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Custom Wedding Photo Books

Asukabook Review

Asukabook undoubtedly produce one of the finest range of custom wedding photo books for professional photographers there is, whether they be for weddings, portraits or "a day in the life" style presentation.

They offer:

• Japanese Quality Products
• Professional Colour Management and Quality Control
• Unique Presentation
• First Class Customer Service
• Studio Sample Discount

I have used Asukabooks for wedding clients for over 6 years and can safely say that every potential bride I have showed them to has loved them and subsequently booked me for their wedding...that is why I am writing this review.

Note/Disclaimer: Of course, you need to do the necessary hard work to get your foot in the door but once in, with your sample Asukabook in hand, you are more than half way to securing that wedding.

Their range of custom wedding photo books is quite substantial giving you and your client a wide choice of photobook and finish to suit the job at hand. Everything from a small, soft cover, high quality A5 booklet for portraits, up to the highest quality, lay flat 12" x 12" cushioned hard cover book with designable presentation case for the most discerning wedding client.

When I converted from giving traditional style wedding albums to the more contemporary photobooks, I started off using the "Book Bound Hard Cover" and "Book Bound EX" photobooks from Asukabook as they are superb quality at a very good price and I was able to mark them up knowing the client was still getting good value for money on their wedding album.

After visiting the Asukabook UK booth at a recent photography exhibition, I noticed a couple of new additions to their range, notably the Zen Lay Flat and stunning Neo Classic.

The Neo classic blew me away with its solid, "soft to the touch" but weighty feel coupled with the seamless lay flat, solid pages...this was the new style for me!

Needless to say I wasted no time in getting hold of a copy (Asukabook will give you a hearty 50% discount on your first studio sample) and I recently had the chance to show it to a client...booked!

The couple fell instantly in love with the book and it felt quite strange but my imagery inside was almost secondary to the quality of the book : (

They had already seen my work online, had already spoken to me and knew my prices so the brunt of the work was done, the Neo Classic simply sealed the deal!

Custom Wedding Photo Books - Design and Preparation

If you are fairly adept with Photoshop, you can simply download the page templates from the Asukabook website for each style of photobook (you need to register with them first and please, where they ask "how did you hear about us", please mention "All Things Photography Website" if you could) and prepare your own design. Each template has guidelines embedded so you don't allow the images to bleed off the printed page unless you want them to.

Once you have completed your book, you run it through the free Asukabook file checker software which will check the file for errors and create a full resolution PDF file which is used for uploading and printing (after the couple have ok'd it of course).

The whole process is pretty straight forward and the finished, printed book is an exact replica of the PDF file...a great way to give the client some say in the design and final output. If you don't feel like creating or designing your own book or you simply don't have the time, I would recommend getting hold of Auto Album by Kubota Image Tools.

This great piece of software has 500 single page layouts in both rectangular and square pages and also includes panoramic designs. It also comes with Kubota Image Tools' new and exclusive Kubota Action Dashboard feature which enables users to search for templates in Photoshop and launch them quickly and easily.

You simply select the layout template, click play and the auto action builds the page for you which sheds hours of time on your bookmaking over the wedding season!

You also get a handy reference book with all templates printed inside which is great for either getting a visual reference before starting your photobook or sitting down with clients to design the overall feel if you are that way inclined!

Here is a short synopsis of each book but I highly recommend you head over to the Asukabook website to check them out in full.

Custom Wedding Photo Books - The Neo Classic

Part of the new range at Asukabook, the Neo Classic is a designable, cushioned hard cover photobook with designable presentation case. It also has a section within the case to insert a DVD/CD.

Sizes Available: 8" x 11" or 10" x 10"

Number of Sides/Pages: 20/30/40

Type of Cover: Designable cushioned hard cover

Hard Board Page Finish: Laminate Glossy / Laminate Matt

Book Case: Designable slide-in presentation case with CD/DVD placeholder

Custom Wedding Photo Books - Zen Lay-flat EX

Another new book in the range is the designable, hard cover photobook with included slip jacket and red or black book case.

Sizes Available: 8" x 8", 10" x 10" or 12" x 12"

Number of Sides/Pages: 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 / 100

Hard Board Page Finish: Laminate Glossy / Laminate Matt

Type of Cover: Designable hard cover and matching printed slip jacket

Book Case: Red or black book case with a personalised hot stamping text

Custom Wedding Photo Books - Zen Lay-flat Hard Cover

The Zen Lay-Flat is a designable hard cover photobook with clear, frosted plastic case.

