Publishing photo books now easier than ever

Author Heather Graulich explains in her new article featured on the NPPA website that it is easier than ever for a photographer to publish their own book. Before photo books were thought of coffee table accessories from famous photographers. Now anyone has the ability to publish their own photo book by uploading photos online, adding in captions and checking the mail a week later to see a poorly made scrapbook of memories.

 But Graulich explains that now professional photographers can easily produce their own pro-quality book to help them with their brand. She explains "But for the majority of professional photographers today, publishing books of their work is no longer a lifelong career dream most won’t reach – it’s a very real, active part of how they publicize their brand; yet another important tool in marketing themselves in an increasingly freelance-based industry."

With funding available through donation sites such as Kickstarter and Emphas.is, photographers can receive help with monetary costs as well.

Matt Eich, pictured left, is a Norfolk, Va. photographer that recently published his photo book Carry Me Ohio. The book was well received, winning a people’s choice award in Blurb’s Photography Book Now competition.

Eich spent $5,000 on editing and printing costs for a 100-book digital press run with Edition One – a cost of $50 per book. He decided to price the book at $85 in order to recoup his costs and be able to keep a few of his books. He listed the books for sale on his blog – and sold 75 of them literally overnight.