Have you made your own Flush Mount wedding Album??

jbrennan007 · January 2011

We're thinking about hiring a great photographer but only purchasing a high resolution DVD. We then what to make and order our own flush mount album from a website online. Has anyone ever done this? Is this a good or bad idea?

GolfChick78 · January 2011

I think it's a mistake. A friend of mine did this. Her album came out nice and she didn't spend very much. She thinks it's BEAUTIFUL! Of coures, I will echo those sentiments; i'm not going to tell a friend that her album is kind of poor. But in no way is her album even close to what I'm going to be getting.

I guess my point is there's nothing wrong with doing your own album, but don't think you're getting the same quality and saving some money. You'll get a much lower quality album at a much lower price. With what I'm paying for my wedding, a few hundred dollars more to get a truly beautiful album is just a no-brainer. IMO, of course.

fallbride1109 · January 2011

I made my own flush mount wedding album for my husband's parents as a wedding gift. It is the exact same quality as our professional album. I used somersetalbums.com and I have reviews and pics in my bio. That being said, it was $400. So you'll want to compare the price of getting an album through your photographer with the cost of making one that is high quality.

MELANIE PENNY · January 2011

It depends on what you mean by "doing your own". Most people don't have access to the types of printing companies that produce the really high quality albums, unless you are a graphic designer, pro photographer, or have a friend that will submit it for you. If you design it yourself, you just need to have some experience doing design work to make sure you are getting the type of layout you want and a familiarity with the printers to know what their requirements are, so your end product is what you expected to get. Definitely doable, but not exactly the same as ordering a book from MyPublisher or someone.

Another option is to hire someone to create the album for you who may not be your own photographer but will work with your pictures and have the necessary design experience. This may or may not be less than what your photographer is charging--would depend on how much of a discount he is offering by getting his package.

Etsy has a few shops like this, so you may want to check them out before deciding.

For instance:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MelanieRoseDesign

mineymole · January 2011

If you want real flush mount albums you should consider a couple of things. One - how the image is printed. Is it on Fuji Crystal or Kodak Endura paper? Is the printing professional - the contrast, color and sharpness? How do they mount the prints? Is there a gutter? If so, how large is the gutter? Is the album made here in the USA or in China? Many things to consider.

There are a few companies that do make Flush Mount albums direct to the consumer. You'll find though that usually it isn't any cheaper than the price you would have paid originally had you purchased a package that included a Flush Mount Album.

There are some good photos of Flush Mount Albums here: http://www.hudsonriverphotographer.com/wordpress/?cat=162

mango1437 · January 2011

Figuring out what direction I should go with my wedding album was such an issue for me as well! I finally found a wedding album website that I love though! If you are interested here is the website... www.artisticalbums.com

I hope it works out for you! Good Luck

Best wishes

Nikki

fallbride1109 · January 2011

OP, I encourage you to actually look at the album I made in my bio. I used a reputable company (there are several out there that allow you to do this), and the album was beautiful and high quality with no gutter or seam (which I point out specifically in my review), and I had the fun of making it myself. No professional design experience was necessary.

It is perfectly doable.

annandted86 · January 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_photos-video_made-own-flush-mount-wedding-album?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:30Discussion:61778be4-d8f0-4da7-b5be-1a563d676e46Post:4593e995-8178-4976-a96f-93575d04373c">Re: Have you made your own Flush Mount wedding Album??</a>:
[QUOTE]OP, I encourage you to actually look at the album I made in my bio. I used a reputable company (there are several out there that allow you to do this), and the album was beautiful and high quality with no gutter or seam (which I point out specifically in my review), and I had the fun of making it myself. No professional design experience was necessary. It is perfectly doable.
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

This is exactly what I'm talking about, though. Please understand, I'm not making value judgements nor do I mean any disrespect at all; this is all just for the point of understanding. Our album is very important to us and we've spent a lot of time and research in making this decision and have become very aware of what distinquishes the good from the better from the best.

Out photographer uses Zookbinders; a very high end album manufacturer, but they offer a few different grades of albums so we've seen both side-by-side. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the album WITH the gutter (which is the gap in the image between the pages) is the HIGHER end album. That's because the pictures are actually mounted to a more substantial page that is then gilded along the outside edge. There needs to be a gap to allow this thicker page to turn. It is the less expensive albums where a page is essentially just two photos glued back to back. Because this results in a thin page, there doesn't need to be a gap; the pictures are essentially just folded.

By no means am I suggesting the PP's album is of poor quality; I'm sure it's very nice. BUT, there are so many distinctions between the types of albums and there's no one definition of high quailty. Talk to your photographer, explore the other options that are open to you, and make an informed decision. For us, we're going with our photographer's top album because it just isn't that much more expensive than the other alternatives we would want.

MELANIE PENNY · January 2011

@annanadted -- I agree, there is a lot going on with the albums that go into the quality of the albums, and it takes a lot of research to figure out what company and options are the best.

