Anyone try "print on demand" books or trad book publishing?

[invisibleflash]

Anyone try "print on demand" books or trad book publishing for selling your photography book?

Was it a worthwhile project for you?

What problems did you have? What would you do differently with future books?

[vinny]

several threads on the subject of pod
http://www.largeformatphotography.in...archid=1184628

Making money with books? I doubt it!

[invisibleflash]

Link does not work nor does pod search

[vinny]

huh, try this one:
http://www.largeformatphotography.in...archid=1185323

[Eric Rose]

Check out my blog, I have several articles on POD. http://blog.ericrose.com

[invisibleflash]

Thanks Eric. Will check them out.

I didn't vote on your poll. I like all photos with a few pages of intro about the photog and if needed some info about certain photos. Didn't know where that fits in.

[Scott Walker]

I have used Blurb a number of times now and it has been without incident up until recently.
I had a problem with the last project and it had to be reprinted.
Within 8 days I believe it was, I had new books at Blurbs expense.
The two new proline papers are really damn nice.
I can't say enough good about the company.

[paulr]

Print on demand is great. I like it for presents for friend and family, and as a great way to present a portfolio. A book is probably the most empowering format for organizing a body of work. I don't think of it as "publishing," because there's no distribution or marketing behind it. If I want to publish, then I'll put my energy into finding/convincing a real publisher rather than trying to take on their role.

Many people do self-publish, and the ones who are smartest and most indefatiguable have success at it. I'm not going to go head to head against them, or against the publishing houses. The market is way too crowded and I'd rather spend my time on other things.

By success, I do not mean money. No one makes money on photo books, least of all self-publishers. Success means geting bookstores to sell enough of them in order to make the project feel worthwhile. This usually means customers that extend beyond your friends and your mom and your mom's friends.

I just did a blurb book and thought the quality was exceptional. The color matched perfectly in 58 out of 60 pictures, and the two that didn't match still looked good. Downside is that it's expensive. My cost was $40 per book. It's a book that if printed traditionally would probably cost $30 retail, at most.

[invisibleflash]

Hi Paul. Nice website you got!

I wondered how much money was to be made in the photo book field. I see some famous pros like Elliot Erwitt has many books out there. Wondered if they made a chunk of their living $ with books or if it is just an ego thing to build up ones name.

[invisibleflash]

What about small run book printers? Say 100 to 1000 copies?

Any feedback for this type of book production? Who do you recomend?

I was talking with Gorham Printing Co, they looked good for affordable printing. But I found out they are pretty restrictive with their content. (No nudes / off color content - they work with Mennonite / Amish partners.)