Intro 

It’s always somewhat tricky to leave what you’re so used to and jump into something new. This is usually associated with a different learning curve and a set of challenges. And then there comes quality; something one can be either positively or negatively surprised with.
Software is no different and perhaps even more so it serves as a good example of why habits are so difficult to break. So, I’ll talk about the SAAL design software first as I think it’s where we should start looking at the company and praise its efforts for the numerous changes implemented. 

Design Software - choosing the product line and options. 

Upon opening the desktop app for your design you’ll be presented with the logo and then templates to choose your preferred product line: photos, photo-book, wall decors, card, poster/fine art, calendar, photo gifts, sample set, protective wall and finally, business products. All are presented with a clean and attractive preview which radiates good user experience. I liked how clean and minimal yet informative the selection of example photos and graphics are. Thumbs up here! I also like the layout with its left-hand side panel where you can see information about (,at the time of writing this,) the cover-19 delivery as well as ongoing discounts SAAL currently has. Again, lovely, clean, separated by an elegant dark colour, the panel stands out enough yet doesn’t detract from the screen’s overall presentation.
Upon choosing the photobook as the desired project, I’ve been presented with new options, sub-choices if you like, and they are shown in an elegant form with lovely previews of themed covers. I’ve chosen the one from the professional line and decided to go with the 30x30 format. The next screen is one of my favourites. First, it shows all the options for the finish of covers, spreads and pages of your book on one page. A professionally edited and colourful portrait is chosen as an example and it suits the page well thus giving you the impression you’re about to design a quality product. My choices have been acrylic and leather cover, leatherback and glossy paper. Normally I choose matte paper for my photographs and I’m happy with the execution from my usual photo books provider, therefore, I wanted to see how the glossy option pans out. I did read a recommendation of another photographer being happy with the glossy option and decided I’ll try it myself on photographs I shot in Iceland during my recent trip in February.
The final screen before moving onto the actual design would please those who prefer a quick option of the designer completing the spreads for them. You can decide to choose between three: an empty layout, where you’ll be designing the book yourself, a one-minute photo book where templates are applied and finally an auto-fill option where you can see your photographs being filled onto the pages via an intelligent assistant. I’ve decided to choose the one-minute photo book to see how the auto layouts work, to test them if you like. Plus, this option still gives me the opportunity to adjust spreads if I’m not happy with them. Moving onto the next screen in the designer, you can choose styles and they’re great if you’re new to photo book designs or do not have time to create extra graphics to adorn your book. For my project, I go with “simple”, basic as I want my images to stand out clean against the white pages. 

Layouts/filling in pages and text editor 

At first glance, the layout of the designer might seem overwhelming, especially to those who aren’t familiar with photo books design. However, all the options and elements of the UI are visible and I find them all necessary. I think that what we see is actually very useful and the positioning of the blocks makes sense, too! As usual, the organisation part sits conveniently on the left-hand side of the screen with the top panel being occupied by the tools and options. Everything is nicely separated by thin lines which unclutter the layout. The middle and main part of the screen is, of course, your book and it has enough white space around it to focus on properly. Finally, the right-hand side includes options for the layout types depending on how many images you’d like to place on the spreads. I find this feature extremely helpful and actually one of the most frequently used as I always put my layouts based on personal preferences. Thus, this option made it super easy.
Text is edited with the addition of a text editor which is also very intuitive, responsive and handy to use. The number of options and fonts are good, with good preview. Now, I don’t usually like to compare products naming better and worse ones but if you have ever used Blurb’s text editor and wanted to pull your hair out simply because of its quirkiness and inability to adjust to how you actually want things to look, then worry no more. Saal’s text editing is done just right and I have no complaints here.

Features I didn’t use
Located on the right-hand side you’ll find “Articles”, “Layers” and “Clipart”. As much as I appreciate the option of having the latter, I didn’t use it and I can’t think of a scenario in my professional delivery where I would. Perhaps an album from a children’s birthday party? Still, they’re there if you want them. We then have the “Articles” and “Layers” and although I didn’t “use” them I actually like that these options are there as they allow you to adjust your final finish and select extra options such as an elegant box set which I really must praise Saal for. To say the least, they match my usual professional printing lab for their quality and if anyone is looking for an extra elegant touch, they should consider this option. I recommend it. Preview 

The preview button is easily visible and conveniently located on the top. Upon clicking it initiates the preview of your final design and as with any other software, it ensures to give you exactly the product you’re about to order. Scrolling through the pages is easy and it’s done with the use of left-right buttons with the “deactivate preview” button placed in the top left. What I like is the overall conclusion and house style design of the user interface which carries onto the preview process and thus feels consistent. This isn’t difficult to use, clogged and buggy software I’ve had an experience with when designing albums with other brands. Saal’s is clean and pleasant to use and although I won’t be switching to it anytime soon due to my long and well-established successful relationship with my current printing lab, I would recommend them if you’d like to try out something new, especially in the design process of things. Plus, the quality of the finish is actually very good indeed! 

