Anyone who knows me knows that I love playing with graphic design and I love to take photos of everything and everyone around me. So when I had the opportunity to create my own photo books at home, I jumped at the chance.A Zoom Album Photo Book Kit, comes with everything you need to create 3 photo books at home. All you need is some digital photos, a color inkjet printer, and of course a notebook, a PC, or a Mac.
I decided to make a book of my children with photographs of them from birth through present. Each 3" x 3" book is designed to show 12 photos plus one on the cover. This is the book that I made . . .
I was impressed by how professional the exterior of the book looked without the use of any scissors or glue.
These are the first pages of my book. The page on the left is how I wanted the entire book to be formatted. As you can see in the following photos, that was not how it turned out. I was glad that the kit came with enough to make 3 books because the first one was just a test run.
There are two parts where I ran into trouble. First of all, I thought that if I selected the desired layout, that every page would be uniform. It turns out that you need to select the layout for each page. The reason why I did not catch it was because on the page to add the text, all the pages were shown like that very first page of my book.The second spot where I had problems was that the software does not show you where the frames begin and end. So when I was adding the text, the text boxes (which can only have a colored background) overlapped with the photos and with the frame. It would have been more helpful if the software showed you the actual placement and shape of the photo and the frame by the time you are entering the text and trying to figure out the placement of the text boxes.
If you keep the above mentioned things in mind, I think you will end up with a book you are pleased with. Here are some other things I would like to point out about this Zoom Album Kit . . .
1) These books would make nice inexpensive personalized gifts for almost anyone.
2) I think becoming a Photobook Coach is a great idea for anyone who is already in sales (for cosmetics, candles, kitchen items, etc . . .) who has an established clientele.
3) I also think a photo-savvy mom could start a nice little business making either personalized photobooks with the customer's photos or using her own photos to make themed gift books for special occasions, perhaps with some original poetry.
4) The quality of the photos is exceptional. I used a lower end photo quality inkjet printer and the photos are very clear.
5) Color ink is pretty expensive, so after you make your first cover and set of photo pages successfully, you might consider skipping the test prints on your second and third books.
Thank you to Zoom Albums and the Family Review Network for this opportunity.
What you can win:
The prize for this contest is one Zoom Album Photo Book Kit to create up to 3 photo books of your own. (FYI: This software does not work well with Hewlett Packard All-in-One Printers or with laser printers.)
Limitations:
This giveaway is open to entries within the U.S. only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.
How to Gain Entries:
Leave a comment telling me what theme you would like to use for your first photo book AND who would get to keep it. You must do this to be eligible to win this contest.
Extra Entries:
1) Read about how to become a Photobook Coach. Then leave a separate comment telling me who you know who would probably make a great Photobook Coach.
2) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites
3) Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post AND to ZoomAlbum.com . Then come back here and leave a separate comment with the link to your blog post.
4) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave your link in a separate comment.
5) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
6) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
7) Help me promote an upcoming event for my other blog by adding this button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.
(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)
Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.
Good luck in the drawing!