Sizes Available: 8" x 8", 10" x 10" or 12" x 12"

Number of Sides/Pages: 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 / 100

Hard Board Page Finish: Laminate Glossy / Laminate Matt

Type of Cover: Designable hard cover

Book Case: Frosted plastic case

Custom Wedding Photo Books - Book Bound LX

The Book Bound LX is a genuine leather cover photobook complete with designable presentation box with room for a DVD/CD to be inserted.

Sizes Available: 8" x 11", 7" x 10" or 5.5" x 8", 10" x 10", 8" x 8", 7" x 7" - Portrait or Landscape

Number of Sides/Pages: 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 / 100

Page Finish: Laminate Glossy / Laminate Matt / Varnish Coating

Type of Cover: Genuine leather cover with personalised hot stamping text

Leather Cover Colour: Baby Blue / Pink / White / Bordeaux / Brown / Saddle / Black

Book Case: Designable presentation box with CD/DVD placeholder

Custom Wedding Photo Books - Book Bound FLX

This is the same as the LX version above but with animal friendly leather.

Sizes Available: 8" x 11", 7" x 10" or 5.5" x 8", 10" x 10", 8" x 8", 7" x 7" - Portrait or Landscape (+ Larger 16" x 12" in Landscape)

Number of Sides/Pages: 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 / 100

Page Finish: Laminate Glossy / Laminate Matt / Varnish Coating

Type of Cover: Animal friendly leather cover with personalised hot stamping text

Cover Colour: White / Pink / Baby Blue / Bordeaux / Camel / Brown / Black

Book Case: Designable presentation box with CD/DVD placeholder

Custom Wedding Photo Books - Book Bound EXD

Another new photobook in the range, the Book Bound EXD is a designable, hard cover photobook with slip jacket/dust cover and designable book case.

Sizes Available: 8" x 11", 7" x 10" or 5.5" x 8", 10" x 10", 8" x 8", 7" x 7", 5" x 5" - Portrait or Landscape (+ Larger 11" x 12.5" in Portrait)

Number of Sides/Pages: 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 / 100

Page Finish: Laminate Glossy / Laminate Matt / Varnish Coating

Type of Cover: Designable hard cover and matching printed slip jacket

Book Case: Custom designed slide-in book case

Custom Wedding Photo Books - Book Bound EX

The Book Bound EX is a designable hard cover photobook with slip jacket and glossy red or black book case.

Sizes Available: 8" x 11", 7" x 10" or 5.5" x 8", 12" x 12", 10" x 10", 8" x 8", 7" x 7", 5" x 5" - Portrait or Landscape (+ Larger 11" x 12.5" in Portrait)

Number of Sides/Pages: 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 / 100

Page Finish: Laminate Glossy / Laminate Matt / Varnish Coating

Type of Cover: Designable hard cover and matching printed slip jacket

Book Case: Red or black book case with a personalised hot stamping text

Custom Wedding Photo Books - Book Bound Hard Cover

The Book Bound Hard Cover is a designable hard cover photobook with clear, frosted plastic case.

Sizes Available: 8" x 11", 7" x 10" or 5.5" x 8", 5.5" x 6.25" (Portrait Only), 12" x 12", 10" x 10", 8" x 8", 7" x 7", 5" x 5" - Portrait or Landscape

Number of Sides/Pages: 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 / 100

Page Finish: Laminate Glossy / Laminate Matt / Varnish Coating

Type of Cover: Designable hard cover

Book Case: Frosted plastic case

Custom Wedding Photo Books - Book Bound Soft Cover

Designable soft cover photobook with clear, frosted plastic case.

Sizes Available: 8" x 11", 7" x 10" or 5.5" x 8", 10" x 10", 8" x 8", 7" x 7", 5" x 5" - Portrait or Landscape

Number of Sides/Pages: 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 / 100

Page Finish: Laminate Glossy / Laminate Matt / Varnish Coating

Type of Cover: Designable soft cover

Book Case: Frosted plastic case

Visit Asukabook - (Remember, when you register, please mention ATP...thanks)

Check out Kubota Auto Album