“The best memory is not as good as pale ink.”
– Chinese proverb

The thought of finally sorting through years of photos, slides and other memorabilia can be overwhelming. At PhotoBook Press, we have tools and techniques to help you overcome that initial inertia and get you on your way to publishing a beautiful book of your memories to be shared with generations to come.

Our process starts by gathering the photos, slides, documents and memorabilia you want to preserve in one location. Then you look through the piles and decide what story you want your book to preserve and tell – of a life well lived, happy family times, a successful career, your best photographs, a trip or series of trips. There are more book ideas in our Getting Started Brochure.

Scanning & Writing
A PhotoBook Press technician is available to scan and digitize your images at 300 dpi in the order you have determined.  If you are not ready to make a book but want to protect and preserve your important family photographs and documents, we can archive your images to a CD or DVD ROM.

Within a week of scanning, you will receive an electronic PhotoBook Press Workbook displaying thumbnails of each of your images with space to write descriptions. Printed workbooks are available. Your workbook can be used simply to provide names, dates and locations or it can inspire further descriptive or journal writing. Our Getting Started Brochure contains information on how to use your Workbook to spark memories in other family members.

Page Layout
When the Workbook is completed, the fun really begins. Our book designers will lay out your images in a way that honors each one and tells your story in a most respectful and attractive style. You can be as involved as you wish in this process. View text and layout examples in our Sample Pages.

When your book’s pages are designed to your satisfaction, a proof copy is provided for final approval.

Bindings & Covers
Our standard hard cover books feature sewn bindings with a rich black bonded leather cover.

Laminated photographic covers with an image(s) from your book and with the title and author(s) name printed on the cover or spine are available. Photographic covers can be designed to meet all tastes and are tough, durable and completely unique.

Covers of traditional leather or classic book binder’s cloth are also available. Choose from our selection of book cloths and color coordinated end papers. These books feature gold or silver foil stamping of the title and author(s) name on the spine . If you would like completely custom, handmade covers made with genuine leather covers and letter press titles, our skilled bookbinders will create a fully customized design for you.

View our cover samples throughout the website.

Our soft cover books provide another binding option suited to publishing multiple copies for gift giving (because of its lower cost). Soft cover books have a glued binding (called “perfect binding”) and heavy weight paper covers.  The content and layout can be identical to any hard cover book, and the paper and printing quality are the same.