I need everyone's help. We shot some engagement pictures last week for a couple getting married on December 30th. She wants an engagement album to use as a guest book. We usually use Asuka but they say that it will take 3 weeks even after paying for rush delivery. The problem is that she already has the Asuka prices. So, now we need a company that is inexpensive but we deliver fast! Any suggestions??? THanks, Ashley

It won't be quite as easy to design, but you could use Blurb.com I've actually decided to start these as my basic coffee table books. The pages definitely aren't as nice as Asuka books (they're more like the Apple iPhoto books) but they look nice and are definitely cheap!

I think your biggest challenge from any company is going to be getting the book in less than 3 weeks with shipping given the time of the year. I have gotten rushed AsukaBooks in around two weeks, but that was not during the holiday season.

Do you have someone in your city who can custom bind loose pages for you? If so then you can print out the pages on an Epson archival printer and get the pages bound. It won't be as nice as an AsukaBook but it will be fast.

Do you have a FedEx-Kinkos or Alpha Graphics that can print and bind a book for you? They won't be as nice as AsukaBook but it will be okay.

Did you actually talk with someone on the phone at AsukaBook? I always have better luck getting what I need when talking to someone instead of using email, maybe you can get them to print your book as a priority job ahead of everything else for a certain amount higher than the normal rush fee.

www.apollo-imagizing.com

setup with them today, get them the design asap. you'll get your book and it's dang near as good as Asuka anyways. and cheaper.

Thanks everyone. I'm looking into everything you said. I have used the Kinkos near us several times and they are a disaster. I found a self mount album by Renaissance- the "Ventura." They look pretty nice- thicker pages, faux leather cover, and are like $50 or so for a 8X10 20 page book- Of course I'll have to do my own printing and mounting, but...

I'm going to ask the bride if she wants this style or to stick with the thinner paged coffee table book style. If so I'll be using one of the companies you all suggested, assuming they can get it to me asap. Thanks again! Whew, am I glad OSP is back up! -Ash