ku # 531 ~ another dilema

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embiggenI received my Shutterfly-printed Shore Light ~ Book One yesterday. In a display of rather immodest self aggrandizement, I must say that it's rather impressive and a real page turner.

Now that I have seen the excellent quality of the book - paper, color, binding and cover materials - I will now proceed to order a printed Book Two. Shutterfly has always been my first choice for what I refer to as my proof books. Their prices are very reasonable so I can sort of bang out a first-look copy of a book just to see what it looks like before I go ahead and order a "deluxe" finished book from SharedInk (outstanding quality, more expensive).

However, this time around my proof books are not so reasonable in cost - just under $400 for the 2 books, not including shipping. The books are 12×12 with leather covers (I'd prefer linen but that option seems to have disappeared). Book One has 100 pages (the highest number that Shutterfly offers in a single book), Book Two has 86 pages. The high page count is due to the fact that each 2-page spread only has 1 photo (on the righthand page), hence 2 pages for every 1 photo.

Cost-wise this is a very extravagant way to go but I really like not having "competing" pictures on a spread. That way, each spread of 1 photo has the viewer's complete attention, in much the same way as viewing a single print on a gallery wall. And, as one turns the page, each spread / picture becomes a brand new experience, again, just like moving from print to print in a gallery exhibition.

That said, my intent with these books is to offer them as a signed limited edition set together with 1 signed limited edition print - a 17×17 inch image on 24×24 inch paper. Edition numbers are limited to 25 books and 5 prints per image.

I had wanted to have the in-gallery price for a book set + print to be $1,200. However, with a 2 book set, that doesn't look to be feasible. Guess I have to give this some more thought.

Comments

[Mauro]

Hello,
some considerations.

1) I do no see the point in associating a full print. It induces the buyer to make dangerous confrontations. I assume that the buyer will hardly have a consciousness about format and size impact.

2) If you plan to sell it via galleries you have to consider a dual print, one (or more) for display one for selling. That could higher the cost sensibly. Also consider that you will have to allow for a large profit upon each copy sold. Maybe it is even better to not publish a price at all but formulate a mere minimum reserved for the gallery.

If instead you plan to sell it by your own site you need also to produce a pdf version. The actual online version is a bit poor as a presentation for a 2000$ 2books set.

btw: you must also take into account the cost of a case.