Quick recap

The meeting began with a personal check-in where Inge shared the physical and emotional toll of storm damage and supporting her mother’s depression, while Trish reflected on her own boundaries with family. The conversation then shifted to a detailed discussion on printing zines and marketing materials. Inge asked about the best format for a professional look, and Don and Donn recommended Blurb for high-quality color rendition, explaining the differences between trade books and magazines, the impact of paper stock on color, and the importance of using printer profiles. They also compared Blurb with Mixam and MagCloud, discussing costs, page counts, and the benefits of trial-and-error printing. Don then demonstrated a custom daily workflow tool he built using Claude, which allows for saving and importing project data as JSON files. He also described his process for creating a Photoshop plugin for color grading and shared his views on the current state of the photography market, emphasizing the need for photographers to constantly improve their skills to stay competitive. The conversation ended with a review of several zine projects from the group, including work by Michael, Inge, Trish, Becky, and Jay.

Next steps

Don

• Continue working on the color grading tool as a Photoshop plugin using Claude.

Inge

• Experiment with Blurb for zine printing, including ordering a test magazine and trade book to compare quality, color rendition, and tactile feel.
• Create a test book with a variety of images (bright, bold, muted, pastel, black and white) and different brightness levels of the same image to see how Blurb interprets them.
• Contact printers to ask for their printer profiles to ensure on-screen color matches the printed output.
• Consider using Mixam for larger or more serious print projects, keeping in mind the CMYK color space requirements.

Trish

• Explore Blurb’s website and pricing for potential printing needs.

Summary

Zine Printing Guidance Discussion

Inge discussed challenges with her storm-damaged property and caring for her mother who suffers from depression. Don provided guidance on zine printing, recommending Blurb for better image quality and suggesting using 80-pound cover stock rather than heavier paper. Don clarified that zines are better suited for personal or established relationships rather than cold calls, while professional-looking cards would be more appropriate for marketing purposes.

Book Printing Options Discussion

Donn and Inge discussed printing options for books and magazines, focusing on the differences between trade books and Blurb zines. Donn advised Inge to experiment with printing by creating a test book using Blurb’s magazine format, which costs around $5-7 plus shipping, to understand how colors and layouts translate from screen to print. He emphasized the importance of getting the correct printer profile and explained the differences between CMYK and RGB color models, suggesting that Inge should expect to make adjustments after the first print attempt.

Book Printing Options Discussion

Donn advised Inge and Trish to start with a 20-page test book to experiment with different formatting options like fonts, borders, and paper types, suggesting to treat this as an initial investment. He recommended using Blurb for smaller books up to 40 pages and Mixam for larger projects, noting that Mixam offers competitive pricing at around $7.40 per book for 72 pages when ordering 10 copies. Donn also mentioned exploring 4over Trade Printer for wholesale options despite their reseller requirement, highlighting their affordable pricing for items like four-color postcards.

Printing Options and Workflow Updates

Donn and Inge discussed printing options, with Donn recommending MagCloud for high-quality posters at $2 per printed side and highlighting their large 11×17 tabloid format. Donn shared examples of previous projects including a large portrait book and mentioned plans for a future collective project using 11×14 format. The conversation then shifted to Donn’s updated workflow tool which now includes JSON file saving capabilities for projects, allowing users to back up and import work as needed.

Custom Claude Tools Development

Don demonstrated a custom desktop tool he built using Claude that functions as a calendar and project manager without requiring internet access. He explained his plans to create a custom color grading tool for Photoshop based on profiles from photographers like Sam Elkins and Finn Beals, which Claude is helping him develop by providing HSL settings in Lightroom. Don noted that while some platforms frown upon heavily filtered photos, clients have historically appreciated these artistic treatments.

Photography Pricing and Feedback Discussion

Don discussed positive client feedback about his photography work and shared his approach to color grading using Lightroom and Camera Raw. The conversation shifted to a discussion about photography pricing, where Don expressed frustration with photographers complaining about declining fees while earning substantial incomes compared to average wages in America. Don emphasized that photographers have a privileged position allowing them to create art while earning $200,000 annually, which he contrasted with other jobs like working in a shoe store.

Photography Industry and AI Tools

Don discussed the importance of standing out in the photography industry, sharing insights about finding unique photographers and setting high standards. He emphasized the need for continuous learning and improvement in photography and post-processing skills. The group also reviewed various photo projects, including foldable books created by Michael, Becky, and Trish, and discussed the potential of AI tools like Claude and Haiku for creating and improving software tools. Don highlighted the benefits of using Haiku for initial tool design before moving to Opus 5.5 for code cleanup and optimization.

Attendees: Don Giannatti (Organizer), Laura Andreea Graham – Andree Media (External), DERRICK ROSE (External), Donn Dobkin (External), Inge Harris (External), Trish (External)