Critiquing 3 Photographer's Printed Books 

This is definetly one of the best ads I've watched in a while.

Is it just me, or does Mike Kelly look like Patrick sprinkled with extra strength Miracle Grow?

I’m one of the viewers who actually like you, Lee. Ignore the haters. Loved this episode a lot, it’s probably the best I’ve seen so far! Mike is amazing and his presence is much appreciated. Please do more videos with Mike, we want to see him more often :)

This was really good and all those photographers are amazing, that senior portrait guy is definitely going a few extra miles to make his clients feel like super models. I love it. having said that all of them definitely fit their purpose.

Great episode guys. Love the post mortem discussion about seeing thru the eyes of the client. Keep it up! 👍

I would buy Mike Kelley’s book just because the photos are absolutely gorgeous!

23:17 this is such a hugely important point that many photographers don't realize and i often need to remind of myself of that as well. Thanks Lee for bringing that up.

Love that you are comparing these portfolios.

Thank you guys! Your thoughts and comments were really helpful.

Critique the community is my favorite show on all of RU-vid.

The presentation box is a nice touch in both the commercial and the consumer books. Although, for an art buyer, art director or editor it would primarily serve as extra protection (some may not even want to take a second to remove it and just toss it on the pile), whereas a consumer would really appreciate it as part of the package. Also of note, the consumer ones are considered “albums”. Hence, no cover page and thicker stock that definitely work well as portfolios also (ones that display multiple clients, even more so). Consumer albums are probably never mailed to clients for review, but remain in the studio or are presented by the photographer in person.

Love it!! Thank you so much for doing this video!

Thats so true, its good to print our shots, you will see them "real" not just like something digital.

Awesome video guy's!!! Everything you showed and discussed was spot on... I thank you.

Great video, thanks for the inspiration. Some points about Saal: - The free software Saal offers to create an album is great for people who do not want to spend money on album design software. That said, software like Fundy is even better. - 4:23 if you choose the linnen or leather cover, you will not be able to put your logo on the cover at all. You can't even choose a custom font. Compared to other suppliers I think the options for covers are really basic. - If you want the first/last page to be white, you pay for printed pages. Would be nice to have an options where you can add these extra pages at lower costs. - The Saal album has an ugly little barcode at the back, if you want to have it removed you pay €5,- (in the Netherlands) extra, feels a bit frustrating. - In the Netherlands, you can't message or call them. All communication is by e-mail tickets, I really like more direct and personal contact. That said, I ordered 10+ albums at Saal. The brides where happy. The discount they offer for resellers is nice, the 50%-off demo product is great. I definitely keep Saal as one of my suppliers. 23:00 These Saal albums are more like between 100 and 250 depending on size/cover/box/pages.

The portrait book gave me a lot of good ideas. I'd already settled on a square format because both horizontal and vertical photos can be included without turning the book to view them.

Holy these pictures are insanely good

I'm so glad I'm not a pro and so I get to take photos that I like (rather than ones that pay the bills). No that anyone would pay for my efforts anyway, but that's beside the point. Really helpful video. I've previously used Saal Digital to print a book for myself and I have to say the quality was just fantastic. I'm saving up to make a book 2....

iPad feels like someone just tossed some images on their tablet, a printed book tells me you put effort into putting your best in front of me. Second point, bring those books to a portfolio review - it's harsh but valuable

Nice introduction and review of the actual product by Saal Digital,,,and even more great was the discussion about considerations to keep in mind when making a book depending on its end-purpose. As others suggested, would enjoy a refresher on the actual final steps in post-processing to address brightness adjustments needed for screen vs paper. Thanks Guys!

Excellent content. thank you!

you obviously know where to point the camera

Great review, guys!

you should review photographers calendars

I agree with you Lee

Thanks guys, great video, but I really missed a landscape in this mix.

Mike Kelly always rules

13:20 Those pictures make me feel uneasy.. I wouldn't place them like that (first two)

15:27 - Mike is love. LOL

Good video, interesting content.

bless you. @ 22:59

How do you ensure colour accuracy when you print these books (or anything) using a 3rd party printing service? I'm familiar with screen/printer calibration at home, but how does this work with printing shops?

Thanks for this video ! When you send images for printing you have to send RGB or sRGB. Problem is when you have black and white pictures, if they are printed like book are usualy (offset) you can find big variations on the same pictures : parts of your pictures are cyan, parts are magenta. The reason is that they don't print black as they sould do : only in black ()... RGB is transformed in CMYK and grey is distributed on the different colors layers, but not in a homogeneous way. It should be only on the black (K) layer. It makes a weft effect, and it's impossible to use a book like this (as professionnal). It's important to check the way they print. Can we know wher the 3 book you show have been printed ?

Okay so I'm a new photographer and cinematographer! I want to be great like you! My question is: If I get the opportunity to shoot a wedding: How do I get myself into position to get that great shot? Do I take a bunch of photos and look at them when I get back to the office? Or should I have a natural eye for photography built in!???!

28 Amateur photographers were jealous that either A. they didn't think of getting their own portfolio, or B. they don't want to spend that kind of money.

I would love you to Critique Sails Chong photos.

I thought that back cover said “shrek” 14:16

wow Mike is moire king today haha

just adding my 2 cents here... the links to saal-digital are broken. you have to type the home address to access.

I think you missed one of the most important part of portfolio books, how to prepare the Fotos that go in them. If you just drag Fotos in you will be very disappointed because they will look very dark because they are not backlit anymore. But it's true you find your groove after a couple of books.

Curious if Mike sends to send the book for clients to look at and send back. Or is Mike doing this to land potential clients as clients?

i like Zno but this company looks like it has good products as well

Couldnt find if Saal Digital ships to Canada :(

Loved it. Lee, you did wedding photography for 12 years! That is great, I love it but have to quit due to health concerns, why did you quit after only 12 years? You probably was making a killing $, right? Love your work and this video.

your link to saal.com doesn't work: "Page not found".

Mike is looking handsome af in this vid

What size are the book's?

Album size

Andres Iniesta in the house

Hey guys, at what point in your career would you start to invest in a nice printed portfolio like one of these? I am 21 and still very young in the sports/photojournalism industry, currently a student, but getting a good amount of work. I feel I have a solid portfolio built but at the same time I expect to keep adding to it, what would you guys, or any viewers reading this, suggest for someone like myself? Thanks!

“When you open up a 17 inch wide book, it’s almost 30 inches across”......right

Why did you cut that sneeze out?

Is this a critique or an infomercial? I'm confused.

it is so impractical to mail the book out and expect your prospective client to make time to send it back. No Branding on Cover also sounds like a bad idea. Nice Pictures though. I like the Design of the Senior Portrait Album. He really expressed creativity.

If you know anything about architects and their creations then you should know they need to know the photography is all about them. Mike is right to leave himself out of the presentation.

I don't mind these guys Critiquing work, but what about their body of work..? It would be good to see their Printed Books because it's easy to point fingers, but are you any better..? Thoughts...

am I the only one who hates the photo going through the middle fold of the book?

I thought the wedding fotos were awful. No magic at all. I like to feel some magic when I see a foto. Same with the Senior foto's...clever is fine but I would never hire these high cash guys for their services.

nobody has real photographs these days...only analog photographers do.

Lame photos. Forget expensive print jobs and make your own photo book

Disappointed with your content lately, hope you change things up and find your stride again.

Photos should not go across the gutter.