Getting Your Photo Book Published

The Photo Book is perhaps one of the most compelling and effective ways to showcase your vision and talent. And for many, it can serve as the perfect calling card. Photo books stand out from other forms of presentation, including the portfolio, by offering richer opportunities to communicate a message.

In addition to allowing you to choose and sequence your work, for example, the photo book also enables you to use elements of graphic design and typography to tell a story with your images. Plus, the photo book creates an object of value in itself, attracting collectors much the same as individual prints.

However, photo books are not without their challenges. Traditionally the principal issues have been twofold: cost and accessibility. These factors have unfortunately conspired to keep photo book publishing a reality for a select few.

Join us in May for a lively and informative panel discussion that promises to shed valuable light on how to determine whether photo book publishing is for you and, if so, how best to get your book published. Our panelists will tackle this subject from two directions, traditional publishing and self publishing using on-demand printing.

Both styles of publishing offer distinct advantages together with well-recognized caveats. Traditional publishing through an established house carries with it not only a deserved prestige, but also the expertise and resources of a team of professionals. These resources can include marketing support, distribution networks and channels, and editorial assistance during the production of the book.

Self-publishing, on the other hand, almost always translates to greater control. You determine the look, quality, size, finish, and binding of your book, and ultimately the number printed. Perhaps as significantly, you also control the final cost of your book along with the all-important net return.

Our panelists will address these issues, discussing in detail the trade-offs between the two approaches. You'll learn which books are best suited for conventional publishing, and find out how to create a proposal that will increase your chances of being picked up by a leading imprint.

Alternatively, you'll learn when it makes sense to go it alone. Our panelists will advise you on how best to take control of your project and will reveal some of the tools and templates that you can use to help get to a professional looking finished product.

So whether you're an emerging photographer looking to boost your career, or an established veteran exploring the latest options for your new project, be sure to join us in May for a comprehensive survey of the photo book publishing landscape.

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Speakers:
Ben M. Zlotkin, Director and Founder of Edition One Studios, currently teaches the Stanford Continuing Studies program "Self-Publishing Your Photographic Book."

Mark Pinsukanjana, Co-founder of Modernbook Gallery specializing in modern and contemporary photographic art, is the owner of MB Editions.

Robert Holmes is an internationally-known photographer and book author.

Geir Jordahl's work features magical panoramic photographs from throughout the world. The creator of several books, Jordahl's latest photo book was published by MB edition in January 2008. 

Kate Jordahl is a professor of Photography and Digital Imaging at Foothill College, and has had featured exhibitions at the Yamate Gallery, Yokohama, Japan, Modernbook Gallery, Palo Alto, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artist's Gallery.

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Admission:
ASMP members  $5
Students  $10
Affiliate photo organizations  $10
General  $20

Date:
Tuesday, May 13
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Social hour: 6:00-7 p.m.

Location: BlueSky Studios, 2325 3rd St., San Francisco CA. http://www.blueskysf.com/