Photo Productions – Wedding Album & Special Occasion Photobooks

All digital cameras sold today meet that standard (even compact cameras), but if you bought your camera before 2007, or it's not at its maximum setting, please check:

5 megapixels is the minimum setting that the photos must have been taken with.
We also recommend photos are the folllowing sizes to obtain the best quality albums:

8x10" and 8x12" Photobooks: Minimum file size of 500kb per photo (0.5 megabyte)

10x12" and 10x15" Photobooks: Minimum file size of 1000kb per photo (1 megabyte)

12x15" and 15x18" Photobooks: Minimum file size of 1500kb per photo (1.5 megabytes)

File format: All photos must be in standard Jpeg (jpg) or Gif formats. We do not advise manually scanned photos unless they are a high quality when you zoom in, and we do not recommend using photos taken with mobile phones.

File size tip: to check the above details right click on a photo on your computer (or ctrl+click on a Mac) and go to Properties. You can also check the 'details' view in My Computer/Windows Explorer.

Safari users tip: If you encounter any problems with Safari we'd suggest Firefox or Chrome browsers.

We produce the highest quality professional Photobooks. Please note that we cannot be held responsible if the photos you send us do not meet the above guidelines.

What options are available during the order process?

Once your photos have been uploaded it's a quick and easy process to place the order. The step-by-step order options are:

Choice of portrait or landscape Premium Photobooks
Choice of eight different sizes – order any number, in any size, within the same order
Choice of three different styles of design layout
Choose between 10 pages (20 sides) and 25 pages (50 sides)
Personalise your Photobook with a title, and choose from a range of typefaces.
Optional drag and drop timeline to arrange your photos into a certain order.
Option to choose which photos are to be most prominent.
After ordering - approval of design: all customers can view their design online when it's ready. Approve it for printing or request changes. See FAQ below for more info.
Additional options for trade accounts: add your own logo, choose which photos are to be large, medium or small when we design, or supply your own design.

Do you offer Parent Books and Pocket Books?

We certainly do! Brand new for 2012 - our Parent Book albums are the perfect size for parents, grandparents and the most important family members. We also offer beautiful little Pocket Book albums - perfect for the handbag and to give out to friends and family.

Uniquely, our Pocket Books and Parent Books are the same premium quality as our larger Photobooks - printed on photographic paper with identical hard covers.

The design will be taken from your larger albums and reduced to fit. Pocket and Parent Books can only be ordered in conjunction with any larger album(s), and will have the same number of pages.

Sizes and prices can be found on the Options and Prices page, or Trade Prices page for Professional Photographers.

(Notes: Pocket and Parent Books will vary by 1", as size depends on the ratio to your largest album. Pages are semi-rigid rather than rigid to better suit the size of album.)

How many photos can I include in my Photobook(s)?

The order process allows an overall average of between one and six photos per page (excluding front and back cover).

E.g. A 10 page album can have between 10 and 60 photos; a 20 page album 20 to 120 photos, etc.

For smaller albums an average of three to four photos per page produces the most optimal design.

How do I know I can trust you to do a great job?

We understand that ordering your most important albums over the internet might make you apprehensive. So let's put your mind at rest: we've been supplying professional Photobooks to both the public and photographers since 2008; we've been written about in various high-profile magazines and newspapers; we're a fully registered company based in North West London, run by lovely people who truly believe in great customer service, so feel free to email or call us for a chat. And most important of all, we have a 100% satisfaction rate - although perhaps that should be called 'over the moon rate' considering the fantastic emails we get after our customers receive their albums. Just check out our Testimonials page for a small selection!

How do I upload photos, how long does it take, and what if the upload is interrupted?

It's extremely easy to upload your photos. Once you've signed in click on 'Get Started', then 'Click here to upload'. Select the photos from your computer and you're away!

We use secure computers with fast connections to receive and store your photos. Upload time will depend on your internet speed, and the number and size of photos that you're uploading.

It can take anything from a few minutes to a couple of hours to complete the upload. Our intelligent system stores each photo straight after it's uploaded, so even if you lose your connection you won't have to re-upload any photos that were previously sent. There's also a reliable progress bar to show what percentage of the upload has been completed.

Note: you can continue to use your computer and browse the internet whilst the photos are uploading, or even go away and come back when the upload is finished.

What is the difference between Landscape and Portrait?

How do I get a 10% discount on subsequent Photobooks?

Everyone receives a 10% discount when purchasing additional Photobooks in the same order. The largest Photobook will be at regular price, then every one of equal or lesser value will automatically receive the 10% discount.

