden away...

[janetg]

also - i think zook is offering a buy one get one free - but the catch is...by september 30th...so dig in, get busy, pay for overnight shipping or rush delivery - you'll feel much better..

[The Loft Studios]

I never made the statement that I was showing them the Album as my work..... for you to assume that is "bad practice".
I was showing them the Album so they could get an understanding of the quality, build and look. It's clearly printed on the Album that it's a "Sample" as well as it's printed who the "many" photographers are that appear in the Albums.
At the time I needed the Albums, I didn't have the time to build 4 or 5 Albums and send them off for several weeks to have manufactured..... and I wanted these specific "Brand" albums and no other.

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

I personally find this to be a bad practice. mainly b/c I would never show a client something that wasn't my work. It stinks to have to exaplain why your work isn't in there. Besides, you can get a 20x20 w/ 20 pgs from forbeyon shipped for about the same price, even cheaper depending on what cover material you want.

Graphistudio will normally send you their "sample" for free. Ours is hidden away...

[AllenAyres]

There have been some funny stories I've read about photographers who used those same albums... and while they may have not explicitly claimed the work was theirs, they may have forgot to mention that it wasn't - particularly the graphi (apparently it isn't as obvious the photographer handing them the album didn't shoot the wedding in Venice ;) ).

There were some quite irate brides when they'd see the album in mulitple studios - one photographer went so far as to actually claim the images as his, that the family cried when he showed them his work, and that the company liked him so much they paid him to include his images in their sample :D