How to Make Professional Photo Books ~ Photography Shared

How to Make Professional Photo Books

A photo book is an interesting way to show off memories. Photo books differ from traditional photo albums in that the photographs are printed on the pages rather than being printed and then placed in an album. With a photo book you can add captions and decorative borders to personalize your book. You can also turn your photo book into a story book for young children or just as a keepsake for yourself or loved ones.

Instructions

Go to Shutterfly.com, Snapfish.com, and Ofoto.com and browse through the different options they offer.

Compare the prices and customization options for each website to find out which one best suits your needs.

Choose one of the websites and you're ready to begin.

Go to Shutterfly.com and click on "Photo Books" at the top of the screen. Scroll down the page about halfway and click "Go to simple path" or "Go to custom path."

Using the simple path you can choose from more than 20 styles with preset backgrounds and layouts, easily edit your pictures and captions and showcase one to four pictures per page.

Using the custom path you can choose from an extensive collection of backgrounds and layouts, easily arrange pictures and text and showcase one to sixteen pictures per page.

Choose the size of the book you want to create. Click "Add pictures" and "Get pictures" if you're using the simple path. Choose which photos you want to add to your book and upload them, then click "Add to photo book."

If you're using the custom path, choose the size of your book then click "Get Started" on the right-hand side of the page. Choose the style, pages and cover you want by clicking through the tabs at the top of the screen and the options on the left of the screen. Toward the bottom of the screen, choose your text font, size, color and photo edge style. When you're done click "Next."

Click "Arrange pictures" if you're using the simple path and it will tell you how to arrange them. Arrange images as you wish by clicking them and dragging them to where you want them in your book. To remove a photo, click it and drag it to the bottom of the screen. Click on the text areas on each page to add captions. When you're finished, click "Done" at the top left corner.

If you're using the custom path, select the layouts, backgrounds and edges you want for each page. When you're done, click "Get pictures" toward the bottom of the screen to add images to your book. Choose the images you want to use and click "Add to photobook" in the top right corner of the screen. Select your pictures from the bottom of the screen and drag them up into your book. Enter text if you wish. To move to the next page click the right arrow at the top of the screen. When you're satisfied click "Next" at the top right corner of the screen. Choose your back cover image and add text then click "Next." Name your book, save and click "Order" at the top right corner of the screen.

Go to Snapfish.com and click on "Photo books" under the Shop Our Store menu in the middle of the screen. Scroll through the options, choose one and click "Get started."

Look through the different designs and select the one you like. You can narrow the results by checking the boxes on the left side. Decide whether you want a soft cover or hard cover book and choose the cover material and color.

Click "Get photos" on the right-hand side. Click "Select photos" and upload the photos you want to use. You will be asked if you want your images to be auto-filled into your book. Choose "Yes" or "No."

Go through the pages by clicking the right arrow in the middle of the screen. Change the layouts, backgrounds and photo borders for each page by clicking the tabs at the bottom of the screen and searching through the options. Click and drag the layouts, backgrounds or borders to the pages you want them on.

Preview your book by clicking the "Preview" button at the top of the screen. If you're satisfied, click "Order photo book" in the bottom right corner. If you're not, click "Close" and continue editing. Check the "Yes I have reviewed my photo book box" and click "Add to order."

Go to Ofoto.com and click "Photo books" at the top of the screen, then click the red "Shop photo books" button at the top of the screen. Select the book you want to use, choose the cover color and click "Select page designs."

Browse through the page designs at the bottom of the screen and click the one you like. When you're finished click "Get started" at the right of the screen.

Click on the "Click here to get photos" link at the top of the screen and then click "Upload photos" at the top left of the window that opens. Name your album, click "Browse," choose your photos and click "Upload." Drag the images you want to use to the panel on the right and click "Continue."

Select the image you want to use from the top of the screen and drag it onto the page. If you want to add text to the pages, click the text areas and type desired text. Click "Done" when you're finished. Scroll through and edit the pages using the arrows at the bottom of the screen. Click "Arrange photos" at the bottom of the screen to switch pages or photos around. Use the click and drag method to move things around.

Click "Preview book" at the bottom of the screen. If you want to change your book, click "Edit book" at the top right corner of the screen. If you're finished, click "Add to cart" at the top right corner of the screen.