You can order extra copies - and get the 10% discount - at any time between placing the original order and approving the design for print. You'll find a 'Order More Copies' button on your Order History page, and when you click 'Approve' you will also be given a final chance to order extra copies.

Note for Photographers: This is in addition to any trade discount you may be receiving.

What is the design and delivery time?

Your Photobook design will be uploaded by our professional graphic designers within 5 working days from date of order. Any changes that you request will also be uploaded within 5 working days of request. Delivery of your Photobook(s) is a maximum of 15 working days from when you approve your design.

Orders are inspected, carefully packed, then despatched via signed courier (usually UPS) on next day delivery service. You will receive an email when your order has been sent. Please note that someone will need to be at the delivery address to sign for it.

The proofing process: how do I check my Photobook design before printing?

We give everyone the opportunity to view their design once our graphic designers have completed it. An email will be sent directing you to your account when it's ready. The great majority of our customers are happy with the first design, and simply click 'approve for print'. However it's easy to request changes should you want any...

Requesting changes: Every photo within the design will be individually, temporarily numbered at this stage, allowing you to specify exactly which photos you'd like amended. A comprehensive list of amendments is available to choose from – the most basic of which are free, with the remainder costing a nominal £1 each. This re-design and approval process can be repeated as many times as necessary until you are completely happy with the design.

Do I need to install anything on my computer?

No, you do not need to install anything - our easy upload facility and simple order process is completely web-based. We support Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari and Chrome.

We expect to support iOS and Android in the near future. We also advise against using IE 6 as it is known to have security issues.

We have also heard of the occassional issue with uploading photos through Safari, although for most people it appears to work fine. If you are having trouble we'd advise trying Firefox.

What happens to my photos and will they be safe?

When uploading photos you're not sending the originals from your computer - instead our website creates identical digital copies. It is impossible for our website to change or delete the originals on your computer.

Once you've uploaded photos they are completely secure - they can only be viewed by you, or anyone you choose to share them with.

How long are my photos stored on your web site?

To give you plenty of time for re-orders your photos will usually be stored on our website for one year, although we cannot guarantee this time period. Please do not rely on our website as the sole storage space for your photos. We recommend that you always keep the originals on your own computer.

What Methods of payment do you accept, and how secure is the transaction?

We accept Amex, Visa, Visa Electron, Visa Debit, MasterCard, and Maestro. Our payment processing is handled online by Sagepay, the UK's largest payment processor, using a secure, encrypted server. Both Sagepay and this website are fully compliant with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards.

Work begins on your Photobooks soon after the order is placed, so full payment is taken at time of order.

How much do the larger Photobooks weigh?

Our Photobooks are sturdy products - they are hard bound with rigid inside pages. This gives a premium look and feel, and means the largest Photobooks are weighty products.

Approximate weights of largest Photobooks (excluding presentation box):

12" x 15": 10 pages = 3kg; 25 pages = 5.8kg

12" x 18": 10 pages = 3.5kg; 25 pages = 6.5kg

How can I check the status of my order?

Go to the Order Details page and select the order to see its status.

Can I make a repeat order of a previously ordered Photobook?

Yes. You can re-order a Photobook of the same design without having to go through the entire order process again. This can be done from the Order Details page.

Can the Photobooks be sent internationally?

Yes we ship internationally using DHL 3 day service, and you can order as normal through the website. In fact if you live outside the EU (or you’re a VAT registered EU business), we can refund the 20% VAT charge. Our website is currently automated for free UK delivery only, so please contact us to find out the shipping cost to your country.

20% off for customers living outside the European Union:
After ordering we will refund the 20% VAT charge back onto the card that you used for payment.

VAT-registered photography businesses within the EU (non UK):
We are permitted to refund the VAT if you supply us with your VAT number. If you email this to us after your order, quoting your order reference, we will refund the 20% VAT back onto the card that you paid with.

Please note: it is possible that you will be charged import tax (which we cannot refund), although in our experience this does not often happen.

Can I have the Photobooks sent to an address other than my billing address?

Yes. Please ensure that the correct delivery address is written in the delivery options when you place an order.

What Guarantee is provided on my Photobooks?

In the unlikely event of defects in the design, printing or workmanship, we will repair or replace the relevant product. This guarantee extends for a period of one year from the date of delivery.

What if an order arrives damaged or does not arrive?

All goods are Quality Controlled prior to despatch. Your order is inspected and then packed carefully. When your Photobooks arrive please inspect them for visible damage before signing for them. If goods arrive damaged you must retain all packaging and notify us immediately.

Please check your Order History page within your account for despatch date. If an order does not arrive within 3 days of despatch please contact us.

Can I cancel or make any changes once an order has been placed?

