If any of you are thinking of outsourcing your album design, definitely check out DoodleDo. I just had my personal wedding album designed by Bruce and it turned out AWESOME. I originally signed up with them for portraits albums (setting up my vendor list), but ended up having them make my wedding album. I am really happy I found them. I initially talked to Robin and she answered all of my newbie questions. Bruce ended up doing my design, but he was very very responsive to my additional questions and provided timely updates so I was always in the loop. Thank you so much!

Thank you, Lin, for the rave! It's a beautiful album and we are very happy you are satisfied. Take some photos of the final album when you get it ... we'd love to see it.

Can we see the design? Please please?

Haha. Well. The album is very personal to me, so I chose to have it not shown on their website. Bruce and Robin were very understanding.



That I will definitely do. I cannot wait. I heard such great things about Finao.

Bummer. But I understand.

I am getting ready to send some business their way! I am actually working going to get some files together tonight from a wedding this weekend. I think I got some great stuff and I could really use an album.

I would like to use Miller's but I am still waiting for them to set-up my account.

Mike, you should have received your welcome email today with info on getting started. Keep in mind that if your image collection is reasonably small, you can FTP your files. We are looking forward to working with you!

Sorry, Jules. It really is a unique design but we always honor requests to keep things private. We have so many new designs we'll be posting on the blog over the next several weeks (as well as new episodes of our What's in the Box series).

I love those What's in the box episodes!!! Keep them coming!

Thanks man, when I said "I am still waiting for them to set-up my account.", I was talking about Miller's...lol

I got all your info. Now I am just waiting on Miller's. I might just use KISS but for a studio album, they don't give much of a discount.

Do you have a recommendation for a quantity of pictures for a 11x14 or 12x12 book with 10 spreads?

THEY ROCK BIG TIME +1000000000000 To this post.

You definitely have to give them a try and you will be kicking yourself for not outsourcing your albums to them sooner!!!!

THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!!! Not only are the album designs awesome, their customer services is to die for!!!!

thank you all so much!
we do strive to stay ahead of the curve and we have a lot more 'boxes' to open!





mike, when you collect your images, make a couple of folders and let us know which are the must haves. don't forget detail images and group formals, too. you want to show a range of work in a sample.

for 10 spreads (20 pages), about 40-50 will make the cut, depending on your preferences, but go ahead and send us as many as 70 and we'll help choose, if you like. we probably won't use all 70, but swaps are free if you need changes.
thanks! we look forward to your design!

Wow, this is so difficult. Looks like I am going to have to make a larger album...

I have narrowed it down to 105, I will see if I can shave a few more off.

*****Okay, worked it down to 76**** Can we work with that? If so, please let me know how to proceed. You can PM me, if you like.

I am enjoying this discussion as well. Me no likey PMs! Please continue sharing the little details cuz little ol me is soaking it all in.

Sounds good to me Jules! Just didn't want to hi-jack tooooooo bad! lol

Actually, lets make at least 24 pages.

In response to this somewhat open biz transaction taking place, and since Jules is enjoying it anyway, the very first thing you want to do, Mike, is submit your Account Application. You received the link in your Welcome email (if, in fact, you got your Welcome email that was sent out today to all the new sign-ups). It's important that we have this before submitting your first order.

You will then submit an order form, in which you will be indicating many of your preferences for the design. We follow these preferences closely when creating your first draft. The number of images we recommend can, understandably, be only loosely based on a "typical" design structure based on our own preferences. And this is quite subjective.

In other words, we prefer to design albums a certain way, but because the designs are truly custom, your needs are an important aspect when deciding the right layout for the number of pages and images desired. Often, what we prefer has to give way to the photographer's needs (and their client's choices about their album). So while I might prefer designs with fewer images and lots of empty space, if the order calls for fitting 75 images in a 20 page design, that's what we strive for. It's important to understand that it will be a "busy" design.

As mentioned, you will be indicating many of your own (and your clients) preferences on the order form. If what is requested raises any questions, we will be talking with you about these before we even begin. So feel free to submit a good selection of pics and we'll take it from there.

Hope that helps!

Now get that App in so we can get started.

Robin is so lucky to have found you, Bruce. I was wondering: if I were going to use your services, but I want albums designed in a style similar to albums I've designed before, with certain brushes and textures, could I send you my previous designs, and send along my favorite textures and brushes to use while you design my albums? And would it be too much to then ask you not to use my brushes on somebody's else's design? I'm kinda going for a certain julie-fied look and that's why I've not been wanting to outsource, but there's only so many hours in the day. Have you noticed that? No matter how much you wish it, the day just never gets any longer?

I LOVE your what's-in-the-box videos. Are you planning to do a VisionArt box any time soon?

Jules, what you are asking is precisely what we do!

We have several clients who have very specific styles they want applied to all their designs, and that's what we provide. These are often based on a design theme in use before they started using our services. We like to make improvements to that style based on correct design principals when needed, but it is always up to the photographer.

Also, when a client provides us materials for use in their designs, they are used only in their designs. In addition, almost all of our graphics have been custom created for DoodleDo, so even these are unique to our designs.

We are more than happy to provide designs that are exclusive to your style and preferences, and they will not be replicated in any other clients creations.

Our next What's in the Box will be posted today, and Robin takes a look at Zookbinders. We have upcoming episodes on WHCC, Finao, GraphiStudio and LaVie. What we would like is to review every major album company, but since we don't order from every one of them for our own businesses, we need to work out a plan. Perhaps we can encourage photographers like yourself to send us an album for review, thus benefiting the whole community of photographers (we would return your album, of course).

Thank you, Jules!!

I just got chills!!!!

I'm really glad that Frances started this thread as it's given great insight into the company behind DoodleDo. Now I'm seriously considering sending a design your way, Robin and Bruce, when that time comes!

Awesome!

I sent my information to get started

Well I just had to rave about them! After all, my album design looks kick @??#$.... butt.

meeee too. For some reason I am terrified of albums. Wondering how competitive the prices are...I shall soon find out! : )