3 Key Lessons I Learned Making My First Photobook
Order a copy of ‘An American Mile’: bit.ly/3Og6Z45
Six years after making my first images in the American West, the project has come to a close and I'm excited to finally hold my first photobook in hand, titled 'An American Mile'. In this video, I'm sharing three (plus a bonus) of the most important lessons I learned as I reflect on the entire process, including discovering the project, making the work, and bringing it all together for this monograph. I hope this helps you in some way with your own work!
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Пікірлер: 164
I returned in April from my Route 66 TRip love seeing the places we both stopped at!
To your last point, PLEASE make that follow up video with Subjectively Objective. I would be forever grateful
Your videos have re-ignited my passion in photography. No other channel talks about photography in terms of projects and putting in time on those projects, like your channel does. You have no idea how much we need this specially in an era of AI generated images, where one can’t tell if it’s actual photo or manipulate junk.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate that!
An America Mile arrived in my mailbox on June 13. It is a project in which you should have tremendous pride. As. I leafed through the first few images, I literally had to stop after a half dozen pages to catch my breath. The photos are heart-stoping. The meticulous care which was taken in editing the photos is obvious. They flow together seamlessly and the quality of the printing and the book itself does justice to the beautiful images. I know it took longer to put together than you had imagined and had hoped, but in the end the wait was well worth it. This book is a treasure that I will enjoy over and over for many, many years. Well done Kyle and thanks.
@KyleMcDougall
11 ай бұрын
Really happy to hear that! Thanks so much, and I appreciate the support of the project.
I really like that observation that sometimes photos have more value as part of a collection than on their own. Congrats on the book, it looks stunning.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Peter!
Ordered the book and looks like it shipped. Can’t wait to get it!!
Thanks, but although I agree that "don't do it alone" is a good (possibly essential) strategy, it's much easier said than done. It's hard enough to find "peers" to discuss work, much less someone to help with the complex process of curating and sequencing the images and all of the other decisions involved in book production. I've been thinking about this for some time and have ample images I know will "work," but it's daunting to really get the process going! Congrats on achieving that.
Yes please to the laundry list!
I just want to say congratulations to your first book! It honestly looks absolutely beautiful. And thanks for sharing these insights, it's really helpful as some day I also want to finalise my projects in a book.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙌🙏
Congratulations!!! Stoked for you. Thank you for sharing your insight.
Just got my tracking number today then here is this video! Congratulations! Cant wait to see it!
Congratulations Kyle and wish you best of success with your project
I was very happy to see the email with shipping confirmation today. Can’t wait for it to come in. Awesome work!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
got the book last week and it's a Wonderfull work. Not only the quality but also the story behind and such awesome photographs
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thanks! Glad to hear you enjoy it.
Hi Kyle, just received it yesterday. Congratulation for this really good book. Love it. Currently creating my own book (also with a publisher), your vidéo is SOOOO valuable! Thank you for your advices and long live to American Miles!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Philippe! And congrats on yours as well.
Love the book!!!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Kim!
Congrats Kyle, looks a beautifully captured and well put together work, so cool seeing you really satisfied with the finished result.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate that, Andrew. Thank you!
Rescanning after some time is a pain ... I had to rescan some older negatives (few years old by that time) that I did not treat well in my early days of taking pictures and I spent sometimes even a few hours retouching the single hi res scan (with heavy grain as I pushed to 1600) and also making the scan on the LS5000 look like the older scans or even dark room prints that I did back then. Luckily by the time I got to second book, my process has stabilized and I only had to pull everything from folders. I would not want to repeat that process ever again :D
Congratulations! My copy is in the mail as we speak and I can't wait to flip through it :)
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Awesome. Hope you enjoy!
PLEASE make more videos on the book publishing process. I'm banging my head against a wall organizing my photos, checking quality, checking out different publishers, etc etc etc.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Something I plan to do more of in the future.
Just received my book today and it did not disappoint! Fantastic!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Happy to hear that! Thank you.
Congrats. I'm working on my first as well. All the best. ✌
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Your work is amazing!!! Thanks for sharing.
Road movie vibe! Love it Kyle! Great job and I could not be more agree with you on the project can find you and having fun making it happen!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Javier!
I would love that list of things to keep in mind when working on a book
Congrats on the book, well done! Definitely would be interested in another video on the ins and outs of publishing, as I'm also in the first stages of putting a zine/book together. On another note: It's great to get an honest view on how a project like this takes shape, finds direction and that you can't really force it sometimes.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you. I'll plan some more topics around this for the future.