Quality of the final product 

 As mentioned above I’ve decided to go with leather and acrylic finishes for the cover and leather for the back. I chose black as my colour for the photobook as I wanted to match it to the photographs from Iceland I came back with at the end of February. And because the photographs are often moody, gritty and portray Iceland in a somewhat mystical manner, I thought it’d be a good idea. It was, however, an experiment and you never actually know until you run a test print. I’m glad I did choose the finish and the colour mentioned as the final photo0book which arrived in just under 2 weeks (, due to the current pandemic situation,) actually surprised me in a very positive way. The materials feel and are solid with good touch responsiveness to them and I’m guessing they’ll last. At least that’s my first impressions.
Onto the pages and the choice of paper. I also experimented with this and I’m glad to say I’m not disappointed with the quality the glossy paper provides. I can’t speak for another line of Saal photo books but I can say with my hand on heart that the pages and print quality are amazing! I wasn’t expecting this and actually when investigating the pricing offered by other printing labs, Saal is both competitively placed and better on the quality front. Greatly impressed by the paper here, the sheen on the finish as well as the lay-flat option which can be executed badly sometimes.

Final thoughts
So the question is “Is SAAL’s new line of products worth it?” Absolutely! And again, although I’m solidly placed and tied by a very good relationship with my printing lab, I wouldn’t mind recommending SAAL services to photographers both professional and enthusiasts who want to try something new and premium. The quality of the products is great, the design process intuitive and communication with the support, if needed, very good indeed. What’s not to like? 

 With huge thanks to SAAL for letting me try their new pro-photo book product line.

Michael,

Wedding photographer

You can try SAAL Digital products and services by clicking here.

It’s hard to think it was so normal and easy to get out there and enjoy a quiet cup of coffee, a trip to a cinema, a stroll with our kids and a dog or simply go for a drive. We miss it a lot as I’m sure many do.
On the flip side, we embrace Cover-19 lockdown situation and discover our kids’ worlds, something we would otherwise miss rushing and trying to make ends meet. 

Every day I remind myself how busy we are (, or should I say, have been not that long ago,) and I try my best to reconnect with the loved ones: friends and family, to re-establish and strengthen connections with people I’m guilty of taking for granted.
My family and I are already starting to talk about ”now” as if it was some kind of an event in history, like a UFO landing, when things were strange and you weren’t able to do stuff you’d normally do. This helps and steers them away from the horrible news we hear every day. And I think we’re getting better at being together, stronger, more appreciative of each other. 

 I really hope all of you out there, both in Market Harborough and beyond, stay safe and take advantage of these times to discover new things or re-discover some that were lost in the rush of an every-day carousel and juggling tasks. This situation will end. Imagine how great it’ll be again knowing you got there safe and sound with new bonds.
We know we will. 

Stay safe everyone! 

Michael

These days are strange for many of us. We stay at home and try to be creative. We sometimes worry about what it’s going to be like when it all comes back to normal and, in many cases, who will be around to continue with. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a change many of us will be shaped by for the years to come. The businesses, the individuals, adults and children alike. However, looking at the future I can’t stop but to try and think positive. At the end of the day, how far can we push the planet until it starts responding in ways we cannot ignore any more? 

Change is a much-required answer and a reminder that we need to re-evaluate our lifestyles and approach to life on so many different levels.
As I observe my children who tackle this problem at their own level of understanding, I learn from them. I learn a little bit of ignorance and take the opportunity to get to know them better since normally we don’t get to spend so much time together. I have found out so many things already and I’m eager to learn more. And this is just one of the ways I try to stay positive, strong, even appreciate the situation a little bit if it’s even alright to say so…
I hope all keep safe, stay strong and appreciate each other. Keep living! And remember you are not alone!

Standing in front of some of the most magnificent locations our planet has to offer makes us appreciate how lucky we are as human beings to be spoilt with such mesmerising and powerful wonders. It’s been no different during my second trip to Iceland, the land of violent and powerful volcanic activity, crashing waterfalls and shooting geysers set alongside calm and open plains gently covered by snow. This, set in the elements you’re constantly trying to tame both photographically and physically, gives you a certain type of experience only Iceland and the Arctic circle lands can provide. You’re knocked out at every stop and definitely at the end of the day yet you couldn’t be happier. Go figure… 

During this year’s trip to Iceland I travelled whilst still desperately trying to clear a bug that has been battering us this season (, thank you winter:) but also grieving my father’s death at the end of the last month. Inevitably, I think this added to the way I approached nature and photography on location as the output turned out to be very different from my last trip’s photographs. Yet I think it worked and also helped me just for a moment meditate on the scenes and the state of mind. Many of these images will be printed and proudly hung on walls around my house with a book to follow. I didn’t think when planning it that it’d be a requiem to many things but that’s exactly what happened and, at the end of the day, I’m counting myself very lucky to have experienced it. Well, minus the northern lights, which one day I must return to Iceland to capture. But that’s a story to tell on another day… 

Collaborating with great people brings joy, fulfilment and satisfaction. Especially when you’re eaten by January colds and touches of flu no jabs seem to prevent you from having.
My recent assignment brought together Anna Bialous-Griffiths, personal coach, therapist, counsellor and book author, as well as Glen McKenna, one of my favourite photographers and a friend in one.

 Set in a business environment the ideas kept on buzzing as the shoot progressed and I couldn’t help but think how amazing it is to work with people who ultimately crave the same outcome.
Below there are just some of the photographs produced from a photoshoot I’ll be coming back to in my mind over and over again. 

Huge thanks again to Anna B-G and Glen for an amazing day!
To find out more about Anna’s work click here, and Glen’s here.