If you want to know how to create the best custom photo book, I’ve got just the online design tool for you!
Whether you want to create a travel photo book, wedding album, or even a fun family yearbook, Mixbook offers lots of different options to personalize your project.
In this review, I’ll walk you through their user-friendly design process, the variety of photo book customizations, and the many themes they have available for every occasion.
Let’s dive in!
In this blog, I share…
- Capturing Memories in a Digital World: Why Scrapbooking Will Always Have My Heart
- Mixbook Review: The Best Custom Photo Book for Every Occasion
- Mixbook’s Best Features
- How to Create a Custom Travel Photo Book with Mixbook: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Mixbook Custom Photo Book Pricing Estimate
- Mixbook Tips and Tricks
- Pros and Cons of Using Mixbook for Photo Books
- Most Common Questions About Customizing a Photo Book
- Final Thoughts: Why I’d Recommend Mixbook
This is a paid brand collaboration with Mixbook. As always, all opinions are my own.
Capturing Memories in a Digital World: Why Scrapbooking Will Always Have My Heart
If you ask anyone who knows me, they’ll tell you that I am the photographer and historian of the group. I love taking photos and videos to capture life’s precious moments… Sometimes to the point of my family’s irritation. I have videos of them yelling at me to sit down at the Thanksgiving table and stop filming, haha.
Just to paint a picture of how sentimental I am, I once cried after learning that some of my childhood disposable cameras were completely destroyed after being left in a hot storage unit (still haunts me).
In a digital world that has made us social media hungry and web obsessed, it’s nice to be able to have tangible memories in the form of photos that we can see, feel, and touch.
I’m the girl with bathtub-sized storage tubs of scrapbook supplies who goes all out on fun themed stickers, stamps, glittery pages, and 3D letters. I even have those cool scissors that cut different squiggly line designs out of paper.
That’s what I love about scrapbooking. Many of us have unknowingly fallen into the habit of sharing photos online for others’ approval instead of taking photos simply to preserve our favorite moments.
When you flip through the pages of your photo book or scrapbook, it’s just for you. There’s no audience, no judgment—just you reliving those memories.
Mixbook Review: The Best Custom Photo Book for Every Occasion
Traveling full-time has made my lifestyle very go, go. So, I haven’t had the time to sit down and scrapbook lately. So, when Mixbook reached out for a brand collaboration, it was perfect timing. It had been years since I created my own photo book.
If you want to turn your memories into old-fashioned keepsakes but don’t have the time or patience to scrapbook, photo books are great! And unlike scrapbooks, you don’t need to have a creative gene in your body to create your own photo book.
Creating Your Photo Book: Mixbook’s Best Features
One of the best things about Mixbook is their drag-and-drop tool, which is incredibly user-friendly. They also have a ton of professionally designed templates. You can personalize everything… photo layouts, backgrounds, text, and more!
To start your project, pick your photo book design, upload your photos, pop them into the templates on each digital page, then add your finishing touches. You can change the text, add stickers, swap out the page’s background, add more photo book pages, and choose your customizations like book size, page material, and more! Then, place your order and voila! It ships right to your door. Easy peasy.
Photo Books in Every Size and Style
When it comes to laying out your photos, you can have full-page images that make a big impact, or create fun collages with multiple pictures. I loved being able to mix up the layouts throughout my travel book.
As for the photo book size, whether you want a cute little travel book or a big, bold wedding album, Mixbook gives you a lot of options. They even let you pick between square or rectangular layouts.
What’s also cool is that they offer photo book themes for just about every occasion.
I created a travel photo book as a keepsake for a recent Europe trip, but you can also find themed photo books for weddings, birthdays, year-in-review, seasonal and holiday celebrations, and even sports yearbooks.
Collaborate with Loved Ones
Another cool thing about Mixbook is that it lets you invite others to collaborate on the photo book project. The project is viewable by invite only.
FUN FACT
With Mixbook, you can design calendars and framed canvas prints to put on your wall.
How to Create Your Own Custom Photo Book with Mixbook: A Step-by-Step Guide
I had fun playing around with Mixbook’s platform to come up with a design that’s uniquely me. Now, I’m going to share how you can create one that’s uniquely you. Follow these easy steps to turn your travel memories into your own custom travel photo book!
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Start Your Project
Visit Mixbook’s Travel Photo Books page.
Click on “Create Now” to begin your photo book project.
2. Choose Your Theme
Browse through a variety of travel-themed templates and pick the theme that best fits your travel experience: Honeymoon, Theme Parks, Cruise, Friend Trips, Adventure, International, or Beach Getaway, etc.
3. Select Your Size and Format
Choose the size and format of your photo book:
- Small (6×6 or 8×8): Great for small keepsakes or mini albums, perfect for a personal gift.