Super stoked Kyle. Just places my order in last week for a copy and am so looking forward to its arrival. Congratulations on everything and thank you for sharing your talent with the world
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Awesome! Thank you, Daniel!
Can't wait to have this in hand! Great work mate, you should be very proud!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Matthew!
I've been subscribed for a while little now and your work has been a big influence on my own stuff, great to see this finally come to life! Just ordered a copy so looking forward to getting into it.
@KyleMcDougall
11 ай бұрын
Thank you, Adam! I appreciate that.
beautiful Kyle
@KyleMcDougall
7 ай бұрын
Thank you!
Great job. Appreciate your insights. I am always challenged and enlightened by your videos.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Cheers, Jack!
Congrats on your great achievement.
My Airbnb guest shared with me your book today. It's beautiful,, nostalgic. Congratulations on following your heart! Bravo.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you very much! I appreciate the comment.
My order is in, can't wait to get it. And congrats, so very happy for you!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙌 Thank you!
I'm newish to your channel and I have to say I love your very thought out content. Your presentations are always clear and informative! I'm going to order your book and can't wait to get it! Great work!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Steve! Glad you've been enjoying the channel.
Congratulations Kyle, it looks great! As a fan of the New Topographics I can see the influences! Well done!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much!
I received my book - it is absolutely incredible and worth the wait. Thank you for publishing your work, and I am excited for your next one 😊
@KyleMcDougall
11 ай бұрын
Thank you so much!
can t wait for it to arrive home! Congrats Kyle
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thanks, Bianca!
I'm dreaming of this. You did it. Respect!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙌🙏
Can't wait for my copy - thanks!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙏
Can't wait for book to arrive!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙌
Great stuff. Looking forward to receiving my copy! Cheers Kyle. Keep up the good work.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Scott!
Have you ever thought about doing a video where you view and talk about work from other photographers? It would be kinda cool to do a book review of some of the other work published by Subjectively Objective! Maybe you could interview that person as well
nice work!
thank you. this is very inspiring ✌
Just got your book couple of days ago and I'm so excited!! It's beautiful and congratulations again! :)
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for picking up a copy!
Great video Kyle, cannot wait to receive my copy and love the insight you gave for the process
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Appreciate you grabbing one, Lukas. Cheers!
Congrats brother! Im happy for you
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, man!
Very well done!
Got mine two days ago, brilliant piece of art. THANK YOU Kyle!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for supporting this.
Just got my tracking number. Very excited. I’m sure the book will be even better for the wait. Well done Kyle for sticking by your values when you realised the project was going to take longer than you imagined. I was involved in print for many years and know just how easy it is to make very expensive mistakes.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate that, Andy! Thanks for grabbing a copy.
Great Insights! I definitely agree with do things once when possible. It's annoying to have to get things rescanned and retouched if you weren't happy with old bad scans, I stick with one lab now to keep things consistent. Excited to have the book in hand soon!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Cheers, Scott!
Great work. Congrats on your book!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Julius!
Looking forward to ordering a copy. Congrats on the finished project! Also, your hat game remains strong.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Haha, thanks Zachary! 🙌
Purchased. Thanks for all you do. You were a big inspiration for me to get back Into film after over a 10 year hiatus
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Happy to hear that, Chris. Thank you! 🙏
Je viens de recevoir le livre ce matin. C'est vraiment du très beau travail . la qualité est époustouflante aussi bien image que editing.Encore bravo .
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Really appreciate that, Philippe. Thanks for picking one up and I'm glad you enjoy it!
Book ordered with a print. Can't wait to receive it.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Igor!
Great book. Living out west, this really hits home.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Cheers, James!
Looking forward to receiving the book - it looks great!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Hope you enjoy it!
Congratulations on your new book
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Congratulation on your Book!!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙏
Ordered a book, love the work and your tips on creativity!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate that. Thank you!
I got my shipping notification. Very excited.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙌
No money to spare at the moment. But maybe I'll ask my parents to get it for my birthday! Love the images. And its so impressive that you rescanned that many images😵💫👌🏻
Congratulations! I'm definitely interested in hearing more about the whole process. I've got my copy in the mail, and I'm very much looking forward to receiving it! I live in northern New Mexico, and I've actually been out to Tucumcari and Glenrio a couple times in the past couple of years, so when I recognized some of the places, it was a no-brainer for me to get the book.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much, Brian! Hope you enjoy it.
