Avotius
Some guy
Over the last few years I get more and more pokes telling me I need to do my own photo book.
I am not totally adverse to the idea but I dont know the first thing about doing something like that. What I do have however is 7 years worth of photos taken around China, mostly in areas outsiders overlook.
I do know that if I want to do a book I need to first come up with a concept and a general plan and layout of the book including sorting out which images I want to use that are appropriate to my concept.
What I dont quite understand as I look into the whole book making process is the part about printing and publishing. These will be some really noob questions so go easy on me.
1. Obviously if I want to find a publisher I need to find one that has a history of turning out photo books with subjects of interest similar to my concept. My old professor said I need to seriously look towards the top at Phaidon or National Geographic to publish my book. I have looked at some publisher websites and they have areas where you can submit books for consideration. I have also read they rarely ever accept a book like this and that is is better to get in contact with them while developing your book to get a kind of relationship with them before dropping the book on them out of the blue. Does this sound right? Any advice?
2. My wife (who is Chinese) says I should look into a Chinese publisher to release my book. It is much easier, she even is coming up with a book to submit to a publisher about our life together. The thing that makes me apprehensive about that is that they offer very little money (although I don't think a foreign publisher would be any better) also I am thinking about location and my audience. I have always thought of my photo audience to be people outside of China, and I figured that it would be better to release a book outside of China where there would possibly be more interest.
3. When it comes to printing the book. I seem to see a lot of Chinese publishers want it make with Adobe InDesign. Fair enough. Same outside of China? Also when it comes to actually printing the book, who usually pays for such things?
4. I have seen a lot of people self publishing books. This doesnt seem to be the right way to go for me. One because I dont have the capital to do it, but also because if I am going to make a book I would like to see a copy or two sell. Naturally I understand I am not going to be making any money really on this book so I am not delusional that I will make a book, get it published by some publisher and make 50,000 dollars on it by next week. Anyway....why are people self publishing photos books and what is the advantage of this?
5. I reserve the right to leave this space empty and stick another question in because I am sure something else will come up.
I am not totally adverse to the idea but I dont know the first thing about doing something like that. What I do have however is 7 years worth of photos taken around China, mostly in areas outsiders overlook.
I do know that if I want to do a book I need to first come up with a concept and a general plan and layout of the book including sorting out which images I want to use that are appropriate to my concept.
What I dont quite understand as I look into the whole book making process is the part about printing and publishing. These will be some really noob questions so go easy on me.
1. Obviously if I want to find a publisher I need to find one that has a history of turning out photo books with subjects of interest similar to my concept. My old professor said I need to seriously look towards the top at Phaidon or National Geographic to publish my book. I have looked at some publisher websites and they have areas where you can submit books for consideration. I have also read they rarely ever accept a book like this and that is is better to get in contact with them while developing your book to get a kind of relationship with them before dropping the book on them out of the blue. Does this sound right? Any advice?
2. My wife (who is Chinese) says I should look into a Chinese publisher to release my book. It is much easier, she even is coming up with a book to submit to a publisher about our life together. The thing that makes me apprehensive about that is that they offer very little money (although I don't think a foreign publisher would be any better) also I am thinking about location and my audience. I have always thought of my photo audience to be people outside of China, and I figured that it would be better to release a book outside of China where there would possibly be more interest.
3. When it comes to printing the book. I seem to see a lot of Chinese publishers want it make with Adobe InDesign. Fair enough. Same outside of China? Also when it comes to actually printing the book, who usually pays for such things?
4. I have seen a lot of people self publishing books. This doesnt seem to be the right way to go for me. One because I dont have the capital to do it, but also because if I am going to make a book I would like to see a copy or two sell. Naturally I understand I am not going to be making any money really on this book so I am not delusional that I will make a book, get it published by some publisher and make 50,000 dollars on it by next week. Anyway....why are people self publishing photos books and what is the advantage of this?
5. I reserve the right to leave this space empty and stick another question in because I am sure something else will come up.