- Medium (8.5×11 or 10×10): Ideal for most occasions like travel albums or family books, providing enough space for detailed layouts. They’re also the perfect size for putting up on the shelf.
- Large (12×12 or 11×14): Perfect for major events like weddings or milestone albums, offering big, beautiful spreads for your best photos. These also make for great coffee table books.
Decide between square or rectangular formats based on your preferences.
4. Choose Your Cover Type
Hardcover: Durable and great for preserving important events like year in review, weddings or baby albums.
Softcover: Lightweight and flexible, best for smaller or everyday casual books like art books, portfolios, etc.
Lay Flat Covers: More luxurious option with thick pages & seamless spreads, often chosen for high-end keepsakes, milestone events or professional portfolios.
5. Pick Your Paper Type
Choosing the right paper and cover depends on how you plan to use and display your book. If it’s something you’ll handle often, go for more durable options like hardcover and premium paper.
- Signature Matte: Thick pages with a smooth, elevated non-glare finish, for special days and events.
- Signature Lustre: Thick pages with lustrous color clarity for magical moments. Lays flat, with low glare finish.
- Premium Matte: Ultra thick pages for keepsake-worthy moments. Lays flat with a non-glare fingerprint-proof finish. ** Keepsake box included
- Premium Lustre: Premium Lustre: Ultra thick pages for unforgettable stories. Lays flat, lustrous, low glare finish and superior clarity. ** keepsake box included.com
6. Upload Your Photos
After uploading photos to your project, drag and drop your travel photos into Mixbook’s editor.
Arrange them in pre-designed templates or create your own layouts.
7. Add and Customize Pages
Add Pages: Click “Add Page” to include more pages in your book. Each additional page typically costs around $1.00 to $2.00.
Customize Pages: Use Mixbook’s design tools to add text, captions, and decorative elements like stickers. Try seasonal or travel-themed stickers to add personality to your book.
8. Save for Later
If you want to come back to your project later, all your work will automatically save so you can pick up where you left off. Just click on the “My Projects” tab to find it next time.
9. Review and Place Your Order
Preview your photo book to ensure everything looks perfect.
Select your preferred paper type and cover options.
Place your order and wait for your custom photo book to arrive!
That’s it!
Pricing Estimate
Here’s a breakdown of Mixbook’s pricing for travel photo books:
Luxury Hardcover Photo Books
Price: $60 – $90
Includes: Premium paper, durable hardcover, and high-quality finish.
Standard Hardcover Photo Books
Price: $40 – $60
Includes: Sturdy hardcover with options for Premium Lustre or Layflat paper.
Softcover Photo Books
Price: $25 – $40
Includes: Flexible cover with standard paper options.
Mini Photo Books
Price: $15 – $25
Includes: Compact format, perfect for pocket-sized keepsakes.
Want to design a photo book?
Check out Mixbook to design a travel book or explore other photo book designs.
Mixbook Tips and Tricks
1. Use High-Resolution Photos
- Tip: Always upload high-resolution images (300 DPI) for the best print quality. Mixbook may give a warning if your photo is too low-res, but double-check your images before uploading to avoid pixelation.
2. Utilize Layout Guides
- Tip: Use the grid and alignment tools in Mixbook to ensure your photos and text are perfectly aligned. This small step makes your book look more polished and professional.
3. Maximize Photo Quality
- Tip: If your photos are a bit dark or dull, adjust brightness, contrast, or saturation directly within Mixbook’s editor. It saves you time compared to editing in external software.
4. Make Use of Auto-Fill Options
- Tip: If you’re pressed for time, use Mixbook’s auto-fill feature to automatically arrange photos on pages. You can always go back to tweak the layout if needed, but it’s a great time-saver.
5. Use the Layflat Option for Panoramic Shots
- Tip: For breathtaking landscape photos or panoramic shots, opt for the layflat binding. This allows your images to stretch seamlessly across two pages without being interrupted by the binding.
- 6. Adding Pages
- You can easily add more pages to your photo book. Extra pages generally cost between $1.00 and $2.00 each. Mixbook frequently offers deals on free shipping and discounts, so keep an eye on their website for promotions to get the best value on your photo book.
Pros and Cons of Using Mixbook for Photo Books
Here are some pros and cons when considering Mixbook for creating your custom photo book.
Pros
User-Friendly Design Tools
I like Mixbook’s intuitive drag and drop interface and easy to use customization options and design tools that allow for a high degree of personalization without you needing advanced design skills.
The templates allow you to just upload your photos and pop them into each of the boxes by dragging them from the side panel gallery. You can also choose the auto-fill feature which arranges your photos on the photos for you automatically.
Wide Range of Templates
I loved the variety of travel photo book options. Lots of designs to choose from for special occasions and themes like travel, weddings, and family.
High-Quality Printing and Materials
Many users rave about the quality of the printed photos and the durability of the photo books. Options for premium paper and cover materials add to the overall high standard of the final product.