I did a LOT of research in working on mine and talked to a lot of pro photogs, and even asked questions to different manufacturers. I have to disagree though, regarding some of what you said about quality. Gutters do not mean higher quality, necessarily. If they are true flush mount albums, they will be mounted photographs with a substrate between them--regardless of whether they have a fold or gutter. Folds or gutters in itself is an aesthetic preference. As someone else mentioned, Kodak and Fuji are two of the papers frequently used. Both are great, but Kodak paper is more apt to develop a pink discoloration line down the center if used for folded pages--so Fuji is preferred. Some companies use Fuji paper--some use Kodak and tell you that you are warned and don't come crying to them if your pages start changing color.

To the OP--You should do your research and be informed with the type of album company you are using and who the actual supplier is--if you use a go-between company like a design house or someone who does not do the print & bind work in-house. You may not want/need the highest end product out there, but you should know where whatever product you are getting falls in that continuum so you will be happy with what you get in the end!

avepeterson · February 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_photos-video_made-own-flush-mount-wedding-album?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:30Discussion:61778be4-d8f0-4da7-b5be-1a563d676e46Post:6c06a445-e4ee-4134-8d1c-b653fe6dffa3">Re: Have you made your own Flush Mount wedding Album??</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Have you made your own Flush Mount wedding Album?? :It may seem counter-intuitive, but the album WITH the gutter (which is the gap in the image between the pages) is the HIGHER end album. That's because the pictures are actually mounted to a more substantial page that is then gilded along the outside edge. There needs to be a gap to allow this thicker page to turn. It is the less expensive albums where a page is essentially just two photos glued back to back. Because this results in a thin page, there doesn't need to be a gap; the pictures are essentially just folded.
Posted by annandted86[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;" class="Apple-style-span"><a style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;outline-width:0px;outline-style:initial;outline-color:initial;font-size:12px;vertical-align:baseline;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:underline;font-weight:normal;color:#579bc3 !important;border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" href="http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/user/default.aspx?membershipid=7848267877851889&plckUserId=7848267877851889" target="_blank" class="username_knot">annandted86</a>: actually, the albums albums without the gaps /gutter cost more than those with, assuming the substantial page (aka substrates) are included. Photos are sometimes glued back to back, but there are those on substrates as well, and they cost quite a bit more. It all boils down to preferences.</span></div><div><font face="Arial" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12px;" class="Apple-style-span">
I am by no means putting down your album, but albums with gutters in the center of the spread are actually albums which can be ready made in bulk, and the photos are then mounted onto them whenever you wish. Albums which spreads have no gutter in the center can only be made when the photos are ready. This is because the photos themselves form what is known as the book block, although they are to be mounted onto the substrates.</span></font></div><div><font face="Arial" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12px;" class="Apple-style-span">
</span></font></div><div><font face="Arial" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12px;" class="Apple-style-span">Also, photos usually cost more (lab prints that is, not inkjet) the bigger they are. So an album that's let's say 10x10 would require a print that's 20 inches across and 10 inchess tall. Whereas an album that has a gutter in the center, would only require 2 pcs of 10x10, which is usually cheaper to output.</span></font></div><div><font face="Arial" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12px;" class="Apple-style-span">
</span></font></div><div><font face="Arial" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12px;" class="Apple-style-span">I can tell you this from my experience as an album maker. Anyway, it's just FYI :)
</span></font>
</div>

HaveAGoodDay · March 2011

Just take a moment to look at www.wedesignalbums.com.

You can get a professional album 10x10, flushmount for under $300. This includes a professional design, printing and binding in your choice of covers.

They only offer the rigid style album pages with a full page photograph mounted to it. You can actually talk to them directly to ask questions and have input on your individual design.

~Congratulations and Good Luck!

lauren woehler · January 2012

Ok I know this thread is a tad old but I feel the need to reply.

First of all, gutter vs. folded does not make an album "higher end." What makes an album high end is 1. the quality of the print (paper type, printing method) 2. The materials used, this includes mounting materials, binding materials, and cover materials. All materials should be archival and your album should last well beyond your years (that is of course if you take care of it). Purchasing a high end, high QUALITY album is an investment. You get what you pay for.

When photographic prints are mounted back to back without an archival board in between this does not necessarily mean it is less quality than a typical flush mount. The mounting of the prints to a board or substrate will definitely make the pages more sturdy but not necessarily more archival.

My experience as a professional in the business tells me that folded pages always have the possibility of discoloring down the center, regardless of paper type. I always default to a split gutter because of this. When the my albums are created they are not created using two separate prints - my prints are always the full panoramic of the album (for example a 10x10 album prints are created as 10x20). In fact, I would not turst a company that would requre two 10x10 prints to make my album because they should know better. Can you imagine the possibilty of error when trying to line up those two pages? Yikes.

There are repurtable companies that will sell higher quality albums to the general public. But if you want the best options and the best quality, using a professional photographer or designer is really the way to go. It is their business and job to make sure you get the best of the best. And I do know that the options that you will find that are offered to you as a consumer that are of high quality will be limited. So it also depends on what you want.

There is always a middle ground as well. You don't have to spend $4000 on an album to get high end. BUT don't expect to get a high end album for $200. Not gonna happen.

I'd say if you are up to the challenge of researching and dealing with all of the details yourself. Then awesome, you should find a way to make your own album. Although, I can't tell you how many brides come to me absolutely frustrated with the process and end up hiring me instead.

Have you made your own Flush Mount wedding Album??

Re: Have you made your own Flush Mount wedding Album??

Choose Another Board

Search Boards