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Photo Book Girl Turns 10 Today! Celebrate With Me! Enter my Photobook America Giveaway! (Ends 3/8/20)

Photobookgirl.com is 10 years old!!!

I would not be here today without all of your support and I want to thank everyone for your readership over this past decade and for making this whole journey worthwhile. When I posted on our Facebook page that we would soon be turning 10, I wasn’t expecting all of your messages. That really gave me a boost of positive energy and I ended up writing an unplanned post about backing up your photos from your smartphones. If there’s one thing I really try to impress upon my readers and my friends and family is that it is so important to back up your photos. I can’t imagine losing precious photos of my kids and over the years I’ve gotten emails and messages about losing photos so I hope you will find a lot of helpful information in that post and in the additional posts I’m going to do about various topics related to backing up including cloud storage, external hard drives and even old family albums. I’m going to share with you what I am currently doing so you can hopefully find what works for you. It’s probably pretty obvious that I’m all about preserving memories not only via photo books, but in all its possible forms!

So onto celebrating ten years of this amazing journey through Photobookland! This year we have two fabulous $200 prizes from our sponsor Photobook America, so $400 in prizes! I will be drawing two winners who will each get a $200 voucher code towards a photo book of winner’s choice. (Details will be listed in the terms below.)

I’ve been making photo books with Photobook America from the very start. My first review of them was all the way back in 2010, when I started this blog.

Linked below are the reviews for the following photo books that I’ve printed with Photobook America.

I’ve made a flush mount lay flat photo book of my son’s first trip to Washington D.C.

I’ve also made an imagewrap lay flat photo book of my little guy’s first 100 days and of my trip to Hawaii (part 1) and (part 2)

One of my favorite photo books is my pregnancy photo book which I printed with a debossed leather cover (Deluxe Photo Book).

Photobook America’s Software

Photobook America provides you with two main ways to make your photo book. You can make your book using the online software or via the off-line downloadable software. The online software does not have as many features as the off-line version but if you’re making a basic design it will do the job.

I personally prefer the downloadable software over the online. There are a few more stylistic tools which I like. Downloadable software is nice to have as you don’t have to be connected to the Internet so if you like to make your books on the road, that’s a nice option to have. Here’s a screenshot of the downloadable software, called Photobook Designer.

Photobook America software review

There are some features not available in the online version that are offered on the downloaded software which include:

  1. Rounded corners – you can make your photo boxes have curved edges (it’s just a stylistic thing that I like do use sometimes);
  2. You can add drop shadows to items to make them stand out or set them apart;
  3. Use your own fonts – this is an awesome feature. You’re not limited to a handful of fonts.

Types of Photo Books Available

Photobook America offers several cover options. Their book products are divided into two main categories. The first category “Photobook” includes Lay Flat, Imagewrap, Debossed, Softcover and Deluxe Book cover options. Then the second main category is “Premium Albums” or Flush Mount books which include Deluxe, Luxe, Imagewrap, Debossed options. It may be a little confusing because you have some of the same options under both categories, but if you think of them as basically cover options – that may help. The Flush Mount albums are the higher priced ones more geared for special occasions like weddings or other milestone events. For my detailed review of Flush Mount albums check out this article. For more everyday type books, the Photobook category will provide plenty of good choices.

Photobook America offers three binding options: Perfect Binding, Premium Layflat Binding and Flush Mount Binding.

I personally prefer the layflat bindings over the non-layflat. The binding options you have will depend on your cover choice.

Paper Options

Paper options also abound: Photo Lustre, Matte Fine Art, Fine Art, E-Photo Matte, Premium Silk, and one I haven’t seen before – HD Featurette which offers 7-ink color technology and sharper details. This last paper appears very glossy and is only offered in the standard binding (not lay flat). It may be a bit overwhelming at first looking at all the options but looks like there’s something for everyone. If you want to learn more about the options I selected, please take a look at the links I posted above of the books I’ve made with Photobook America. PhotoBookGirl’s favorite profile for photo books is imagewrap, layflat, portrait orientation with thicker pages that are not easily bent. The Premium Layflat Binding with Imagewrap cover is what I would typically select which would be like the 100 days book I linked to above. I also make square and landscape oriented photo books too depending on the subject matter and layouts I plan to create.

