making your own wedding album??

veevi24

Hi has anyone done this? I would want a leather library bound album but $800 through my photographer seems crazy! any other options??? I've made little albums before and enjoy doing it... just don't know where/who prints the huge leather bound albums

silver0319

I haven't made my own album, but seriously considered using MyPublisher.com. They offer leather bound albums, lay flat pages, etc. If you sign up for their emails, they send discounts frequently.

Gordo2014

I think you should pause and think about that $80 album a little harder.  I've had friends do things through Blurb, Mpix, MyPublisher, etc.  Yeah, they're okay.  But they are not even remotely in the same class as the higher end albums your photographer offers (not knowing your photographer and what they're offering)

Your spending so much money on your wedding and so much more for a professional photograhper to capture that day for you.  Why would you want your keepsake to be a cheap album from Blurb, etc.?  In 50 years, you'll want to pull your album out at your anniversary party.  Is a MyPublisher album really what you want to display?

I don't mean to be making value judgements and if that's what works for you and your budget, then that's the right answer for you.  I am only suggesting that you take more time to think about it and whether that savings of a couple of hundred dollars is really the best place to cut a corner. 

If it was a matter of money and up to me, I'd offer one less appetizer or cut back on desert and get the album I want to see decades from now.

ChristineL23

I used mypublisher to make a leatherbound album with flat pages.  I was very happy with the quality of the album.  They use high quality paper and have many options for covers.  As Gordo said, think about what is most important to you.  For me, I preferred to spend my $800 on other areas of my wedding, while still finding an album option that worked for me.  Also keep in mind that it does take TIME to put the album together yourself as opposed to using your photographer.  Ask yourself if you truly will be disciplined to take this project on yourself.  It is time consuming.  

SewInLoveWithDMB

I have mixed feelings on this. Sure, it's nice to get a really expensive book from your photographer, but yes, $800 is a lot of money.

If you are investing in the pictures themselves, that's what really matters. That $800 can be applied to a honeymoon or even much more practical uses such as rent or part of a mortgage.

Fortunately, I don't need to think about this since my photographer includes it in his plan and that sorta made the decision for me. However, if the album(s) (2 parent albums as well) were not included in our package, I'm not sure if I would have paid more for it.

Although it's "just Shutterfly" - Shutterfly does offer layflat pages with a leather cover.  If budget is a concern, I would "splurge" on the photography and then do a option like Shutterfly for the album - for now. You can always upgrade in the future - your photographer right now is not the only option for you to ever get an album.

Both my sister and my future sister in law only have digital files (my sister opted for a bound book printed with every photograph from the day in order which looks awesome as is, and my FSIL never got all of her photos from her photographer, forget the book. She was sent a CD with 1/3 of all of the photos taken...and that's all she will ever get) Both of them have used our photographer for photographing their children, and both have talked with him about having albums made now, 5 & 8 years later.

So, think about your budget and what it allows. There is a huge price difference between a Shutterfly book and one from a photographer, and of course the quality is different, it might not be THAT different. 

thecatm

I'm planning on making my own albums myself...I really couldn't justify spending THAT much on an album. I've seen professional albums and i'm sorry, i'm convinced that it isn't really worth the money. I dont mind putting the time and effort into it myself.

bereasonable2

Everyone values things differently. If you're happy with a $50 "album" go for it.

Chrissy241987

I think a lot depends on what you need edited in pictures.  I personally don't have the best skin and I want the photoshop skills my photographer has to design my album and edit my pictures. My cousin on the other hand looks like a model and if she made her own album,  it would look great.

SewInLoveWithDMB

Chrissy241987 said:

I think a lot depends on what you need edited in pictures.  I personally don't have the best skin and I want the photoshop skills my photographer has to design my album and edit my pictures. My cousin on the other hand looks like a model and if she made her own album,  it would look great.

With my photographer, these are two totally different things. We will receive (and did for our engagement session as well) all original files, as well as edited files. (For our engagement shoot, it was 100 edited images. I think it is 1000 edited images for the wedding) So, those edited files could then be made into a book either by the photographer, or by myself. I can also edit any of the other shots from the day myself.

Some of the professional book cost is the time that goes into it by the photographer, which is something to consider. I'm not saying that the quality of ALL books by photographers is equal to a "make your own place" but it might not differ THAT much. The photographer wants to be compensated for the time it takes to put the book together, as they should and that is reflected in the higher price. 

It all depends on your budget - but I would never belittle someone who used professional, gorgeous photos and made their own album to save money. Do what is best for you!

Edited for clarity