Photo book publishing may be just what you need as a professional (or soon to be professional) photographer. Photo books are not just for the professional anymore. Anyone, even those looking to create a simple book for themselves, can use the software available to create their own books, books they can use to get their messages out, in picture format. Both personal and commercial books can receive publishing in this manner, often allowing the very best finished product to be available.
Publishers do specialize in photo book publishing. You can find a number of publishers that only do photo books, which can help you to get a better quality and more specialized finished product. Some standard book publishers offer photo book publishing as well, though their services in this field may be limited. Consider both options to determine which offers the best product for your need.
One of the best ways to get your photo book published is to start by finding reputable publishers that you admire. If there are other books that you like, and you would like to replicate the finished product yourself, then contact those publishers directly to gather information and possibly begin the process. Most will take all of the information you provide and will consider your book for publishing as well. By researching these companies from their finished product back, you can determine what your finished product is likely to offer and look like. This gives you one clear way to know what you are getting in return.
Things to Consider
When it comes to photo book publishing, the photographer and the publisher work together to bring the finished product to the level that both wish to see, and where it is going to do best. For example, one question to ask is what the finished product will look like. The type of paper that is used, unbelievably, plays a significant role in the finished product’s quality. Look for publishers offering you choices, including heavy gloss paper, for example. You may also want to consider the options for covers for your book, including custom designed products and dust jackets, should they be something you are interested in.
Photo book captioning is also something to consider. Some photo books are designed with captions written by the photographer, others are not. Ultimately, this is a decision to come upon by both the publisher and the author of the book.
When considering both personal and commercial photo books, realize that most are done through self publishing methods using a publisher (you pay the publisher to create the final finished product for you.) Both parties, ahead of time, determine the amount of editing and publishing work done by the publisher and by the author. The cost is based on the number of tasks that publisher needs to provide for you.
Photo book publishing is a unique form of art and like most types of publishing services, it can take a bit of research to find the right publisher for you.