How to send copies of prints to publisher (non digital b&w)?

[logan2z]

A bit off-topic but what book from Steidl would you suggest to buy? I would be interested in reviewing the print quality etc.

I know https://steidl.de/Books/Whatever-You-Say-Say-Nothing-1216314559.html is quite epic (and you can use that word describing that book) but the price is a bit high for my budget

There are many good ones. You could start with that old staple 'The Americans' if by some chance you don't already own a copy. Another that I think is very nicely printed is 'In Flagrante Two' by Chris Killip. I know some people think this edition is too large, but I think the print quality is very high.

 

[Mike Lopez]

I had pre-ordered those Friedlander books as well. Really disappointing that they've never been released, although they're still on Steidl's 'Coming Soon' list so maybe they'll be published some day. The same thing happened with a couple of Frank Gohlke books. I'm hoping the reprinting of 'New Topographics' doesn't suffer the same fate.

I bought a copy of New Topographics when Steidl reprinted it in 2010. Are you saying it's supposed to be reprinted again? If so, I imagine that it must be pretty low on Steidl's priorities at this point, him having already published it little more than ten years ago. Good luck to you--I hope you're eventually able to secure a copy!

 

[logan2z]

I bought a copy of New Topographics when Steidl reprinted it in 2010. Are you saying it's supposed to be reprinted again?!

Yes, it's slated to be reprinted again.

https://steidl.de/Books/New-Topographics-0537384042.html

 

[Pieter12]

There are many good ones. You could start with that old staple 'The Americans' if by some chance you don't already own a copy. Another that I think is very nicely printed is 'In Flagrante Two' by Chris Killip. I know some people think this edition is too large, but I think the print quality is very high.

In Flagrante Two is 40% off at the Getty store right now.

Also, I would look at Nazraeli Press here in the U.S. I don't think they take unsolicited submissions, but the quality of their books is first-class.

 

[Pieter12]

It just happens that Jonathan Blaustein wrote a very informative blog post on just this subject today. https://aphotoeditor.com

 

[logan2z]

Also, I would look at Nazraeli Press here in the U.S. I don't think they take unsolicited submissions, but the quality of their books is first-class.

Agreed, I have several Nazraeli Press books and they are all terrific.

 

[faberryman]

Have you contacted PhotoMidwest (formerly The Center for Photography at Madison)? I wouldn't be surprised if they had one or more Epson 700/750/800/850 scanners you could access for a nominal membership fee, and some members with experience using it could get you up to speed.

https://www.photomidwest.org/

 

[Christopher Frank]

Thank you for sharing the link to the story on Steidl. I read that in the print edition a few years back and it was good to revisit it.

While Steidl's quality is top shelf, his scheduling "quirkiness" can be quite maddening. He is now several years behind his original schedule for publishing two Lee Friedlander books, which were made available on Amazon on a pre-order basis over four years ago. Eventually Amazon threw in the towel and cancelled the pre-orders. When I asked Lee about this in 2019, all he could do was shrug and say that he doesn't know when those books will come out. I really hope he's still around to see them in print. Quite frustrating, to be sure.

This struck a chord: "I really hope he's still around to see them in print. Quite frustrating, to be sure." Lee is 87; I am 72 and in good health but as you probably saw even if were accepted, Steidl requires that the artist make 3 trips (of course his hands on approach at every point along the way is appreciated) before everything is finalized & approved. If he does only one book at a time, and I have no reason to doubt him, & being that he is already behind his original schedule for publishing two books, is a bit alarming; 3 people who were influential in my life passed away before 70 quite suddenly meaning they had not been sick; this makes me acutely aware of my own mortality (not in a once in a while morbid way) which is said to be an important thing. Not quite the same thing but it reminds me of authors who sell the rights to their book to a film studio, and the book never makes it to see the light of day; even allowing the intentions were pure the net result is the work is tied up, never to be produced sitting on an office shelf somewhere.

 

[Christopher Frank]

Have you contacted PhotoMidwest (formerly The Center for Photography at Madison)? I wouldn't be surprised if they had one or more Epson 700/750/800/850 scanners you could access for a nominal membership fee, and some members with experience using it could get you up to speed.

I was a member but no longer; I have sent emails to my contact there and as yet no reply; their web site has not been updated and I sadly suspect due to Covid they are struggling financially. Thank you I was aware of their scanner. I have opted, when I do go forward, to go with Tom Fritz in Milwaukee based on a conversation I had with him.

https://www.photomidwest.org/

 

[faberryman]

Tom Fritz looks like a good choice. Let us know when your book is published.

 

[Pieter12]

This struck a chord: "I really hope he's still around to see them in print. Quite frustrating, to be sure." Lee is 87; I am 72 and in good health but as you probably saw even if were accepted, Steidl requires that the artist make 3 trips (of course his hands on approach at every point along the way is appreciated) before everything is finalized & approved. If he does only one book at a time, and I have no reason to doubt him, & being that he is already behind his original schedule for publishing two books, is a bit alarming; 3 people who were influential in my life passed away before 70 quite suddenly meaning they had not been sick; this makes me acutely aware of my own mortality (not in a once in a while morbid way) which is said to be an important thing. Not quite the same thing but it reminds me of authors who sell the rights to their book to a film studio, and the book never makes it to see the light of day; even allowing the intentions were pure the net result is the work is tied up, never to be produced sitting on an office shelf somewhere.

Be prepared to invest a lot of time and money in this project. You will need to scan or digitally photograph all your prints and adjust them to you liking. Or scan the negatives and redo all the work you did in the darkroom. That involves either outsourcing or an investment in decent equipment and software, plus the skills to use them. Even if the publisher or printer you end up with will rescan the photos, you will need something to put together a proposal and mock-up of the book to shop around. And if you self-publish, it is all on you or whoever you hire. Also, if you self-publish, you will need to sell and distribute the books somehow. Many bookstores won't take self-published books, leaving online sales and maybe a gallery or other outlet.

Steidl is good, but not the only game in town. If you haven't already read it, Jonathan Blaustein's post on book publishing (https://aphotoeditor.com/2022/01/28/this-week-in-photography-making-a-book/) is a pretty good, if wordy, assessment of the process today. Your best and quickest way to get published is to self-publish. Do some serious research, there are a lot of sources. I have used Bookmobile in Minneapolis as a moderately-priced, quality printer. But I don't think they do some of the more sophisticated techniques like duo- or tritone black printing. And if you don't have the design or editing chops, hire someone who does or you will most likely be disappointed. Even publishers like Steidl will charge you a good sum to cover some or all of the prepress work involved, unless you are a known quantity that will guarantee sales.

In the end, maybe a limited edition portfolio is the best way to go if you have a gallery or know enough collectors to make it worthwhile. Diane Arbus made a portfolio of 10 prints (in a custom acrylic case that could be used as a frame for display) while she was alive. She made 8 of a projected edition of 50 and she only sold 4 of them.