Understanding Photobooks

Chapter 2The Photobook: Publishing and the Marketplace

2.1 Introduction

It is very important to understand the general environment photobooks "live in," in particular what aspects of publishing need to be understood and where photobooks can be found. While some of those aspects are fairly well known, others tend to be neglected when photobooks are being discussed. Photographers publishing a book, whether by themselves or with a publisher, often end up being surprised and then overwhelmed by some of the challenges they have to face. None of these challenges is insurmountable—quite on the contrary. But being aware of problems that—often inevitably—will appear is crucial.

2.2 The Market

To begin with, even the most art-oriented, avant-garde photobooks ...