Photo Book Sizes

Photobook America books come in Landscape, Portrait and Square options, in sizes as small as 4 x 4 (Lil’ Photobook) and go as large as 17.5″ x 12″ (XL Landscape). Portrait books are offered in only one size 8″ x 11″. The sizes are dependent on the type of cover you choose.

Photo Book Pricing

To see pricing, I suggest selecting one of the book templates which takes you to a page where you can click on various options and see how that affects pricing.

I’ve selected a commonly available size of 11″ x 8.5″, Premium Layflat, Imagewrap Hardcover Photo Book. Base page count included is 24 pages for $68.99. In order to see how much additional pages are, I clicked to start making the book and the total went up to $72.99 when I added two pages, so each additional page is $2.00. Adding 76 pages to get to a total of 100 pages came out to $224.00. You can have a maximum page count of 150 for the Premium Layflat book. Note that this pricing doesn’t reflect any discounts. The current promotion looks to be 35% off, so this book would be $145.60 after discount. Shipping costs came out to $11.99 with a 5 to 7 business day production and shipping timeframe. Be sure to look at the Promotions section as well to see which deal will work out best for your project.

The Giveaway!

I’m excited that TWO winners will be drawn! Each winner will receive:

A voucher for $200.00 USD towards a photo book at Photobook America!

___________________________________

HOW TO ENTER THE PHOTOBOOK AMERICA BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY

You have 5 possible ways to enter, but you must do the REQUIRED ENTRY for the others to count. For EACH entry, you have to COMMENT ON THIS POST below with a separate comment for EACH entry, telling me what type of entry you did.

REQUIRED ENTRY:

  • IF YOU WON, WHAT WOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF YOUR PHOTO BOOK? (Wedding, Baby, Anniversary, Vacation etc.)

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

  • Subscribe to my newsletter (look for light blue box at top right) AND tell me in the comment below that you subscribed and the name you subscribed under (first name is fine). If you already subscribe to my newsletter, tell me in your comment and give me your name. (Please remember for it to count, you must confirm the subscription. Sorry RSS reader subscriptions don’t count);
  • “Like” me on Facebook (if you are already a fan, or become a new fan, tell me your Facebook name in the comment form);
  • “Like” Photobook Worldwide on Facebook (if you are already a fan, or become a fan, tell me your Facebook name in the comment form);
  • Give your review of any photo book/canvas company you’ve tried on the company’s main reviews page. Click on the “Read Review” button. You’ll see a place to add your review at the bottom of each company’s page. Let me know which company you commented on by telling me in a comment in this post below. (Limit to two (2) entries using this method. Reviews given prior to the start of this Giveaway don’t count – they must be new ones please!)

Make sure to do the REQUIRED ENTRY!

This giveaway is open to anyone 18 or older and is open to international entrants. Void where prohibited. Void in Quebec. Entries must be received by Sunday, March 8, 2018, at 11:59pm CT and any entries not in accordance with the rules will be disqualified at our sole discretion and at the discretion of the sponsor. Winning entry will be chosen using Random.org. After compiling the results, I will announce the winner thereafter and will email the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will redraw another entry. Canadian winner may be asked to answer a skill question to be eligible, to comply with Canadian laws. Cannot be combined with other promotions. Winner will be responsible for shipping costs. Winner will be solely responsible for any taxes due on the product or prize including but not limited to sales tax, tariffs, duties and fees as well as any income tax obligations if any. Voucher may be used for any type of photo book (any orientation, size, cover type or binding) but is not applicable towards a flush mount album. Additional pages, paper upgrades and accessory costs may be included within the value of voucher if selected. Voucher is only redeemable once. Voucher valid until December 31, 2020.

Disclosure: Photobook America is sponsoring this giveaway. Please note I am an affiliate of the company. If you click on a link to Photobook America’s site and make a purchase, I may receive a referral fee from the company. Regardless of affiliation my opinions are always my own and reflects my honest opinion of the product.

