We recently interviewed Inkubook member Abbey Wilson to find out about how she learned of Inkubook, why she likes us and she is incorporating photos, photo memories and photobooks into her upcoming wedding.
Engagement Photobook - Show off those gorgeous pictures
Inkubook – Tell us how you learned about Inkubook.
Abbey – I discovered Inkubook via the promotional Groupon deal this summer. I was not previously familiar with the company or the products, but frequently use Groupons to “test” new companies and businesses, so I thought this was worth the shot. I was also impressed with the simplicity of the website interface design when I checked out the site.
What made you come back after your first photo book order?
For “testing out” Inkubook, I hit the jackpot. I ordered 2 Classic Landscape books and they were printed beautifully. Not a single misprint or margin out of line – no pictures cut off and the colors I’d chosen printed exactly as shown on the website. I also worked with Inkubook Support to have their standard logo removed from the back cover, and the associate I worked with was kind and prompt in responding – 2 essential customer service qualities!
Was using Inkubook the first time you made a photo book?
I’d never made a “virtual” photo book until my experience with Inkubook, and I barely scrapbooked as a kid. I typically print pictures and slide them into blank albums, but Inkubook has changed my mind about how I want to display, share and keep my photographs.
Why do you like making photo books?
I like clean, simple designs and organized displays, and Inkubook photo books are perfect for this. I also like the simplicity of Inkubook’s “drag and drop” design, and the upload time for images is very fast.
Tell us about some of the books you’ve made?
The book I’m currently working on will be my wedding guest book. It highlights some of our favorite pictures from the time we started dating to our engagement, including our engagement pictures. I’ve designed it with small captions near each picture to tell our guests where each was taken, and left plenty of space on most pages for guests to choose a picture that they were present for or reminds them of us and sign their well wishes near it. The book is a nice touch to our wedding which is entirely personalized and unique to the look of most modern weddings.
Wedding Photo GuestBook
Did you use any tools outside of Inkubook in the creation process?
No, I just uploaded my own pictures directly to Inkubook and designed from the site.
We understand you’ll be getting married in May 2012, do you have any ideas in mind for using photo books and cards as part of your wedding planning and gifts?
As I mentioned, I’m creating our wedding guest book via Inkubook. I plan for this to be a beautiful display of pictures as well as our guests’ thoughts and comments we have for a very long time. I like the idea of customized thank you stationary, which we’ll also design for our wedding. Life’s too short to be boring – customization and beautiful design are essential, especially when planning a wedding! Inkubook gives you the potential to be anything but cookie cutter.
Congratulations to you and your fiancée on your upcoming wedding. Thanks for using Inkubook – we can’t wait to see your wedding album.
Today Inkubook announced a partnership to become the official photo book provider of the NFL Alumni, Inc. Indianapolis Chapter. Under the agreement, Alumni members, family and friends will use Inkubook to create photo books commemorating special events, including the organization’s charitable golf tournament. These photo books will be made available for sale to benefit the chapter’s mission “Caring for Kids.”
NFL Alumni Indy Chapter captures the memories of the
2008 Charity Golf Classic in a gorgeous
Ultimate Portrait Inkubook photo book.
“We look forward to working with Inkubook to capture the memories of our events in photo book keepsakes that will help us raise money for some great charities including the Super Bowl XLVI Legacy Fund, Tony Dungy’s All-Pro Dad and Peyton Manning’s Peyback Foundation,” said Barry Krauss, president of the Indianapolis Chapter of NFL Alumni, Inc.
“We’re pleased to add the NFL Alumni, Inc. Indy Chapter to our inaugural group of partners,” said Inkubook General Manager Ken Kratz. “The collaborative nature of Inkubook, as well as our flexible partnership program, makes it the perfect option for any organization that relies on group events to drive fundraising.”
You don’t even have to be a former pro football player to join the team. If you would like to make a gorgeous photo book and help out the NFL Alumni, Inc. Indy Chapter in its mission of “Caring for Kids” at the same time visit http://inkubook.com/NFL-Alumni-Indy to learn more.