I just got the tracking number through my email. Really excited to have this on the coffee table - it's been a long old wait, but looks like it will be 100% worth it!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Hope you enjoy it, Chris!
Got my copy today. Beautiful artwork, greetings from Switzerland😉
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for grabbing one, Manuel!
Ooh, that means mine is on the way 👻 Please do the video with SO when you get time.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Will do, Morris. Cheers.
Congrats on creating this photo book! :)
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙏
Let's gooooo!
Awesome work, very happy for you to finish and create a book of a project. Something my scared artistic brain will have trouble completing. Thank you for the advice maybe I will complete a project and publish it. :)
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate that, Drew.
I cannot wait to get my copy! Just got the tracking number!! Woohooo
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙌
Congratulations on shipping the book, Kyle 🎉🙌
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙏
looking forward to getting my copy.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for ordering one, David!
@davidroberts6766
Жыл бұрын
@@KyleMcDougall Us Canadians need to support those out doing the work. I am really looking forward to seeing it! The American desert west is on my bucket list! 🇨🇦
waiting for mine in KANADA 😁
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
🙌
Bellissimo
Hope I can get one in a month or two for Europe.
Great stuff! I’m currently working on a book. Have all the images scanned and layout is done… but struggling so heavily with finding where I want to publish it. Especially since it’s 114 pages. Would love any tips you can share
Your boy has got some harry ass arms! Damn!!!
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Good spot.
@charlespresleypatrick
Жыл бұрын
@@KyleMcDougall good video & channel.
My copy just arived. I’m so happy for you, Kyle! It is a very beutifull book. Nice surprice inside :) Love it so much. You can be proud of yourself.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Really appreciate the support.
Hi, I’m thinking about buying a film scanner; which one would you recommend for best quality? Thanks
Looks a great book - I’m very tempted…..what are shipping costs within the UK?
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, Peter! I believe shipping for the UK is $15
Did y stick to one aspect ratio for landscape and portrait oriented images? Or is it a mix and match? Also, how can I buy your book in the UK? Thanks Caula
Congrats Kyle !
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Hey Kyle, I was just on the publishers site and my question is, what currency is quoted here? $55 for a book is quite reasonable and 35 to ship not earth shaking either, however if its in USD the conversion from CDN would put it past the $100 limit I can simply not afford on a luxury item at the moment, as beautiful as it is, and it would be a welcome addition on my bookshelf, I have other moving parts in our budget right now, sadly that is a constraint.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
It's in USD. Totally understandable. I know CAD isn't the greatest right now. Regardless, I appreciate the interest!
Who is Noah? That helped with the book.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Noah runs Subjectively Objective, who published the book.
@drwatsonismine
Жыл бұрын
@@KyleMcDougall thanks.
Where can I find a video about the cost. Book is being sold for $55. What if you would have self published. What’s that price?
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Not sure what the price would be if I self-published, as this was my first book. But I learned that the production process definitely isn't cheap, everything said and done.
I'm not sure why you needed to rescan if you had the images where you wanted them when you started. Getting a book published, or self-published, is something I know of no guide or how-to for guidance. How to find a publisher once you have an idea/concept? Then there's distribution, how to market, ect., very daunting. I'd like to see a video if you have the mind to do one.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Just wanted to get the most out of them as possible, Steve.
What the size of book sir..
Hi Kyle, congrats on the book. It looks brilliant. Do you know if it can be shipped to New Zealand? I couldn't see info on the website (probably my user error...).
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Thanks, Charlotte. And yep, can be shipped worldwide.
respect :)
I got mine, and I have to say that I'm disapointed... I find the images are too white/bright on paper (I like them on screen)... so sad, I only like the few dark photos (ex : night photos). I don't understand why you choosed this high key rendering ? Otherwise the images are great, but I dislike this rendering... :( There are almost no dark tones (except in the few dark images)
An American mile, made by a Canadian.
@KyleMcDougall
Жыл бұрын
Indeed.
The lowest of the hanging fruits: another guy with analogue medium format camera shooting old cars and signs with the most predictible compositions. No interactions, no story, this book is just a brochure with candy shots. From the perspective of youtube and monetization it will surely get traction and good for you but from the photography stand point it's poor work. Go see Salgado's "Genesis" or "Workers" and expierience how a real photoproject looks like.