General Photographic Chat

**Paul** · #1 (**permalink**) 17-06-2009, 18:31

I've only produced the digital albums but have no idea what I would need to do if a couple wanted a traditional style matt album.

Say for example, using GFSmith to get the stuff from... what do I need to do? What is the process? If I ordered an album from them, exactly what would I need to make that album? Pages, tape, prints??? Total n00b in this area!

Any advice would be extremely appreciated.

fstopman · #2 (**permalink**) 27-06-2009, 16:16

HI Paul,
GF Smith albums and spicer Hallfield(now in administration or very close to it) use a basic template system consisting of A bare album with quality cover and blank pages to which you buy seperate or packs of "leaves and overlays" that have apetures for your images.
It is a very time consuming way to make an album but they do give an appearence of quality to your work.
I think this system is rapidly being replaced by the digital Album but you have to be customer led and offer what your customer wants.
I think the easiest way to would be to have a look at this link
http://www.gfsmithphotomount.co.uk/d.../Portrait1.pdf
and this link http://www.gfsmithphotomount.co.uk/d...&Overlays1.pdf
Perhaps go to one of the Trade shows Particuly Focus on Imaging where you will have reps falling over themselves to help you.
I use a Company called Maple Framing to get mounts and supplies from I believe they stock GF Smith Albums and bits here is a link
Maple Framing Ltd good luck

**Eos1nrs** · #3 (**permalink**) 27-06-2009, 16:43

If it helps mate, i use to use GF smith all the time before i switched to portrait work, time consuming and very classy but well worth the effort, highly recommended

**Paul** · #4 (**permalink**) 28-06-2009, 10:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by fstopman

HI Paul,
GF Smith albums and spicer Hallfield(now in administration or very close to it) use a basic template system consisting of A bare album with quality cover and blank pages to which you buy seperate or packs of "leaves and overlays" that have apetures for your images.
It is a very time consuming way to make an album but they do give an appearence of quality to your work.
I think this system is rapidly being replaced by the digital Album but you have to be customer led and offer what your customer wants.
I think the easiest way to would be to have a look at this link
http://www.gfsmithphotomount.co.uk/d.../Portrait1.pdf
and this link http://www.gfsmithphotomount.co.uk/d...&Overlays1.pdf
Perhaps go to one of the Trade shows Particuly Focus on Imaging where you will have reps falling over themselves to help you.
I use a Company called Maple Framing to get mounts and supplies from I believe they stock GF Smith Albums and bits here is a link
Maple Framing Ltd good luck

Very useful Keith and many thanks for those links. I'll definitely check out Maple Framing to see what they offer and I think when I get a little spare cash, i'll order the bits and put one together using a previous weddings images just to know exactly what's involved but you are right though, all my weddings have been digital albums and the customer that made me ask this question saw the digital albums and went for them instead.

I'd still like to get a much better understanding of the whole process though and learn how make make them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eos1nrs

If it helps mate, i use to use GF smith all the time before i switched to portrait work, time consuming and very classy but well worth the effort, highly recommended

Cheers buddy, i'll get some parts ordered soon and give them a go if only to say I can do them in the future and have confidence to say I can make them too.

**Eos1nrs** · #5 (**permalink**) 28-06-2009, 11:32

if you ever cock it up, (i did!) use a hair-dryer(!) to slowly soften the double sided tape and use a scalpel to prise the overlay away from the page if you are using the stick on ones as opposed to the slot in type..