Our Final Verdict
We give MILK Books Photobook a rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 5/5
Variety: 5/5
Design Process: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Approximately half of the global population today isn’t old enough to remember, but virtually every home used to have a stack of photo albums prior to the year 2000. That’s because in the days of film cameras, everyone had their photos professionally printed – otherwise, you would have nothing to look at. But unfortunately, many of the photos would end up blurry, too dark, or have the dreaded “red eyes.” Still, these inferior photos were often slid into the clear plastic sleeves in the photo album, because it was all we had to remember the important moments in our lives.
Well, photography has come a long way since the turn of the century. I won’t get into the weeds of photography history here, but let’s just say times have changed, and so has the way we view photos. From the shift to digital photography in the early 2000s to the high-quality photo capability of today’s smartphones, the number of people photographing every moment of their lives has increased dramatically, and yet the actual printing of photos has declined. Sure, printing options are still out there…drug stores can still print digital photos for you, and websites allow you to upload your photos to print on coffee mugs, calendars, and photobooks. But the image quality isn’t always what you expected, and the caliber of the items you receive is often subpar. That’s where MILK Books changed the game.
MILK, an acronym for Moments of Inspiration, Love, and Kinship, is a print-on-demand photobook brand that allows users to design their own high-quality photo projects online, which are then printed and shipped within a matter of weeks. These treasured keepsakes can make excellent gifts, document memorable milestones, or just provide a fun way to organize and share our favorite photos.
About MILK Books
MILK Books was founded in 2012 by Geoff Blackwell, co-founder of the New Zealand-based publishing company Blackwell & Ruth. This earlier company, which is still creating award-winning projects today, was responsible for Diana: The Portrait, Mandela: The Authorised Portrait, and Desmond Tutu: The Authorised Portrait. With ample success in the publishing and photography fields, Blackwell’s first M.I.L.K. project started in 1999 when he began gathering photos for a 3-part photobook series to be titled Family, Friendship, and Love, with each book focusing on one of those topics. A decade after their publishing, Blackwell decided to create an online platform allowing anyone to lovingly create their own book of memorable moments…and so MILK Books was born.
MILK Books has now been helping people preserve their most cherished memories for over a decade. This print-on-demand company set itself apart from the competition in the very beginning by offering photobooks made of only the highest quality materials and printing using either a 4-color or 6-color process, depending on the customer’s choice. Their online creation tools are also easy to use with a variety of templates, which allow the user to create exactly the kind of photobook they want, as well as see what the final product will look like. And as a bonus, MILK Books provides a free link to every photo project completed, even before purchase, so that users can share their projects with friends and family for free.
Once you’ve successfully completed your photo project, chosen all your details (cover material, paper type, etc.), and completed payment, a photobook of the highest quality will be printed in Hong Kong before being shipped to your door, with email updates during each step of the process. MILK Books make fantastic gifts but are also just a wonderful way to organize and display all those photos of your friends, family, or pets currently trapped on your computer or smartphone. And with options as low as $35, anyone desiring their own MILK Book can find something amazing to fit their budget.
Overview
Here is an overview of the MILK Books print-on-demand process. This producer of top-tier photobooks allows the user to easily create their projects online and then assembles each book using only the highest quality materials to deliver a treasured keepsake that will last a lifetime.
Photobook Options
One of the greatest features of the MILK Books platform is the level of customization the site provides its users with. Everything from the size of the book and page count to the cover material and paper finish can be determined by the creator. Not only does this ensure every customer gets exactly what they want, but it also allows for a range of pricing with plenty of lower-budget items available, yet no reduction in the quality of the final product. There is also an option to add text to any or all pages, for people who might want to label photos or create more of a storybook feel.
Designing Your Book
To get started making your very first photobook on the MILK Books website, you need to create a free account. Then you can decide what kind of details you want your book to have – a classic or premium design, a photobook or a photo album, the cover material, etc. Next, you will choose and upload your photos, which MILK Books stores for free with no expiration. Finally, the fun part – designing each page! Customers can choose to have the website “auto create” the book for them, or manually create every page, and they can also decide how many photos are on each page and add text if desired. Then, crucial to the final quality, the user will be alerted if any of the photos are too low in resolution to print properly – these photos can be adjusted in size or omitted altogether.
Printing and Shipping
Once satisfied with your photobook design, you will be provided with a link to your project that you can send to family and friends. This link is free, and a great way to get other people’s input on photo choice and placement, and to have others proofread any text you included. If there are no changes, you can then proceed to order your book. From then on, you will receive regular updates from MILK Books about where your book is in the printing process and will also receive a tracking number when it ships from Hong Kong. The entire process is handled without delay, with production time usually taking 7-21 days. Shipping times will vary depending on where you live.
Satisfaction Guarantee
MILK Books wants every customer to be 100% satisfied, and states if you are not happy to contact them within 14 days of receiving an item so they can make it right. But judging by the more than 8,000 Trustpilot reviews with a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, MILK Books makes a lot of people happy!
