The book
Softcover vs hardcover photo books: which should you choose?
Both covers wrap exactly the same pages: the same paper, the same size, the same print. The difference is in how the book feels in the hand, what it costs, and how soon it arrives.
Softcover
- A flexible card cover with a matt finish, glued along the spine like a good paperback or a magazine with a spine.
- Light. A 28-page softcover weighs a little over 200 grams.
- Easier to hold for a long time, which matters for older hands.
- Cheaper, and usually arrives a few days sooner.
Hardcover
- Stiff boards with the cover image printed and wrapped around them, with a matt finish.
- Stands on a shelf and survives being handled by many visitors.
- Feels like a present.
- Costs a little more and takes a few days longer to make.
What each costs
These are delivered prices for New Zealand, including tax. The gap between soft and hard is similar in other countries; see pricing for the rest.
| Pages | Softcover | Hardcover | Holds up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 pages | NZ$58 | NZ$71 | 26 photos |
| 40 pages | NZ$62 | NZ$77 | 38 photos |
| 60 pages | NZ$69 | NZ$87 | 58 photos |
| 100 pages | NZ$84 | NZ$106 | 98 photos |
Which to choose
| If… | Choose |
|---|---|
| It's for someone in their eighties or nineties who'll read it in a chair | Softcover |
| It needs to arrive as soon as possible | Softcover |
| You make one every few months | Softcover |
| It marks a big birthday or an anniversary | Hardcover |
| It will live on a coffee table and be handled a lot | Hardcover |
| It's a memorial book the family will keep | Hardcover |
You can change your mind
The choice is one tap in the studio, and the preview updates. The price and the arrival date are shown for whichever you've picked before you order, so try both.
For a 90th birthday, many families do both: a hardcover for the shelf and, later, a softcover of new photos every season.