Frequent Discounts and Deals
Look out for their frequent deals and promotions, including free shipping offers. These deals make it more affordable to create custom photo books, especially if you’re ordering multiple copies or pricey projects. I used the Labor Day sale too get up to 50% off my order.
Flexible Size and Format Options
Customers enjoy the ability to choose from various sizes and formats, including square, rectangular, and different dimensions. You can also add as many pages as you want for an additional cost.
Flexible Customization Options
Depending on your budget or preferences, you can customize the look of your photo book as much as you want. The side panel has a lot of customizations for your project. Choose from different stickers, text, background, themes, and layouts. You can even upload your own stickers and put it on the pages like a real scrapbook.
Cons
Higher Price Point
Mixbook’s photo books tend to be on the pricier side compared to other services. However, while the cost can add up, especially for larger or more premium options, Mixbook is known for its higher quality and better software. If you’re designing a book for a special occasion, some could argue it’s worth the cost to make sure you get something that lasts a lifetime.
Longer Production and Shipping Times
Some have noted that production and shipping times can be longer than expected, especially during peak seasons. This can be a drawback if you need your photo book by a specific date. The fastest delivery time is typically within a week. For me, that wasn’t a problem. I planned ahead.
Mobile App Only for iOS Users
I was disappointed that I couldn’t use the Mixbook app to design my photo book since it’s only on iOS devices and I’m an Android user. I like to easily upload from my phone’s gallery to design my photo book but, instead I had to work on my laptop which was a little bit more work and my hand got tired after a while.
Areas for Improvement
Page Management: Mixbook could improve by allowing users to delete or copy individual pages easily, rather than just duplicating or removing double pages.
Photo Gallery Issues: Once you place a photo in a frame, it disappears from the side panel’s gallery. To use it elsewhere, you need to temporarily replace it with another photo.
Page Order: Changing the order of pages is a bit tricky. You can only move pages by swapping them with others, so it’s best to arrange your pages before adding photos.
Vertical Photo Options: The design options for vertical photos are limited. It’s challenging to match vertical and horizontal photos seamlessly, so consider creating your own vertical layouts.
Most Common Questions About Designing and Customizing a Photo Book
You might be wondering where to start. Here are the top questions people have about designing and customizing a photo book and the answers to help you get started!
How do I choose the right theme for my photo book?
Whether you’re creating a wedding album, travel book, or year-in-review, your theme should match the vibe you’re going for. A travel book might have vibrant layouts with bold pops of color, while a wedding album could be more elegant and timeless.
The key is to pick a theme that tells your story. The Mixbook x Martha Stewart collection offers elegant design options that perfectly capture that timeless, sophisticated aesthetic Martha Stewart is known for. But, you can also start with a simple template and fully customize the pages with your own fonts, colors, and decorations, especially if you had, let’s say, a barnyard country or tropical themed wedding.
Can I customize every page of my photo book?
Absolutely! You can add your own layouts, backgrounds, text, and even stickers or embellishments to make your photo book stand out.
Opt for full-page photos, collage-style layouts, or mix it up throughout the book. You can also add captions, titles, and quotes to enhance the storytelling. If you’re not sure where to start, no worries, Mixbook gives you pre-designed layouts that you can modify to fit your style. The flexibility means you can make every page personal and unique.
Adding text and captions to your photo book is a great way to tell the story behind your photos too. You can add text boxes anywhere on the page and can include short captions, dates, quotes, or even longer sections if you’re creating a travel journal or a family history book.
How long does it take for a photo book to ship?
Mixbook’s shipping times for photo books typically range from 5 to 10 business days depending on the shipping method you choose and your location. See the shipping estimator here.
Final Thoughts: Why I’d Recommend Mixbook
Overall, Mixbook delivers on both design and quality. The materials are high-quality, and the options are endless. Whether you’re looking to create a travel book, wedding album, or just a fun family photo book, Mixbook’s themes and customizations are endless.
I really enjoyed using Mixbook and would definitely order from them again. While the process took a bit longer than I expected, the end result was worth it.
Share Your Mixbook Photo Book with Me!
Share your own Mixbook creation with me and I’ll feature your project in my blog!
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Thank you for reading Jane. 🙂
It’s a beautiful way to honor your memories. I hope you get a photo book too. 🙂
I’m gonna have to order this book. What a great idea seeing your loved ones and walking down memory lane at the same time just with a flick of your finger.
Thanks for this blog. I already have a set of pictures that I want to have made into photo album and I expect to make more in the future.
That’s something my mom would say. 😉 These photobooks are fun. I hope you share your photobook with me Sherri.
Such a great idea. No one and I mean no one, wants to sit by my side and look at my phone as I show them my vacay pics .
I’m definitely ordering these.