We've been getting a lot of questions about our albums lately, and while I was hoping to save the full explanation for a JPG Photography Web site redesign, (which should be coming quite soon), I think it's important to take care of some answers now.
I think the biggest confusion is visualizing a professional wedding album. These are NOT your parent's wedding albums. They use the latest digital printing and design technology to create a magazine-style design on archival materials.
First of all, JPG Photography does not do its albums ourselves, locally or through Pictage. Many of our clients may notice that Pictage, which hosts your wedding images, creates their own albums, and may offer you to make their own. These albums on Pictage are good quality, and long lasting, but they're not top of the line, in our opinion.
My wife, Rebecca, is also a long-time Creative Memories scrapbooker. She didn't understand spending hundreds of dollars on albums until she saw the ones we use now. Now she completely understands why they're sooo expensive. But top of the line costs money.
The company we've found -- and we've looked around the world -- which offers the best product, for the most reasonable price, is Laguna, a California-based company. They're Web site is www.albumdesigners.com.
They print on the Durst Lambda, the Rolls Royce of digital laser imagers.
We have had a perfect two-plus year relationship with them, and we've only had one bad album. When we told them about the smudges on the cover, they replaced the ENTIRE book for free. This is a company that doesn't skimp on with quality.
Now, let me explain some of the differences between these and self-publishing houses:
1. These cover are several millimeters thick, as are the pages they print on. The cover is leather, or something elegant based on your preferences. They offer cover styles, cover colors, page edge colors and imprinting. ((The cover is twice the thickness of this dime. The pages are thicker too!))
2. The book feels good in your hand. It has weight to it. It's going to last!
3. The designs are spectacular. You can check out some of designs on their Web site, but you can see some below from a recent couple, Beth & Nate. I want to thank them for being awesome, oh and congrats because we recently found out they're pregnant with their first child!
If you have any questions, always feel free to ask, but as you can see, we go with the best. And we swear by them so much, Rebecca and I had OUR WEDDING ALBUM printed by them too!
Best,
Joe