In Summary
Pros
- Pre-made design templates
- Many project options
- High-quality materials
- Premium printing available
- Free online photo storage
Cons
- Project design can be tricky
- Some options are pricey
Key Features
Quality
MILK Books uses only the highest quality materials and ensures superior fade-resistant printing quality in all their items. They also practice exceptional binding techniques – all books are stitch-bound, not glued – so they should never fall apart with proper care. Every item from MILK Books is guaranteed to protect your most cherished memories for a lifetime.
Variety
MILK Books has options for every purpose, desire, and budget. Customers can choose a very basic photobook to neatly preserve their favorite pictures, or a premium photo album with a vegan leather cover, or even a 200-page “magazine” with 6-color printing. There are also several template options, and you can even build your book page-by-page so that every page of your book can look exactly how you want it to.
Pricing
Because there are so many options, there is a wide range of pricing for completed books. A classic photobook starts at $35, while a classic photo album starts at $199. In the premium range, photobooks start at $68 and photo albums start at $234. The most expensive option is a magazine, which starts at $279.
Are MILK Books a Good Value?
MILK Books has great options starting as low as $35, but never skimps on the quality. And while their premium items, especially the albums and magazines, can get quite pricey, there is a reason for the higher cost. These more elaborate projects are absolutely stunning and would make fantastic gifts for special occasions. MILK Books maintains fantastic value for the level of elegance and artistic design they provide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I design my photobook from my phone, or do I have to use my laptop?
You can absolutely design straight from your phone! MILK Books knows that’s where most of their customers’ photos are, so their website makes it easy to upload from your phone without using a laptop or desktop. If you have any difficulty with the process, the website has detailed help articles in its FAQ section.
If the book is a gift for someone, how can I be sure I’ll receive it in time?
Although MILK Books won’t hesitate to get started on the printing process, printing times can vary, and so can shipping times. That’s why it is recommended to contact the company prior to ordering if you have any concerns about how quickly you can get your finished product delivered.
What if I misspelled something in my book’s text and I don’t notice until I receive my item? Will MILK Books reprint it for me?
If there is an error in your book that was your mistake, whether text or image resolution, MILK Books will still help make it right by sharing in the cost of the reprint. If you have any issues with your book when you first receive it, just contact the company right away to see how it can be rectified.
If I want to print another copy later, will I be able to? Or do I have to start over and design another book?
Your projects will always be saved under your account, and you will have the option to order another copy. You can even send a link to your project to friends or family if they want to order a copy for themselves.
Our Experience With MILK Books
Twelve years ago, I saw a Facebook photo of a dirty blond retriever-type pup, and judging by the pale blue walls around him, I could tell he was in the holding compartment on the animal control truck. The next day, I drove to the shelter on my lunch break to see him, a 6-month-old Lab-mix the staff called “Hunter,” and I signed the adoption papers that day. I renamed him “Turtle” after my favorite animal, and he was the first dog my husband and I got together…our “baby boy.” But Turtle is not a baby anymore. He is 12.5 years old, and I’ve seen a decline in his health since he turned 10. Although I hope he will see another birthday, I’ve started thinking of ways to memorialize him and was thrilled to discover MILK Books.
The quality of MILK photobooks is second to none. I’ve used other printing companies in the past, but none of them provided as many design options, or produced the quality images that MILK does. When I received my “Turtle” book, I immediately sat down with my husband to look through it together. Every turn of the page reminded us of good times – watching Turtle play at the dog park, introducing him to our new kitten, taking road trips to the mountains or the beach…so many memories! And having them printed in a beautiful book gives me peace of mind that if technology ever fails me, I won’t lose these cherished images.
The making of Turtle’s book was a little tricky at times, but overall, not difficult. I found it easy to make an account, choose my book options, and upload my desired photos. But as I got into designing my book, I decided to delete some photos – this was where things got a little tricky, as the light blue highlighting around images I had selected is hard to differentiate, and I accidentally deleted photos I wanted to keep. Luckily, I was able to re-upload the lost images, and just had to pay extra close attention while I finished choosing my final photos. Once I was satisfied with my book, the checkout process was easy, and as I waited for my book to ship, I got email updates letting me know what part of the printing process my new book was in. I also received a FedEx tracking number when it shipped, and delivery from Hong Kong to Florida was surprisingly speedy.
Looking through my photobook, I am incredibly pleased with the image quality. MILK gave me alerts in the design process when a photo was too low resolution, so I either shrunk the size of those photos on the book page or eliminated them altogether – there are no fuzzy pictures in my final product. Truly, there is nothing I don’t like about my new photobook from MILK, and thanks to their quality materials and included care instructions, I know that I will be enjoying this photobook for a long time to come.
Conclusion
Whether you want a display-worthy centerpiece for your coffee table, a thoughtful gift for a loved one, or an elegant way to remember that favorite vacation or beloved family pet, MILK Books has you covered. Providing material options and page templates that appeal to anyone, free online photo storage, and a free link to your finished project, this print-on-demand platform goes above and beyond to give customers what they want. With a little patience, you can be the designer of a one-of-a-kind photobook that surpasses anything you’ve seen before.