Making a Photo Book | Sequencing & Choices

What decisions do you make when making a photo book? Let's talk about it.
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[@corbinheist]

This hit at the perfect time, as I'm sitting down to put together my first photobook.

[@AwesomeCameras]

same here!

[@jobyrascon]

Same here! Who are you using to make your book?

[@ZackDowdy]

The part about flipping the page back & fourth to enhance the story really hit home. Congrats on the book!

[@HEYitsTRAV]

Excited to receive my copy. This is something that I am excited to share with people. I’ve mentioned your work to many people before, to be able to have a physical version of your art, it is much easier to grab someone’s attention.

[@tylershieldsvideos]

nothing like making a photo book

[@bradlspencer]

Cmon king 🙏🏻🙌🏻

[@MadisonBeach]

Great to hear Kevin's insight. One of the biggest things I've learnt over this past year is the importance of getting feedback from peers throughout the zine making process

[@tsvetomilsemkov2527]

Thank you, Matt! You are such an inspiration. Love photobooks, started collecting not so long ago and it's an amazing way to consume photography! Wish I could get your book, maybe in the future

[@TaffyXZ]

Took me a few months to create my first photobook and those were really fun times. Every aspect of the book should be intentional like you mentioned and I couldn't agree more.

[@martinachvalova7691]

Wow, amazing idea, thank you so much!

[@igorgofman]

nice! i just printed my first photobook so its a very very cool experience)

[@412foto]

Love that he was specifically talking in the beginning about a larger audience than the small town being photographed. I am considering a photo book project right now. Have shot a decent amount of photos. Need to start going through to see what all I have and where there are still gaps. But this very thought hit me today...will it only resonate with those from that small town (where I grew up) or a bigger audience?

[@DTM-Books]

Sometimes, you only learn what your photo album is about is after a year or two, and that leads to a revised 2nd edition. I’ve done this a lot in my career, and I’m working on severs titles right now, in fact. I usually end up trimming down the size, aiming for a shorter, faster & more focused work, but may also work with the running order or change the flow. Think of a photo album like a movie. Your shots need to flow into one another, and cuts from one “scene” to the next may comment on one another. There is a rhythm that must be consistent in order to hold the viewer’s attention. For two books, one 2nd edition originally from 2019, the other my newest album for 2024, I used a recurring series of shots that would serve as the rhythm section, the steady backbeat that sustains the story. For Biotracer (2019), I use shots of a famous sculpture in Chicago’s Grant Park. For Superunknown (2024), I used shots of fashion mannequins from Chicago storefronts. Learn to think of a photo book as a movie or music album. It has an overall theme or focus, it has a story to tell, it has a purpose and a goal. You’re not merely throwing a bunch of pictures together. And you must become comfortable with cutting things out. Indeed, editing is a skill I am still improving upon. For my upcoming portraits book, Exile On Main Street (2024), I have 252 digital images, but the full photo count was easily double that, maybe more. I chopped A LOT out from the final work, which took over a full year to complete. Mind you, my photo albums are far larger than most artists out there (roughly from 140-300 images), but these lessons work with anyone’s projects. Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@sarahstellino1954]

So excited for this video. I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently! Definitely saving this one!

[@gottanikoncamera]

I was so excited to finally see something on sequencing for a photo book. I hear ya but could you devote a video to going through examples of why certain photos are sequenced together. A while back while combing through a book you commented that the reason for certain pairings was obvious. I would have benefitted from an explanation because it wasn’t obvious to me. Thanks for your content.

[@gottanikoncamera]

Mike Smith, I can figure out sequencing in a photo essay. The process is less obvious to me when it’s a photo book.

[@Ry_Gordon]

Excited to get my copy!

[@_jprater]

Love this video. Very envious of this work - bummed I moved away before I got into cameras. Screw the algorithm!

[@crlclssic]

i literally dont understand why people leave dislikes? what is there to dislike here for a start? and if you arent actually interested...move along

[@jackspaeth7144]

More please.

[@okipokemon]

please do more podcast episodes. i really loved listening to archives as I did my homework

[@ordinaryimages]

May I suggest "Structure of the Visual Book" by Keith A. Smith - particularly the chapter - Homage to Nathan Lyons. To paraphrase in short: Each image is a "dependent" unit that may preview, reference, and/or echo elements found in other images the book. A book so structured may show one thing, while suggesting other interpretations. Titles by Nathan Lyons: "Notations in Passing" and "Riding First Class on the Titanic".

[@garrettremy3420]

THATS OUR BOY, KALVIN OHARA. what a couple of beautiful people.

[@kevinomeara86]

“I watched this dude walk miles of SF in new shoes and come home with socks soaked in blood.”

[@BrandonDull]

so fire , great job

[@luanrosa3022]

Love u man

[@KailoMaliki]

felt a lot of this with my first book

[@blaqsmiff]

Another great video.👍🏾

[@SourianteOrange]

Great, Matt!

[@willmccleland2383]

Great video a lot of food for thought!

[@lol-vq8dh]

Great video

[@hollywoodheiner6028]

So inspiring!

[@EricAdeleye]

Excellent video. Is the 2nd edition of your book available for sale?

[@FilmGarrett]

Thank you for this

[@AI-Hallucination]

Brilliant brilliant. Fuck the gear 🤣🤣 this is photography for me

[@AngelGomez-wu6gz]

Awesome

[@AngelGomez-wu6gz]

ohhhh this is amazing!! I can’t believe THE UNBELIEVABLE Matt Day liked my comment !!! made my day 👍

[@nogum100]

Thank you for the details! Did you go through with any test prints of the pages, or entire book, or did you trust it will turn out as you expect?

[@bigdogdougcambridge1008]

Hi Matt thanks for the good thoughts. Who do you use as a publisher?

[@verbatim411411]

Question: What size did you choose for the book?

[@emmanuelf.7262]

What are the best services you recommend to create photo books?

[@kevinomeara86]

Adobe InDesign.

[@sundaybrunch7097]

Okay, now how do you price them?

[@daltoart]

How are you doing the publishing for the book Matt??

[@mattdayphoto]

I’m self publishing. The book is all being printed and distributed by me, with the help of my friend, Kevin O’Meara

[@brandrobear]

Where do you recommend the printing of the book?

[@kevinomeara86]

Really depends one what your budget is and what you want the final product to be like.

[@colinosullivan930]

Did I miss the pre order somehow ? 😳

[@6wop]

❤️😍