Comments

  3. Thank you so much for the opportunity! I would love to make an album of our anniversary vacation from last August .

  4. I’d use the Photobook to do my upcoming family vacation to EGYPT!

    Subscribed to newsletter: Vicki Thompson Liked on FB: vicki.thompson
    Liked Photobook: vicki.thompson

  5. If I won I would make a book spanning the 52 years my husband and I have been together..from college years, through all of our travels and the joy of our 3 children and now 5 grandchildren. We celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary this year. This would be the perfect gift for my husband.

  6. Congrats on 10 years! I would make a book for my granddaughter’s life from her first birthday through her second birthday. I already did from baby showers through her first birthday party. Everybody in the family takes lots of pictures so I’m doing a book a year. 🙂

  16. If I won I would make a vacation book. My family is planning a trip to St Louis in March and I am so excited. I k ow I will take a ton of photos and will have to make a photo book to show them off.

  30. Happy 10th Birthday. I have been following you for more than 5 of those years. Great job. I would do a photo book on our 20 year anniversary weekend.

  34. I find this site to be very helpful in making photobooks. Congrats on your 10 year anniversary!

  39. Congratulations on 10 years! If you have time to do a post about how to organize backlogs of photos and create photobooks from them, I would love your ideas. We have about 5 years of photos and it is daunting to try to go back and make sense of everything.

    If I win the contest, I will make a photo book of my recent 25th wedding anniversary vacation.

    All the best!

  40. Congratulations on your 10th anniversary. I’ve been following you for quite a while and found your insight very helpful. If I won I would make a photo book of my 25th wedding anniversary in Hawaii. Sheryl Jones

  43. I would do a photobook of a recent trip to Hawaii! I subscribe to the newsletter, and like both pages on Facebook!

  48. I would love to do a book on my great granddaughter Mazelyn. She was a premier, I nicknamed her mighy Mini May. She is still a tiny girl at 16 months and barely weighs 14 pounds.

  53. I have followed your website for many years (maybe all 10?) and really value your reviews and ideas. I would do a photobook of our upcoming trip to Disneyland.

  59. I subscribed to your newsletter, but I may have already been one, since I got your email about this.

  61. I want to do a book on my Dad’s life. He’s still with us, thank goodness, and I want him to see how much he means to me and our family.

  63. I follow you on facebook and I also read your blog for tips and discounts.

  70. If I won I would do a photo book of my teenage daughters’ first trip overseas – to Italy!

  72. I like photo book America‘s Facebook page. My name is Lyn Hartman Crighton.

  73. If I were to win, I would do a photobook on a vacation.

    Happy 10th Anniversary and thank you for the giveaway!

  79. I would use it to cover my best friends wedding! She was married a few days ago on 2/27. This would be perfect to cherish the memories of her shower, bachelorette, and big day! Good luck everyone & happy photobooking.

  84. I am already a facebook fan of Photobook Worldwide. I “liked” Photobook years ago. Mary Morris.

  86. If I won I would love to make a photobook of my upcoming trip to Vienna, Salzburg, Milan and Rome.

  89. I haved followed you for several years now and I have also used your reviews and created some photo books using Mixbook, Picaboo and Snapfish. One thing I like with Picaboo is the ability to purchase vouchers on sale promo and create books later.

  93. I just liked your FB Photo Book Girl page and posted a comment on how comprehensive and helpful I find your articles to be.

    I have been pulling together a collection of pictures taken over he last 15 years as my father has turned the building of a new house in Italy into an ongoing retirement project, and would love to use this opportunity to pull it all together and finally be able to give him a pictorial history of the journey.

  97. I like to make photobooks of family trips!
    I am subscribed to your newsletter. Rivka Deutsch

  99. I want to make a photo book of my mother’s childhood and teen years for her 4 granddaughters. She passed away when these girls were 15 and under, and since I am the “keeper of the stories” I want to get them told! Even though my mother was born in 1931, her father took lots (for those days) of snapshots and placed each in an album with dates for each photo! It s a real treasure as well!

  104. If I won, I would FINALLY get around to making my wedding book (7 years later!!)

  108. I would do “The year in pictures” book I am starting with the year that I started having digital pictures which is 2007, I have many years to catch up on for sure.

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