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edie Jul 10, 2009

Has anyone here used Shutterfly to make a photo book? I 've done several of them through Kodak but after upgrading to IE 8 I can no longer upload on the Kodak site so went looking for other options and by what I've found there are a LOT of online companies offering photo books and many of them have way more options for making a professional looking book than Kodak does! I like the look of the Shutterfly ones and especially the fact that you can have a title on the spine of the book - how cool and professional is that! I don't know a thing about the company though ( I think they are based out of California) so just wondered if anyone else has used them and what you think of them????

Nancy D Jul 10, 2009

I made a really nice book on Snapfish. I don't know if they do the title on the spine though. I took awhile to pick out backgrounds and arrange photos but I was very pleased with the end product.

thumperantiques Jul 11, 2009

Edie,
     I've not heard of that one.  My niece did a few that turned out well on Snapfish, I believe.  I've only done them on a Mac - it's the only thing I like about my Mac.  The program is on the computer already.

                                                           hugs,

                                                           Brenda

edie Jul 11, 2009

Brenda said

I've only done them on a Mac - it's the only thing I like about my Mac.  The program is on the computer already.

That's interesting, Brenda. But where do you get it printed and bound then????

I ended up downloading software from "Photobooks Canada" and can now make up my book however I want it on my computer and then when it is finished I send it to them and they make it up. The best part is they take PayPal, and they have a sale on right now at 40% off - as long as I get it done by the end of the month!
It's a lot more complicated than the ones I did on Kodak, but it also gives you a lot more options and freedom to have the photos and text where you want them.

thumperantiques Jul 11, 2009

Edie,
     Sorry about the confusion.  On a Mac, when you click on their photo program, "iphoto", you get three icons in with the editing stuff, - book, calendar, cards.  Once you click on the icon you want, the whole program comes up, with all the choices for colour, design and layout etc.  You can play with your pictures and save the book, until you are ready to upload it to the apple website.  Then they print it off for you and send it in the mail.   I liked that you could save it and work on it a bit at time, as I ended up changing my mind about things, partway through the book.  I spent days dabbling with the layout etc. - I would have been panicked if I had had to do it in one go.  I did two books on our trip to Disney, last year - one for us and one for our daughter and grandson.  We will probably take Corson again, next year.  I think the books are a fabulous way to remember special occasions - Corson looooves to look at it.  As for the cost, it's not really any more than printing out all 135 photos I used and then buying a photo album.  I just went and checked and it does have the title on the spine - never looked before LOL!  They have a dust jacket as well - it looks like a professionally published book. 

                                                                               hugs,

                                                                               Brenda

Tami E Jul 12, 2009

Love it! My son wrote this book for me using shutterfly last summer. It was very easy to use.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welc … XLluzYsWH4

SueAnn Help Advisor, Banner SponsorJul 12, 2009

Way cool, Tami!

Marlys Jul 13, 2009

Tami, what a great book made by your son. He's done a wonderful job of putting things together and making it interesting...not to mention what a sweet idea it was to showcase his mom. He's going to be a photo-journalist or a publisher when he grows up. :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Tami E Jul 13, 2009

Thanks Sue Ann and Marlys.
Edie, the quality of the books is very nice. I also use shutterfly to make notecards with my bear on them, and whenever I need prints made. I have never been diappointed.

edie Jul 14, 2009

Wow, that book is fabulous, Tami - what a great job your son did! I actually got as far as uploading all my doll photos to Shutterfly and then I found another site here in Canada that I decided to try instead - I think it is a bit more complex than Shutterfly seemed but so far I am managing okay - still working on the book.

I think I'll order the 25 free prints I get for registering with Shutterfly and then maybe I'll give them a try for my next book - still want to do one on my antique bear collection once I get the doll one completed.

binglebears Jul 14, 2009

I LOVE your son's book, Tami!  How WONDERFUL!

Warmly,
Cheryl