Blurb Photobooks – Review

In the age of the digital photo, many of our snapshots are conveniently stored on our C: drives, but the amount that actually get printed are few and far between.  At least that’s how it is in our house.  It’s a shame, too.  Shooting with a digital camera allows us to capture the exact image we want with the ability to re-take the scene when a person blinks, if someone is not smiling, or even when the camera angle makes us look fat.  I wish we made more of a point to print our favorite photographs, but then again we only have so many picture frames available to display them.  This is why I love Blurb.

Blurb allows you to design your very own book, whether it be a wedding storybook, a baby book, an exciting vacation or a cookbook featuring your favorite recipes.  Whatever kind of book you want is what you’ll get, because you are the designer.  Using their Booksmart bookmaking software, you decide between many layout and design options along with the photographs and text you’re using.  Once you’ve completed your book, Blurb handles the rest by printing your bookstore quality book and mailing it right to your door.

There are many sizing options for your book.  For mine I chose the Standard Portrait 8×10 inches.  Now what kind of book to make?

My husband and I honeymooned in Kauai, HI almost five years ago (our first and only vacation). The scenery was breathtaking, and the images we captured while there are pretty amazing.   But then again, it is kind of difficult to get a bad photo in Kauai.  We don’t even have one printed photo of our only vacation, so I figured this would be a great way to reminisce. I made a 20-page book using some of our favorites, but I could have used a few more.  The book is very professional looking and even allows you to write a foreword, include your copyright, etc.  I paid a little out of pocket for one of the available options, which allows you to skip the dustjacket and have my cover layout printed right onto the book cover.  My only disappointment is that the image, which is a photograph of a wall by the airport that reads, “Aloha, Welcome to Kaua’i” was cropped in a way that cut off the ‘i’. Otherwise, I’m quite pleased with the quality of the book.

A Blurb book would make a lovely gift for Valentine’s Day, so go on over to Blurb and make your own book!

No compensation was received for this review post.  I received a gift code from Blurb to make a book, and I’ve offered my honest opinion above.  Yours may differ.