Photos are Groovy with GrooveBook
GrooveBook has me doing the jive.
Okay, so I can’t really dance because coordination and my limbs are not synonymous. But I can do something similar to Phoebe’s running technique (pause for Nostalgia). Just watch out for the drool because your jaw will be on the floor after reading this.
»100 pics for $2.99. Delivered in the mail. Every month.«
As a mobile photographer, I find one of my biggest issues is losing great shots to the camera roll graveyard. We have the freedom to shoot constantly. And giddily edit. Then what?
If you’re like me, ‘getting around to it’ never quite comes around. Akin to the back bottom shelf of the refrigerator (don’t pretend you don’t have stuff growing back there), pictures sit forgotten or overlooked.
For that reason alone, not to mention the sharing possibilities (with friends, in your journal, as postcards or DIY projects) this app is beyond Groovy.
THE SKINNY
- GrooveBook is a free app for iOS
- Printed photos are 4.5” x 6.5”
- $2.99 Monthly Membership (you can cancel at anytime)
- First GrooveBook is free with code: BEZZINA1
THE WHIP
- Choose 40-100 photos (first book must be 100) for each GrooveBook
- Multiple copies of the same photo are allowed and count towards your total
- Monthly ‘deadline’ for printing is based on when you sign up
- GrooveBook is automatically shipped (USA only at this time to remain cost-effective)
- You are reminded by email to choose your pics for printing before each monthly deadline
- GrooveBook printed photos are perforated for easy removal
»Did I mention 100 pics for $2.99?!«
THE SPRINKLES
I was a little worried about whether they would use submitted photos for promotion/ads but they assured me they won’t without specific permission.
And since I’m a skeptic, I saw flashing ‘Too Good to Be True’ hazard lights. But I did my research by contacting GrooveBook on Twitter, checking out their Facebook page and perusing reviews. Their replies were prompt and reviews were shiny.
Plus, if you have a backlog of photos you’d like to get printed, they make it easy. Just email them at support@groovebook.com and they will close out your book early (charging $2.99). Your regular monthly deadline date still applies. (Check out their FAQ page for more info.)
THE TASTE
I received my first book this week and couldn’t wait to dive in even though I was a wee bit nervous about how the photos would look. How would square photos be handled? Would other photos be ‘stretched’ to fit? I held my breath and took a peek.
GrooveBook – textured cover
Oh the joy of being me. The photos are beautiful. Square photos have ‘white strips’ on both side (which can be trimmed easily if you so desire). Other ratios weren’t stretched but have a white strip on the top/bottom. For most photos, be prepared for the top 1/4 inch to be either cut off (mostly square photos) or printed above the perforation line. Here are some examples:
Square: top 1/4" cut off, white strips
1/4" cutoff on left side due to perforation
Pics are printed on a thinner paper than you’d normally find with printed photos. And the ‘perf lines’ are quite noticeable but can also be trimmed to suit. Photo’s metadata (date/time & location) is printed above the perforation line, if available.
Metadata above perforation
THE REFILL
Yes, the UI is clunky and being limited to the camera roll is a huge pain in the shutter since I do a lot of editing and those edits end up in my PhotoStream. But I’m already one third of the way through the photo uploads for my next photo book. Because, even with the hiccups, this is still a brilliant way to interact with your memories. (Tip: I logged in on my iPhone and chose/uploaded some pics, then logged in on my iPad and added more. This won’t get you access to all photos but gets you a larger variety if you switch between devices.)
Take a journey back into the world of tactile photographs. $2.99 for 100 photos. Every month. Now there’s a reason (and motive) to shoot it all!
Let us know how you like your GrooveBook by sharing with us on Instagram using our #photocruncher tag, tweet us @photocruncher or share via Facebook.
And don’t forget to use code: BEZZINA1 for a free GrooveBook!
About Marsha Bezzina
Marsha Bezzina has always enjoyed writing. But photography was mostly relegated to annual trips until the acquisition of her first smartphone, the iPhone 4s. Now this self-declared ‘mental crafter’ is a data hog – capturing moments, hoarding photo apps and editing with abandon. She is @notDelilah on Instagram but had to settle for @notDelilah_ on Twitter. Or check out her site, www.notDelilah.com
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