Kiss Wedding Books

So yesterday I finally received my two portfolio albums from Kiss Wedding Books.

All I can say is WOW! Lots of times you read about product, but seriously nothing prepares you when you physically get it in your hand.

I have my first booth at a bridal show next weekend. Over the last few months I've thought long and hard which company I want to deal with for my albums. I really liked Graphistudio, but it has taken them 4 months (yes thats right 4 months) to ship my sample package. To me, that certainly is not acceptable. Sure its a FREE sample package, but at the same time, they should be wowing you from the start. Also there just seems to be WAY to many options. It starts to get almost too confusing after a while. Kiss makes it simple.

It took me a while to do the layouts for the Kiss Albums, but I'm sure over time I'll only get faster. Also my fiancee was in India for 3 weeks, and since she's got the awesome design eye, I waited till she returned to finish up the design on the remaining pages.

Just as their website says, EVERYTHING so super simple. I did call initially, to find out about shipping time (as I needed the books ASAP) and the first person to pickup the phone was Kevin Swan. Super nice to deal with on the phone, and also via email. The whole process went super smooth.

Once my images were uploaded, I got a email saying that they were checked out, and every step of the process I got a email with an update. I did opt for the RUSH service, as I didn't want to risk not having the albums on time. It took exactly 7 days from the time I ordered my albums (feb 7 12:35am) to them being in my hands (feb 14 1:00pm).

As luck would have it, the albums arrived on Valentines day. Yes finally a gift for the man :P

The shipping box has some big red 'lips' on the outside of the box:

Do you mind sharing the price? I am waiting for approval, but I would really like to know their prices.

Wow, just checked their site. They look awesome.

Would you mind if we could see an open page spread?

Cybnew wrote in post #4928294
Do you mind sharing the price? I am waiting for approval, but I would really like to know their prices.

Sorry, but I won't disclose their price on a public forum. As you are aware their pricing is strictly for professional photographers only, and they are very strict when it comes to having their prices public. How long ago did you sign up on their site? My account was activated in one day. I'd just email them.

elysium wrote in post #4928335
Wow, just checked their site. They look awesome.

Would you mind if we could see an open page spread?

Woops, I didn't take many inside spread pictures yet, just because I'm saving posting those till after my bridal show. I did take one however from my 10x10 album:

I personally know the owners of KISS Books (Keep It Simple Stupid) and I must say both Shawn and Kevin are really amazingly nice guys and truly just want to help out. (check out my FaceBook page to see some pictures of them partying with us on the last day if Imaging in Tampa this year) They ARE CRAZY but in a good way!

Both being photographers and both knowing the limits of ordering albums, they have created great marketing with a simple product that is effective for you and your clients.

Again though, they are super nice guys and to me that is a key to who I give my money too!

Nice albums also

The covers look like top-shelf leather, not that flimsy stuff that most of the other vendors use. I will definitely check them out.

Gujustud wrote in post #4930253
Sorry, but I won't disclose their price on a public forum. As you are aware their pricing is strictly for professional photographers only, and they are very strict when it comes to having their prices public. How long ago did you sign up on their site? My account was activated in one day. I'd just email them.

They got back to me...nice books, a bit more expensive than I was looking for. Very nice product though!

Spread looks amazing!

Do you have to buy a set amount of books per month/year? Or can you just buy them as you need them?
Lets say you shoot 3-5 weddings in a year, spread far apart...Do you have to do more weddings than that to use KISS?

S-man: Nope you can buy however you please.

Cool, I might contact them. I'm supposed to be second-shooting a wedding in April (first 'for-real' wedding) and really like the look of their books.
As a dirt-cheap(er) alternative, I also looked at Snapfish and Shutterfly's websites and they have 12x12 books, but I don't know how they look/hold up.

Mike Fulton wrote in post #4930299
I personally know the owners of KISS Books (Keep It Simple Stupid) and I must say both Shawn and Kevin are really amazingly nice guys and truly just want to help out. (check out my FaceBook page to see some pictures of them partying with us on the last day if Imaging in Tampa this year) They ARE CRAZY but in a good way!

We too got a chance to hang with Kevin & Shawn, along with Mike Larson for a bit at Imaging... awesome guys.

We exclusively use KISS, and we love 'em... the quality of the books and the service is top notch.

I'm glad to be seeing good feedback on Kiss books. I met Shaun a few months ago at an LA smug meeting, and thought the books were perfect for what the market is looking for: Simple wedding albums.

I'm in the process of choosing an album vendor right now and it was between Millers Lab and Kiss. I think I'm going to choose Kiss because the inner binding is more seamless without any gaps. I just need to figure out how to explain the information to my clients. Anyone have ideas? Do I just take the info off KISS' page?

I prefer Finao more cover options and still simple enough for little old me

beautiful!....so they only offer this to professional photogs?