I’m asked every week in my weekly Instagram Q+A “what is the best photo book company?” And I have thoughts!
In fact, in 2018 I decided to conduct some analysis and compare major photo book companies. I sent the exact same book design to several printing companies to directly evaluate the quality and value. For me, there was a clear winner and it prompted me to change printing companies (after 7 years of allegiance to one).
Why should you listen to me? Well, first of all… this is just my personal opinion. A finished book, from ANY company, matters most. Second, I make a lot of photo books. Like it’s my actual job. But most importantly, I’m not sponsored by any printing companies. I did the research and comparison of books with my own money, at full price, and came to my own conclusions.
the best photo book company
My favorite photo book company is Printique. I heard about them in my circle of professional photographer colleagues and as soon as I got the finished book in my hands I understood the hype. Here are three reasons why I love Printique:
archival quality
Printique uses a “silver halide” printing process where colors are ‘infused’ into the paper using a chemical process. Most printing companies use ink-jet printing which applies colors on top of the paper. Ink jet printing is often less sharp and subject to fading over time. It’s also more susceptible to damage from surface scratching or water damage.
All that technical jargon means that Printique’s print quality is exceptional. The colors of the photos are noticeably more vibrant than other photo books. And because of the archival quality printing process, they are a true family keepsake that will stand the test of time.
exceptional materials
Printique’s standard offering- the hard cover photo book- uses a thicker photographic paper than standard photo books from other companies. It also features a deluxe lay flat that is completely seamless- the book lays flat for easy reading but there’s NO gap in the center (amazing)!
The photographic paper is thick enough that I don’t have to worry about my kids tearing or damaging the pages as they read. No accidental creases! We keep our family photo books right in the living room so they’re frequently enjoyed and they are still in excellent condition many years later.
overall value
Are there less expensive photo book options out there? Absolutely. But the quality of the Printique book is a different league. Once I held the book in my hands, I was surprised it didn’t cost more. I pay about $175 for my annual family yearbook (but it’s 80+ pages long!) and have ordered 20 page books that deliver the exact same quality for as little as $65.
Learn more about Printique at their website!
Want to learn my time-saving tricks for making a photo book?
I create my annual Family Yearbook (80 pages long!) in 4-6 hours each year. Learn my time-saving workflow, find my year-in-review templates, and get an exclusive Printique discount code in the Family Yearbooks course.
Or… save even more time by hiring the Miss Freddy team to create a beautiful keepsake photo book FOR YOU!
Note: while I am not sponsored by Printique, after singing their praises for a long time I did ask to establish an affiliate relationship. So if you use the links in this post, I receive commission from orders placed based on my recommendation. Thank you for your support!
