Okay, I had to share my thoughts with you all!

I ordered my first KISS album just this past week, and I am sooooooo impressed with their customer service! I have not gotten my first album yet, though they have kept me in the loop throughout the whole process and I am just so impressed! I know, I already said that. Anyway, if their product is as great as their attention to customers, I cannot wait to order from them every time!

Thanks guys, for creating an easy, customer friendly system!

Damn it, I need to order one soon... I've totally fallen back on my print portfolio and I'm needing a KISS book to market to clients too... I can't wait to hear how you like yours! If you have the same experience as everyone else, I think you'll really enjoy your KISS book!

ditto. hope you post the sample. nothing beats awesome customer serv!

I just ordered my first one like 15 minutes ago! Hope all is as great as everyone's been saying it is!

I saw a couple Kiss albums last week and was really impressed. I thought they looked similar to Pictage's Willowbook Sequoias, except the pages didn't warp.

They get my thumbs up.

Keep us posted - I just signed up for an account with them.

I LOVE my KISS albums! Their customer service is amazing too!

I've posted about this recently too... in fact, I daresay I'd dress up in a cheerleader's outfit for them.

bwahahaha awesome! eww, but awesome. haha

let's see it, Ryan!

I'll be sure to let you all know what the book turns out like . . . pics, too.

Trust me, no one here wants that.

I received my first one for a customer a few weeks back. It's simply amazing. The ordering process rocks also. I blogged about it here including pictures.

WOW! We do love the attention that we are able to give to our clients but this statement literally leaves me speechless. I thought I could reply with something witty but uummmmm nope, nothing.

You won't be disappointed! The books are beautiful. I showed mine to a Bride a few weeks ago and she's definitely upgrading her Auska to a Kiss.

I think that quote should go on the KISS website as testimonials. Muwhahaaaaa!!!

RYAN! RYAN! RYAN!

I think pictures of that would deserve an extra studio credit! Must have tight sweater with the famous KISS lips. White sweater, red lips, red skirt. Hair bows optional.

The books are awesome. My clients love them. Kevin has been invaluable and very easy to get in contact with. Thanks KISS

WOW!! I love the slipcover!!...I'm a bag Lover, just so you know.
Anyways thanks for sharing the pics on your blog.

I think I'm going to order my first KISS this week. Anyone know their regular turnaround time? Or in fact, what it is during the holidays? I want to get it soon!!!

i do believe it is 10 business days... that is valid for placing orders up until Dec 3

Yeah, the slipcover was a pleasant surprise.

Regular turn around = 10 working days.Holiday cut-off to receive book before Christmas = Dec 3rd. (we can still make later dates, but you would have to pay a rush fee)

To those of you who are cheerleading (even without the outfit... though, I have to admit, I'm interested to see pictures...), we can't thank you enough. It's because of people like you that KISS is succeeding.

It's greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Kevin and Shaun.

Kevin put it on the KISS blog.

Just curious, as I haven't had the pleasure of ordering a KISS album or any album of this type... how do the folds (gutters) hold up over time given it is seamless, yet still has to withstand the opening and closing of the book?

Kevin, since you've been in this a while and have used other books throughout the years, how are your samples holding up? How are your KISS samples doing? Just curious...

PS-great CD on the InDesign album design. I've watched it so many times, it's finally sinking in.

Thanks,
Keith M.

Hey, Keith.

Glad you liked the video and that it could help. As far as the folds go, over time they'll wear, but I've only ever offered seamless albums, and in 4 years, I've never had one returned or had someone call with complaints. The papers we print on are high-end and hold up well. The Kodak Eudora doesn't go pink or yellow like some other papers do. My samples all look great, and they've been opened/closed many times at trade shows, etc.

For what it's worth.

k

What's this CD you guys are talking about? Am I overlooking something? I'd love to get my hands on one... :-)

http://www.newschoolphoto.com/blogme/softw...eries-indesign/

Kevin,
No, it's good to hear and learn from your experience. Thanks for the insight as I'm new to the game and have only seen a few of these types of albums in person. I kind of figured there's inherent wear and tear, but was hoping--as you mentioned--that the quality upfront gives them some good durability.

About the paper...can you comment further on the production process? (I'm an old offset press guy myself) and am very interested in the output process and the binding (both paper to the firm page stock, and the binding itself) work. I've seen some macro shots of KISS on other blogs and they look exceptional.

Thnx!
KM

I'm gonna defer those questions to Shaun, since production is his bailiwick. Having me try to answer your questions would be like him trying to answer exactly how the website was built and functions! Hopefully he'll have a chance to answer soon, but we usually try to stay away from the computers on Sunday.

Take care!
k

Hey guys, It looks like we need to start doing tours at our production warehouse in California. We are so busy that I have been in the warehouse again building books. I also have a background in offset printing. I use to run a 4 color Akiyama. Anyway as for paper and process We use Kodak Endura and Fuji Crystal Archive paper. The process is sRGB which is printed on a laser machine. Currently we are on a Noritsu 3212 and we will be getting our new Imeto (Kodak) 32" machine in January. As for the rest of the process it would be very extensive and pretty boring but I will give you a quick summary. We crease and then stack the prints after they are printed. Then we cook the book which releases the glue from the spacer sheet and adhears to the print. Then the block goes into a cool press. From there we cut and cover it. Cheek test it and then send it to the next happy KISS customer. Hope this helps.

