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:
I have used Asukabooks for wedding clients for over 10 year. I 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 with a bride. However, once in with your sample Asukabook in hand, you are more than half way to securing that wedding.
Asukabook Range
Their range of custom wedding photo books is quite substantial. It gives 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. The latter coming with a designable presentation case for the most discerning wedding client.
I converted from giving traditional style wedding albums to the more contemporary photobooks a log time ago. I started off using the "Book Bound Hard Cover" and "Book Bound EX" photobooks from Asukabook. They are superb quality at a very good price. 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.
Neo Classic
The Neo classic blew me away with its solid, "soft to the touch" but weighty feel. This is coupled with the seamless lay flat, solid pages and is the new style for me!
Here is my 8" x 11" Neo Classic (click for full image):
Needless to say I wasted no time in getting hold of a copy and I recently had the chance to show it to a client. Booked! Note: Asukabook UK will give you a hearty 50% discount on your first studio sample.
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. Here you can get the templates for each style of photobook and prepare your own design. You need to register with them first and please, where they ask "how did you hear about us", please mention "All Things Photography Website". 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. This will check the file for errors and create a full resolution PDF file which is used for uploading and printing. That is 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.
Auto Album
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. The dashboard 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. This sheds hours of time on your bookmaking over the wedding season!
You also get a handy reference book with all templates printed inside. This 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.
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.
Custom Wedding Photo Books: Zen Lay-flat Hard Cover
The Zen Lay-Flat is a designable hard cover photobook with clear, 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.
Custom Wedding Photo Books: Book Bound FLX
This is the same as the LX version above but with animal friendly leather.
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.
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.
Custom Wedding Photo Books: Book Bound Hard Cover
The Book Bound Hard Cover is a designable hard cover photobook with clear, frosted plastic case.
Custom Wedding Photo Books: Book Bound Soft Cover
Design-able soft cover photobook with clear, frosted plastic case.
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