PhotoBook Philippines - Customize Photobooking at its best!

Sharing my great experience with PHOTOBOOK PHILIPPINES for the good quality of service they have rendered to me. Here's the story...

I was in the middle of thinking what I could give my grandparents' for their 50th Wedding anniversary. And it suddenly came to my mind to create them a printed photobook. So I immediately searched the internet for Philippine branches creating such. I came across Kodak, DigiPrint and Photobook Philippines. DigiPrint, a LBC company, and Photobook Philippines are the providers that I considered.

I studied DigiPrint's website and have seen that for 40 photobook pages the lowest I would have to pay is P3,200. I remain undecided due to the following reasons:

- They are the one who will format the design, all I have to do was give them pictures' soft copy.
(I wished it would be more personalized)

- After they format the design, they'll email me for the proof copy and approval.
(If I don't like the format, we would be going on circles and I don't have enough time left to finish my project)

- The copies of the pictures are still not on hand since I'm collecting them from other relatives as well.
(I need more time! waaa!)

- They charge additional fee for scanning service.


Information above are derived from their website and by talking to a Crew from a Mandaluyong Branch thru phone.

As for Photobook Philippines, the lowest was P2,000 for 40 pages. Wow great difference, but still I remain undecided for the following reasons:

- They don't have a branch in the Philippines
(Support people informed me that the nearest office in my region is Malaysia and Australia)

- Based on my location, I can only pay online via credit card or Paypal
(Noting to myself that this is the first time I going to pay for something online - I fear for security reasons.)

- It would take 3-5 days to complete my order and 2-4 days for courier delivery.

Information above are derived from their website and by talking to an online support agent. (They are nice agents actually. They helped alot throughout my transaction.)

Time was really my enemy here. So, "If my choice wouldn't work, then, malas!", I told myself. I decided to go for PhotoBook Philippines. They're beautiful website also helped me on deciding http://www.photobookphilippines.com/. "Hindi naman 'to siguro manloloko", I assured myself, "May worldwide branches pa sila". They even have a buy one get one promo at that time 'till April 20th. "Sayang rin ang free-copy". So, I immediately downloaded their free software (MyPhotobooks Editor) and started designing my photobook. What I found not comforting with Photobook is that you cannot continue your work from one computer to another. Their application is based on java and the work was kind of encrypted on itself and cannot be transfered to another computer. I just worked at home and was not able to continue at the office.

I was able to finish my work on April 27 at 3am, beyond the promo period and beyond my calculated delivery date. I was still hoping that they can deliver on or before may 3, of course I was just taking chances because they clearly stated that it would take 9 days atmost and 5 days the earliest. But, May 1 is a holiday, so to the ground goes my hope. As for the promo, I talked to the online support and was informed that it can be extended until the 30th. Wow!!! Wish granted.

In the evening, I inqured about the status since the payment was still not reflected on my credit card. I contacted online support and during the conversation May L informed me that it will be processed/printed the next day for they already received the payment.

Tuesday came and when I checked the status at the photobook worldwide store my order was already DELIVERED! Wow! That was fast. I was given a tracking no. to check with DHL and indeed by 9pm of Tuesday the package was already out of Malaysia. Wow!

By Wednesday morning I already received the order. And I was amazed at how fast and reliable their service is. The print quality was great too!

Sample Front Cover Made by MyPhotobook Editor

I give my 5 stars to Photobook Philippines for the following points:
1. When I took a chance of requesting for priority deadline on May 3 - it was granted - earlier pa!
2. The online support people are very helpful. They assisted me all throughout the process.
3. The print quality was in "as-is" basis to what I see in the proof PDF format.
4. Their payment system-credit card, using bibit, was indeed secure.
5. They all exceed my expectations.

Here are the great features of printing with Photobook Philippines.
- They use HP Indigo press 5000 that uses liquid ink called Electroink that enables high resolution, uniform gloss, sharp image edges, and very thin image layers resulting in a highly uniformed finish of your photos.
- All prints are colour-managed adopting the Europe ISO Coated Fogra 39 colour space to preserve the natural colours of your photographs.
- Using archival quality acid-free paper imported from the Italian paper manufacturer Fedrigoni. Unlike ordinary prints, this paper will sustain the colours of your photos and stand the test of time.
- Hard cover photo books are individually bound by hand, using a side-stitch binding method that provides exceptional bind strength. Soft cover photo books are bound using perfect binding, a widely known traditional method used in making magazines.
- You can customize according to available options for your book like book cover options and sizes.
- Reliable and fast sales and support services.


As a result of the good experience, I even re-ordered another copy of the same book from them. Kudos to PhotoBook Philippines!