Hard Cover vs Soft Cover Photo Books: Which is Best?
- Hard Cover Vs Soft Cover - Basic Differences
- Hard Cover Vs Soft Cover - Uses and Applications
- Wedding Photo Books
- Photo Books as Promotional Tools
- Do Photo Albums Still Exist?
- Where to Order Photo Books
- Recommended Photography Gear
Photo albums have been around for years and years. I have some family photo albums that date well before I was born. In recent years, especially with the rise of digital photography, photo books have mostly taken the place of albums.
There are two general photo book categories: hard cover and soft cover. Some other subtypes also fit into these categories. So, hard cover vs soft cover photo books, which is best?
Both styles of photo books are available from many fine printers, such as Photo Book Press. They also have some special types of photo books in addition to wall art, calendars, and cards.
Table of Contents:
Hard Cover Vs Soft Cover - Basic Differences
The most obvious difference between hard cover vs soft cover photo books is that one photo book has a stiff cover, and the other has a cover much like a paperback book. There’s a little more to it, though.
A hard cover photo book is exactly what it sounds like - a book with a hard or rigid cover. The cover is often made hard by a thick base material with a printed surface laminated to the outside.
If you’ve ever torn into the cover of a school textbook for instance, you may have noticed a type of card stock was used or a form of cardboard, though much less pliable, more rigid than regular box cardboard. In printing circles, it’s called binder’s board or paper board. Some other specialty materials could be used, but binder’s board is the most likely material used.
A soft cover book is made with a paper stock that is pliable, bendable. It’s not the same paper as in the body of the book; it’s stiffer and thicker. A paperback novel has a pretty soft material, slightly thicker than the book pages, while a cookbook has a heavier, sturdier material, maybe even a little bit plasticky.
Hard Cover Vs Soft Cover - Uses and Applications
How does one decide to use hard cover vs soft cover photo books? The application of the photo book will make the decision easier. In other words, what will it be used for?
Some questions to ask may concern what type of use and handling it will receive. A book that needs to remain relatively pristine despite lots of people looking at it should probably have a hard cover, just because they’re more durable.
You might decide on hard cover vs soft cover based on what you would have purchased if shopping for photo albums. An album of what might be considered fun events or lighter events may lend itself to soft cover photo books while more formal events or more serious ideas would be better served by hard cover photo books.
The next two ideas will cover hard cover vs soft cover photo books for two very specific uses or applications, weddings and business promotion.
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Wedding Photo Books
A wedding photo book is usually a premium hard cover photo book. The Photo Book Press Signature Sewn series of hard cover photo books is perfectly suited for being an heirloom remembrance of a wedding or any other very special event that deserves premium treatment.
These are extremely well made photo books that are crafted in such a way so as to mimic the impression that one got when picking up a specialty photo album of the type that was once very common as a wedding photographer’s final product.
Lay-Flat Photo Books also work for this style of photo book. Lay-flat means that the book is bound so that the pages don’t curl up, as is so annoying in other books. Instead, the pages lay flat, with no bend and no curl, making viewing easier and more enjoyable.
Photo Books as Promotional Tools
A photography business needs some kind of portfolio of previous work to show the quality of the photography provided by the photo business and also to inform prospective clients of what different genres of photography are offered.
Deciding between hard cover vs soft cover photo books for business promotion will depend on how they should be used and whether you want them to seem formal or more informal. Soft cover photo books are great for people to casually thumb through in an office or studio.
Hard cover photo books for business promotion make wonderful portfolios. The cover can be a beauty shot photo of any genre and text can be added throughout the book to explain or highlight ideas.
An extra sales idea is to use smaller, less pages of soft clever books to give away as promotions or as gifts. One idea is to offer the smaller books to a wedding client who ordered a signature heirloom book for themselves and desires to share books with other participants or guests.
Do Photo Albums Still Exist?
Examining hard cover vs soft cover photo books probably makes you wonder if old-fashioned photo albums still exist. The short answer is yes, they do.
The longer answer is that photo albums are more labor-intensive for photography enthusiasts than photo books. Also, they are either somewhat expensive for the nicer ones or they look like a scrapbook. In this digital age, photo books offer more options in printing, design, and display.
A really well made wedding photo album is a joy to behold, but something about photo books simply feels accessible, both for the photographer and the viewer.
Where to Order Photo Books
Photo Book Press is a great source for any of these photo book ideas. Besides looking at hard cover vs soft cover photo books, they also offer wall art, invitations and cards, calendars, and other types of photo books. They also provide several helpful professional services.
Hard cover vs soft cover photo books for your own photography or photo business, which should you choose? Make use of this short guide and then enjoy what you receive.