Holiday season 2008 is in the near distant past, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start thinking about what kind of special gift you might make for someone in 2009. In case you haven’t already thought about taking all your old traditional photos and putting them into a photo book, or in case you think it would be too difficult, it might be time for you to think about it a little more. Inkubook member Dick Fey made three books for his children and wrote us to say how pleased he was with them, so we asked Dick if he’d let us tell everyone a little about his experiences with Inkubook.
Dick is a semi-retired business ownder from Leawood, Kansas, which is a suburb of Kansas City. His plan had been to make DVD videos of old 8mm film for his children as a Christmas present. He sent many rolls of 30-year-old film to a company for professional transfer to digital format, and he also scanned lots of pictures himself. Then he made a video slide show and put it on DVDs. Once he got that part done he thought he was finished with his gift. Then he found Inkubook. Here’s what he had to say:
“I’d never heard of you, but your website looked interesting, so I decided to play with it a little. It was perfect timing, since I already had all the pictures readily available. I thought that perhaps having a ‘coffee table book’ of the pictures would be a perfect addition to the gift pack. I’d never made a picture book before–in fact I didn’t even know the technology existed. I found the website very easy to comprehend and use, and had a good time doing it.
Dick Fey and his children with their books.
“Initially I was concerned about quality; buying over the Internet when you can’t actually touch or feel the product is difficult, at least for me. I was pleasantly surprised when I began to receive the books. They were better than I had expected. Even pictures that Inkubook had marked as questionable came out OK.
“We gave our children the books for Christmas, and, boy, were they thrilled! I think the immediate gratification of the photo book was even more important to them than the videos.”
So whether you’re in the market for a good mid-winter activity to keep you busy or you want to get started on a present for holiday season 2009, think about scanning some of those old photos and putting them in a modern and attractive photo book. Dick Fey is happy he did, and you will be, too.
If there’s one thing that says fall and early winter, it’s football. As we wind down the fantasy football season, gear up for the play-offs in the NFL, and settle in to watch the bowl games, it seems like a perfect time to feature a football book created by Barbara Rodriguez, a parent of a youth football player.
Barbara used Inkubook to make a sports team photo book about her son’s football team. Books will be presented to each of the players at the banquet in January. Barbara captured all the hard-hitting action of the boys’ games, but she also took the opportunity to ask each player to reflect on his team and provide a little insight into what he likes best about it. We were very impressed with how Barbara laid out her book, so we asked her a few questions about the experience.
Q. What prompted you to make your sports team photo book with Inkubook?
A. I looked at a number of photo book sites, including MyPublisher, Shutterfly, and Smilebox…. Then I came across Inkubook. I had no idea of what I was doing. I wanted to talk to someone live. One day I stumbled into the sports book and found Quantity Orders. This was what I was looking for so I sent my info and Jessica [Inkubook's product marketing manager] called me. She was great and really worked with our needs. She actually gave me ideas for next year on how to help with the cost of the yearbook. The price was fantastic. I made an Ultimate Portrait hardcover for the head coach, and the Simple Square for the boys. I am already thinking about other books that I can do.
Q. What’s the age group of the boys on the team and how many played?
A. There were 25 boys ages 9 through 12.
Q. It’s funny that each of the boys had a nickname. How did those come about?
A. At one practice during the season after they all got to know each other, the coaches had the kids come up with nicknames for each other. The kids had to all agree. It was quite entertaining.
Each player had the opportunity to write a statement about his favorite things about being on the team.
Q. Why did you create the book?
This was driven from the head coach. He wants the boys to have memories. His family is very involved. They have five kids, so the first yearbook was done by his oldest son, who is now in college. The coach calls them his treasures.
Q. Did you take all the pictures in the book yourself?
A. I took all the pictures myself–my first time with a camera. I guess that’s how I was chosen to do the photo album. I’m glad that everyone went along with the online idea.