Our graphic designers start work on your order soon after receiving it, so please ensure everything is correct before payment. To change an order such as different sizes, different photos etc. it would need to be cancelled then re-ordered.

We have made our cancellation charges as fair as possible to reflect work completed:

Within 12 hrs of placing an order: 85% of your payment refunded.
From 12 hrs after ordering up to your approval of design: 50% of your payment refunded.
After your approval of design: no refund.

How to cancel: please email cancellations@photoproductions.com (For refund purposes the time your email is sent will be taken as the time of cancellation.)

Can people viewing my shared photos order their own products, and can they edit or delete my photos?

We give you the option to share your online photos with other people. They will only be able to view the photos that you invited them to see. They cannot edit or delete anything. They can however order a Photobook for themselves from the photos that you have invited them to see.

How do I change my email address or user details?

Simply sign into your account and go to the My Details page under My Account, where you can change any details.

Do you put your logo on the Photobooks?

Unless you have a trade account, the Photo Productions logo will be in a discrete position on the inside back cover of all the Photobooks that we produce. If you would like this removed you can email us once you've placed your order, to orders@photoproductions.com, quoting your name and order reference. (Note for trade accounts – you are given an additional option during the order process to replace our logo with your own.)

What happens to the design if I'm ordering different ratio Photobooks within the same order?

To save you proofing time our graphic designers will upload one design per order. When you've approved that design (after either requesting changes or not) some photos will, if necessary, be made slightly smaller or larger to best accommodate the other ratio Photobooks. Please note: you will not see this separate design until you receive your Photobooks, but rest assured that our experienced designers will ensure all designs within one order are virtually identical.

How do I take care of my Photobooks?

Our Premium Photobooks are sturdy products. Like any book they must be treated with respect to keep them in optimum condition. We advise the following:

Open on a flat surface - bending back the cover could potentially damage the spine
Front and back covers are scratch resistant but not scratch proof, so take care near sharp objects
When not in use store your Photobooks closed, and preferably flat, to reduce pressure on the spine
Photobooks are not water-proof, so please take care near liquids
Photographs may fade over time if left in direct sunlight
When taking Photobooks outside use the box to protect them from the elements.

I have forgotten my password.

Click the 'Forgotten password?' link on the Sign-In box to reset your password.

How do I close my account?

Please send an email to admin@photoproductions.com - we will close your account and remove your photos from our website

Additional FAQ Answers for Professional Photographers (Trade)

How do I open a trade account and get trade prices?

Sign up as normal, making sure you tick the box that says 'create a business acount'. You will be able to use the site fully and place orders at standard (non-trade) prices.

To activate your trade discount: if you have a business website simply send us an email from the same address as that published on your site. Alternatively you can email or post two separate copies of ID showing proof of your business. For example headed paper, copy of company cheque, utility bill, bank statement etc.

As soon as we receive proof of your Photography business your account will be switched to the discounted rate and we'll send an email to let you know. Note that discounts will not be retrospectively applied, so please remember this if placing an order before your business ID has been validated.

What extra benefits do I receive as a Professional Photographer?

20% discount off our standard prices (plus a further 10% off subsequent Photobooks ordered at the same time).
Extra customisation options: optionally specify which photos are to be large, medium or small.
Option to remove Photo Productions logo and have your own logo on the design.
Option to supply your own design and receive a further 10% discount.
Sample albums available - scroll down for details.

Can I post my order to you instead of ordering through the website?

The easiest way to place an order is through the website – this allows the full order options and your Photobook design will begin sooner. If you still prefer to copy your photos to a CD and send them by post please click here to request an order form with further details.Please include full name and registered email address.

Can I supply my own design?

We do allow Photographers to supply their own design to be printed and bound by us, for which we offer an additional 10% discount (on top of other discounts.)

The method for supplying your own design is simple, and is similar to the normal order process:

1) Create a folder and upload the images as per normal.

2) Click on 'Order Photobooks', and at the top of the order page tick the 'own design' button.

3) Choose your options and proceed to checkout as normal. Note that on the second page of the order process you can click and drag the pages into order.

You can use any software you like to create your album design, but please follow these important guidelines before ordering:

Your design must be JPG, RGB (ideally sRGB IEC61966 – 2.1) and 300dpi.
Your design must fit the height to width ratio of the album(s) that you chose. Remember that the width of an open page/spread is double the stated width of the album.
Allow 15mm bleed / trim within the page (make sure nothing vital is within 15mm of page edge as it may be cut off). If you are ordering Pocket Books then please make the trim 20mm instead of 15mm.
Provide one image per page/spread, plus one for front and one for back cover. E.g. a 10 page album would always need 12 images.
Ensure all images match the orientation that you choose during the order process.
Incorporate a title and your logo if you wish.

