So here is…  KoodibooK

We originally had the idea for creating a brand new way of self-publishing three years ago.  We took the risk and threw our energy into creating KoodibooK and now (after lots of hard work and support from many people) it feels like we’ve just given birth. Not in the ‘crank-up-the-gas-and-air’ way, but in the sense that something we care about has just entered the world and has the potential to enable lots of people to express themselves in so many ways.

And in order to achieve its potential, it needs dedication from its immediate family (us) coupled with nurturing development from its extended family (you).

So that’s my first message on the launch of KoodibooK.   Our baby has been born.  We’re extremely proud and we know it’s very special, but it’s not perfect and can always get better.

They say it takes a whole village to bring up a child and we’re lucky that the village KoodibooK was born in is a global one. Wherever you are, we’d appreciate you helping KoodibooK grow up with all the love and attention you can spare.

Photo book

Ever wondered why professional photographers seem to have a way of creating great collections of photos ranging from wedding photo albums to landscapes?  If you’re asking yourself how they do it then here are 10 useful tips that can bring your own photo book a little closer to that professional quality without having to pay the professionals.

Top 10 tips to create a photobook like a pro

1. Snap away - Invest in a larger memory card to enable you to snap away without worrying about filling up the card.  Don’t hold back on those shots and you will end up with amazing photos for your photobook.
2. Take a variety of shots - Variety will indeed add spice to your photobook.  Stand, tilt and crouch when taking photos to yield photos with very different feels. A variety of perspectives and angles can add a much needed touch of artistic flair to your photobook.
3. Think of a theme - Don’t be afraid to get creative. It might be fun to consider photographing everyone’s shoes at a wedding to make a funky end page in your book. Perhaps you can photograph the same thing over time (like the first few months of a baby’s life) resulting in a photobook that sends the viewer through an experience step by step.
4. Tell a story – If you have chosen a person as your primary subject then show many sides of that person by capturing different moments such as casual, formal, close details and even different moods. Take a surprise picture if you have to! Sometimes these crazy shots don’t work but on the off chance that they do they’ll be the ones that set your photo book apart from the rest.
5. Edit, crop and tweak - Many great photos are made even better by editing out unnecessary detail or interference. This may mean that you may end up with smaller photos but don’t fret! Smaller pieces of photos can make for great collages or compilations in a photobook.
6. Be Selective - The most ‘photo book-changing’ secret we can give you is to use only good photos. This does not mean only the ones you look good in. You may look great in a shot but if everyone you are with has their eyes closed then it may not be such a great photo after all.
7. Focus on consistency and order - Choose a uniformed way of labelling (If you are going to say “Grandpa George” then consider saying “Aunt Sally” instead of just “Sally”; are you going to include full names or use Nick-names?). Remember, having one photo out of sequence can be the kind of detail that makes your photobook seem amateur.
8. Seek other opinions-It helps to gain another perspective on things; be it from friends or family. Why not publish on our website, share on facebook, your personal blog or twitter to get useful comments about your book.
9. Gain inspiration- View photobooks published by other users on Koodibook.com (No this is not permission to copy!). This will provide some inspirational ideas for your own book.
10. Create an eye-catching front cover-In this instance we will judge a book by its cover as first impressions are indeed important with photobooks. Put considerable effort into making your front cover as eye-catching as possible.

Now that you are a photobook pro, you can start exploring by downloading the free Koodibook software and perhaps even print some of your collections.  If you are feeling particularly creative then enter your ‘masterpiece’ into one of our occasional competitions.

KoodibooK is about sharing your memories and making inspiring designs while giving you the best possible experience with photobook creation.  The KoodibooK software allows you to access your photos at amazing speed from wherever they are and use them to create photobooks that can be published anywhere.