Q. What was your favorite part about making the book?
Looking back at the season. I also enjoyed choosing the layouts. I know the boys will love the books.
The book includes a two-page spread with pictures
and scores from each of the games.
Q. Do you have any tips that you’d offer to other people who want to make a team book like this?
A. With digital, there are so many photos to go through. Pick the top 10 photos after each game and set them aside in a folder.
Whether you have a family member on a football team, basketball team, gymnastics team, or la crosse team, a yearbook at the end of the season makes a perfect keepsake or coaches’ gift, so try starting yours today.
We recently stumbled upon a book idea we hadn’t yet given much consideration: the class reunion souvenir. We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how families and close groups of friends can put Inkubook to good use, but it’s also an excellent tool for those groups of people who only gather once every 5 or 10 years.
Author Mike Johnson with his Inkubook.
Mike Johnson*, a corporate executive turned author, recently used Inkubook to make a book about a reunion with his Stanford University Graduate School of Business class. 30 people from 11 nations were in attendance, and that’s just about the perfect group for a collaborative tool such as Inkubook. Mike was kind enough to tell us a little about his experience.
Q. Why did you decide to create a photo book of your class reunion?
A. As you probably know, at class reunions it’s customary to retain a photographer to take a group picture. He or she then charges $10 or $15 for a print. It makes a nice memento but generally winds up in a box or drawer and is seldom seen again. I thought a photo book would be something that classmates would be more likely to keep visible – perhaps on a coffee table or bookshelf.
Q.How did your classmates react to the idea?
A. They loved it. Of the 30 who attended, 26 ordered a book.
Q. How many pages and pictures are in your book?
A. The book is 24 pages and there are 44 photos. I particularly liked being able to use a bleed photo on the front cover. On the back cover we have two small group photos with this caption: Farewell…and may our paths cross again.
Q. Do you have any suggestions that others might find useful when creating a photo book?
A. Because the layouts accommodate text, I would advise Inkubook users to be thinking about captions as they select and edit photos.
Q. What is your reaction to the completed book?
A. The finished product is truly splendid. Even the packaging was superb as the books were extremely well protected – shrink wrapped inside a second tent-like shrink wrap – inside the box. The book is something we’ll keep on our coffee tables and treasure for years to come.
Of course we at Inkubook are pleased that Mike and his classmates are pleased, and we’re happy to have found a new book idea. The next time you’re getting a group of old friends together, whether it’s classmates, sorority or fraternity groups, or former co-workers, consider memorializing the event with a photo book.
*Mike Johnson is the author of three meticulously researched historical novels set during World War II, the Korean War and the lowering of the Iron Curtain: Warrior Priest, Fate of the Warriors, and God’s Perfect Scar.
Have you ever looked at someone’s vacation photos and thought, “Wow, I never would have thought of taking a trip like that, but now I want to!”? Well, that’s exactly what I thought when Michael Rogers’s Road Trip 2008 book first caught our attention. I’m all about road trips because if I’m going to spend as much time getting to the airport, waiting there, flying, and getting out of the airport as I could spend just driving somewhere, I’m better off going by car and seeing what I want to see. But I’ve never taken a trip with the specific purpose of seeing many sites along the way, and that’s why I like Michael’s photo book. I now see that perhaps I’ve been missing out. So I decided to ask Michael a few questions.
A spread of Yellowstone National Park from Road Trip 2008.
Tell me a little about your 2008 trip.
I traveled for almost two weeks. I started in Northern Kentucky and traveled to Roosevelt National Park, Glacier National Park, Museum of the Rockies, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons National Park, Devils Tower National Monument, Jewel Cave National Park, Crazy Horse Monument, Mount Rushmore National Monument, and The Badlands. I made this trip by myself after being laid off from work. Before I started I decided [this time] would be a great opportunity to go to all of these places that I may not have a chance to take enough time off to visit…after starting a new job. I hadn’t planned on making this a yearly trip but after going this year I’m hoping to be able to make a similar trip next year.