Ensure you have the correct brightness / colour levels. Remember that most monitors, unless properly calibrated, often display images much brighter than they actually are. If your monitor / design is not properly calibrated then your album(s) may be darker than you expect.

During the order process: when selecting number of album pages from the drop down menu - please choose the same number as images you've provided, excluding the front and back covers. E.g. for a 10 page album provide 12 images: one for each page, plus one for each cover. (Cover images are free of charge, so you don't need to select them as pages in the drop down menu.)

Note - your Photobook(s) will go straight to print, so you will not receive a proof. We will check designs before printing and contact you if we spot anything is incorrect.

We will always try to spot any mistakes that you may have made, however please note that we cannot ultimately be held responsible if your design does not meet the guidelines above.

Can I get sample albums to show my clients?

Absolutely - sample albums are by far the best way to show your clients the incredible quality of our albums. There are three options available, with a cashback scheme on all three - you receive a full refund on the cost of the sample after you have purchased further Photobooks at normal / trade price (excluding Pocket and Parent Books)*.

Sample Album Option 1 - Pre-Designed Photobooks (NEW reduced prices):

Pre-designed Photobooks available at up to 70% discount, showcasing all three of our design styles (Classico, Moderno, Naturale) within every album. Three sizes of albums are available in portrait orientation (landscape on special request):

4 x 5" 15 pages: £12.50 +VAT for one, or £20.00 +VAT for two (£15.00 or £24.00 inc VAT)

8 x 10" 15 pages: £50.00 +VAT each (£60.00 inc VAT)
12 x 15" 18 pages: £95.00 +VAT each (£114.00 inc VAT)

Cashback: full refund after purchasing three further Photobooks.

How to order: please email us at info@photoproductions.com stating your name and address and which samples you would like. We will then send a link for payment. Delivery time is approx one week (or two weeks for landscape). Prices include UK delivery.

Sample Album Option 2 - Your Photos With Your Own Design:

Order any size Photobook with your own design at regular trade prices (20% off, plus another 10% off for your own design or reprint). We'll print 'sample album' a few times in the Photobook.

Cashback: full refund after purchasing four further Photobooks.

How to order: place a new order as normal through the website, or use the relevant 'Re-Order' button on your Order History page if you'd like a copy of a previous album. Important: as soon as you've ordered please email us at info@photoproductions.com stating the order ref, and tell us you'd like it to be treated as a sample.

Sample Album Option 3 - Your Photos and We'll Design:

Order any size album at regular trade prices (20% off). We'll print the words 'sample album' a few times in the Photobook.

Cashback: full refund after purchasing five further Photobooks.

How to order: place the order as normal through the website. Important: As soon as you've ordered please email us at info@photoproductions.com stating the order ref, and tell us you'd like it to be treated as a sample. We'll design your album according to whichever style you chose during the order process. If you'd like all three design styles within the one album (three equal sections) then please let us know in the same email - we can do this at no extra charge.

*Sample Album Terms

If you purchase more than one sample we will refund the cost of the largest one first. After the next three / six regular purchases we will refund the next largest sample. Please note we will supply as many samples as you like, but (unless otherwise agreed) the maximum number of refunds is two. To apply for each refund just email us for a refund form.

Is it possible to view your albums before ordering/buying samples?

From time to time you can find us at wedding shows and trade fairs. Also, if you're a Photographer and located in or around London, Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire then we may be able to bring some sample albums to show you. Please give us a call to arrange a visit.

Do you offer Parent books / Guest books / Pocket books?

We now offer beautiful Pocket Book Albums in portrait or landscape - perfect for the handbag or to give out to friends and relatives. The same premium quality as our larger Photobooks, they are printed on photographic paper with identical hard covers.

The design will be taken from your larger albums and reduced to fit. Pocket Books can only be ordered in conjunction with any larger album(s), and will have the same number of pages.

Size: 4x5" or 4x6" (dependent on your larger albums)

Trade price: £18.40 for 10 pages, 48p per additional page*

(*Fully inclusive of printing, delivery, VAT, subsequent album discount & trade discount. Deduct another 10% if supplying your own design. Note size may vary a fraction as printing depends on the ratio to your other albums.)

Can I get some images of the Photobooks for my website / brochures?

Absolutely. Just drop us a line and we'll email you some photos.

Please note we retain copyright on all images. We will only supply images to Professional Photographers.

Photo Productions is the registered trademark of Photo Productions Ltd, company registered in England and Wales no. 06676009