(as stated in the topic title...)

Can clients hire album designers themselves? Given, they have their own image files, can they just go to anyone, say Albumesque, themselves and get an album made? Or do they have to go through a photographer?

I think if you are giving them the digital files with a copyright release they can go anywhere they want..... and for some that is why files only come with higher end packages

if they have copyright release yes.

mine have print release & online use release. so if they wanted to make an album themselves they could, but it would be a little bit of a grey area for them to hire someone.

so i just include an album with all packages now. and the cd of images comes with the album.

I would say 99% of the people that contact ALbumesque are photographers. That 1% is a Bride asking if we'll design their album for them. Our response is, do you have permission from your photographer, if so we need to see it in writing. We also always ask for the photographers contact info so we can talk to them as well.

AS a photographer I would say once you give them a DVD of all their images they are free to do as they please so I would encourage photographers to always include an album in their package before handing over the high rez images.

Amy (Albumesque)

Amy speaks the truth.

Thanks for the replies! Hmm... that gives me a lot to think about!