How long have you been a photographer?
I have been playing around with photography for a couple of years. Last year I decided to get a little more serious and purchased a dSLR camera and have purchased some additional lenses when I have some extra money. I’ve had a lot of fun learning how to use the camera and finding things to take pictures of. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable at this point but I’m not an expert.
Was there a particular stop on your trip that was your favorite?
Glacier National Park was my favorite place on the entire trip. You could get up in the morning, hike all day, and not end up with a bad picture. You didn’t have to wait until the “Magic Hours” of dusk and dawn to get spectacular photos. The beauty of the park was just unreal.
One of Michael’s favorite stops was at Glacier National Park, shown here.
Did you make your Inkubook for yourself or as a gift for someone else?
I made the book mostly to be able to show my friends the pictures from my trip. I had taken almost 1500 pictures on my trip and had them in an online album, but they weren’t organized very well. It was hard to tell people about them since they often looked at them on their own computer when I wasn’t around.
Have you made other photo books or was this your first?
This is my first. I’m sure I’ll make more. It was a great way to keep a record of the places I went and organize my photos in a permanent way.
Swatches from the Road Trip collection.
I’d like to give Michael a heartfelt thanks for sharing his book with us. It’s certainly given me a hankering for the open road. If you’re getting ready to set out on America’s highways and byways, consider making a photo book at the end of your journey. You can even use our new collection of Road Trip backgrounds.
Among the many book ideas that we suggest on our site, one of our favorites is the Kid’s Art Gallery idea. It’s really hard to part with the many pieces of artwork that are generated both at school and at home, but it’s also really hard to find space to display or store them all. A photo book offers an excellent solution for this dilemma.
Artwork by Nathan McQuillan
We interviewed Matt McQuillan, who put his son Nathan’s artwork into a portfolio book. (We were so tickled with Nathan’s work that you might have noticed it sprinkled throughout the site.) Here’s what Matt had to say about his project:
Q: What was your inspiration for making the book?
A: Nathan has always been interested in displaying his artwork for everyone to enjoy. When I found the portfolio book idea at Inkubook, the idea just made sense for his art. I thought it would be fun to put together his portfolio and wait to surprise him as he has always tried to make his own books with staples and tape.
Q: Is Nathan a prolific artist? Are most of his works done at school or at home?
A: Nathan has been artistic since he was very little. He would astound us with his ability to draw decent reproductions while his friends could only scribble lines. In his seven years, he has probably gone through about twenty or more reams of paper. Nathan gets a lot of artistic talent from both sides of the family (though it skipped his parents) and has taken some art classes. Most of his art work has been done at home when he gets in the mood to draw. When he is in that mood, it is best not to bother him too much.
Q: What was Nathan’s reaction to the book?
A: Since I created the book as a surprise for him, I wasn’t sure how he would react. When I brought the book home for the first time, I pulled it out of my bag and asked him if he’d like to see something I’d made. I don’t think he immediately recognized the front cover picture, but as soon as he saw his photo on the first page he thought it was the most amazing thing. It took him about five seconds to ask if he could make more and how much he could sell them for to his friends. I did get a little grief from him about picking pictures he drew when he “was just a little kid.”
Nathan with his book.
Q: Do you think this will be a multi-volume set?
We have been going through all of the kids’ artwork and are in the process of making this the permanent archive for the art instead of keeping a box that sits in a closet. Nathan has already made it clear that he needs more editorial involvement with the next volume.
The Inkubook staff can’t wait to see the next installment of Master McQuillan’s art. If you have a little budding Jackson Pollock or Mary Cassatt, it’s never too early to start a portfolio. With the free book promotion that Inkubook is currently offering, it’s the perfect time to get started!
We interviewed Inkubook member and professional photographer Casey Jo to find out the inspiration behind the gorgeous book she made of her recent trip to Italy, as well as how she made her book’s layered cover photo (pictured at right).