By the way when I say "Laser print" it is opposed to LED printing. Some might argue but the best printers out are all Laser. We just purchased the latest Kodak printer. I saw the prints and they are amazing.

Shaun,
Just do a short photo essay on walking an album through the plant! We'd all love to see you guys in action.

Thanks again for sharing some of the finer points to production. I'm sure everyone here enjoys getting behind the scenes.

Keith M.

Well once a book is ordered it goes to File Verification. Once it is verified then it goes into printing. Currently we are printing on a Noritsu 3212 but I just recently purchased an Imeto (Kodak) 32" process printer that puts out beautiful prints at a much faster rate. That machine will join our team in mid to late January. then the prints are checked and put in order. From there it hits the binding machine. First we crease the pages and fold them. This is a very important part of the building process because we want to help keep the gutter from discoloring for as long as possible. So we have our secrets on how we do that but those are secrets and that stays in the KISSing closet. From there we stack the prints with the adhesive sheets in between each print. They are 300mm which is an Italian measurement that means perfect thickness haha. This process makes the prints into what is known as a block. From there we cook the book for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the size and thickness of the book. Then the block goes into a cool press where the magic happen. In the oven press the glue/adhesive is released from the sheets and adhears to the prints. While it cools it really starts to take shape of a beautiful KISS. Just a side note. as we stack we put in a protective paper to protect the print from resting on itself since they are face to face. We then check the books for any flaws and it goes into cutting. We cut the book down to size and then we cover it. It then goes into a final check where it gets cleaned and cheek tested (see our web-site for inside joke). We then wrap it like we were sending a precious beautiful book (because we are) and it goes to the happy owner of the book. During this whole 10 business day process we keep the client updated on where the book is and if it is still on track. It is a beautiful thing. We are very quality driven even if it become a time sacrifice we want to send out books that photographers can be proud of. Kevin and I are both photographers so we know what it means to have a great book. We also are very driven to be a book company that keeps it exciting to order books, not dread it haha. Hope this helps. I have to get back to production because we just got slammed with the deadline day for Christmas.
KISS ON!!!!!!

I just started designing my sample book (thanks kevin for the great video!) and I can't wait to order my first KISS album!


you guys rock

I love the photo-essay idea! Or maybe a short video... We'll work on that.

Shaun,
Thanks for the walk-through. Very helpful and makes us all better buyers of albums. Love that you guys have a secret to the process.

Kevin,
Yes, do the photo essay for Shaun's text. We'd love to see it...design in InD and print it up...the KISS album process...in a KISS album.

You could do a video MTV-Cribs style haha!

Hey kevin, I just re-watched the video and it started me thinking, how do you have showit display the album graphic behind your album sample pages? I'm sure this has been asked before, but maybe you can point me in the right direction?

PS - Congrats on the new baby :-)

Thanks!

I don't actually do it any more... My new showit slideshows just have grey around them... but it's all done through creating a custom HTML page with whatever graphic you want as the background. I'm pretty sure there are threads around here on how to make a custom HTML background for showit...

K I'll check it out... thanks! I just love the idea of being able to portray the images as actually being in an album, I think it's a great idea.

Looking forward to my first KISS order very soon. I've got two recent clients looking at their album designs right now.

I don't want to sound repetitive but I have now ordered two KISS albums and I am incredibly impressed. I ordered one on November 26th and got it today December 7th. That is 12 days, with no rush ordering; not to mention during the holiday rush. The albums are incredible; they are simple and beautiful. The ordering is the easiets that I have ever used and the service is awesome. The turnaround time is incredible as well, especially when so many companies take 4-6 weeks.

If you have been thinking about ordering one of their albums all I can say is do it. You won't regret it.

wow. These guys look awesome. I have an album I hope to have ready to order this week. I just signed up today, so I hope I have the final validation soon.

You're in!

I just signed up too! Looking for some quicker album/guestbook options and just have to give it a try.

Can't wait!

You're in, Steph! Welcome.

Kev

We have done some guest books recently for the world famous Jasmine* and she ROCKS. Her images and simple design are just amazing. If she posts them on her blog you should definitely check them out. She has a great, fun and energizing style.

wow, that was fast! Thanks!

Just to throw in another voice to the mix... got my first album in the mail last night - and it totally exceeded my expectations! I love it, and can't wait to start showing them to clients!

I got my first KISS wedding sample a couple of weeks back and only got to post photos/blog about it until now. I'm really happy with the quality and am excited to start offering it to my brides this year!

One thing i noticed that is the books are a lot thinner than a standard flushmount. The photo below shows the red KISS album side by side with a flushmount from Albums Unlimited. Both have 12 spreads but the KISS is a lot thinner. When open to lie flat, the spine of the KISS album is double-anchored with extra support while the flushmount looks like it will prone to breakage in the center. So I'm totally sold!!!









And yes, the upload process, customer service (they had trouble with my files but fixed it on their own -- I mean, who does that?), production and delivery times ROCK!

Just wanted to share!