Q. What was the inspiration for “Sogno dell’Italia”? A. I have always had a connection to Italy. It is a place full of inspiration when creating photographs. My favorite time to shoot is at sunrise, when a city is just starting to come to life. I find the soul of the city at this time, when the footprints of life can still be seen from the night before; it is at this time I capture my best shots. However, that doesn’t keep me from wandering through the busiest markets and watching the bustle of the people and the harmony of the city come together as the day moves forward.
Q. How did you make the layered image for this book’s cover? A. Using Adobe Photoshop I created a blank document to give my photo a background. After copy and pasting the photo to the background, I select the “Rectangle Marquee Tool” and created a rectangle in the middle of my photo. I then clicked “Select” and “Inverse” (this will allow you to adjust the outside area of the rectangle). Under “Layer” select “New Adjustment Layer” and using the “Channel Mixer Options” turn the outside of the photo to black and white leaving the inside color. At this point, you can leave it as is or take it a step further and click on your new layer to give the color box a border.
Q. Why did you make a photo book of this trip? A. I decided to participate in a gallery show, and wanted attendees to see all of the photos I took, not just the few on display. I wanted a professional quality book that didn’t take a long time to produce. Having used Inkubook before, I knew I’d be happy with the quality and that my book would arrive before my show’s opening. Several people asked to buy the book on opening night even though it wasn’t for sale!
Q. How long have you been a photographer? A. Since I got my first camera when I was a kid. Professionally for 6 years. I received my BA in Fine Arts from Herron School of Art in 2002. Aside from photography, I also paint, teach and show my work at galleries around Indianapolis.
Q. What do you photograph and what is your web address? A. Most of my photography clients are from Indianapolis and the surrounding areas, as that’s where I live. However I have traveled for weddings and press junkets. I take a Fine Art approach to my work and enjoy photographing weddings, portraits and dogs, but the majority of my work is the more artistic side of the camera. My website is www.photosbycaseyjo.com.
Prior to launching Inkubook, we held a contest for our friends and family to give them the chance to come and check out the site and provide us with feedback. Our second-place winner Brian B. is an event producer in Indianapolis. His book was a commemorative of his daughter Emerson’s first 26 months and excelled in aesthetics and creativity. We took a few minutes to chat with Brian and get his thoughts behind the book and his inspiration.
Q. Tell us about the book. A. The book is 26 pages featuring one page for each of the months my daughter has been alive. Each page uses a photo from that month of her life. Page one is the first day of her life with the song title “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes. On page two she is two months and so forth. A calendar across the bottom of the page identifies the month. Each page then has a caption that matches the photo that also happens to be a song title. I made an accompanying CD with each of the songs.
Q. Did you use any tools outside of Inkubook in the creation process? A. I did. I used Photoshop to make the calendar banner across each photo and to place the text. Inkubook offers text, but doesn’t yet offer the font that I always use when I make something about my daughter. I call it “her” font. I then uploaded each of the images to my book and chose the full-page full-bleed template.
Q. What was your inspiration for this book? A. It was my mother’s birthday and she doesn’t live close, so she doesn’t often get to see my daughter. I felt this was the perfect way for her to “be there” for all the stages she missed. My mom is sappy and very much into photos of her grandkids and into music, so I thought the combination would be a slam dunk.
Q. And was it? A. It was. She cried and cried the day it came. She called the entire family to tell them about the book and CD. I’m probably going to have to order a second copy, as she will wear it out.
Q. Will you make another book? A. Christmas is just around the corner…
Book For Grandma Sherri
Designed & Built by Brian B.
Holiday season 2008 is in the near distant past, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start thinking about what kind of special gift you might make for someone in 2009. In case you haven’t already thought about taking all your old traditional photos and putting them into a photo book, or in case you think it would be too difficult, it might be time for you to think about it a little more. Inkubook member Dick Fey made three books for his children and wrote us to say how pleased he was with them, so we asked Dick if he’d let us tell everyone a little about his experiences with Inkubook.
