from KK:
i think i have said this before but you should considering getting
your creative self into album design. most people are charging $3
bucks an image... so imagine that you have 150 photos in an album...
plus you charge a little extra on top - 500 bones!
you would need to learn some basic photoshop and i think that would do it.
my understanding is this - people either send you photos or files (which you would then have printed.)
you lay out the photos in some of the primo albums that are popular... see "zookbinders" below
people would pay for digital layout - you know more like photobook design where you aren't mounting actual photos... see "asukabook" below
existing services:
http://www.redbootdesign.com/ (partner with asukabook starting at $8/page)
http://www.zohodesign.com/ (partner with zookbinders - $2-3 per image plus "color correction" fee)
http://www.createmyalbum.com/main.html (these people are catering directly to brides. you have to be a pro to get the really good albums)
and some album companies:
http://asukabook.com/
http://www.zookbinders.com/products/zookbook.php (these are photos mounted to pages)
i have been reading wedding photog message boards for months and i think these services are going to be BIG. most photogs are not designers and/or don't want to spend the time putting an album together. and wedding albums are $$$$ - 1 to 2 grand. so everyone can still make money off of it! some of these design companies are starting to partner with album companies.
you could also design and sell those templates (made in PS) to photogs and SCRAPBOOKERS and you know those people will spend some cash.
a lot of info and i can give you a lot more if you are interested. and i can send you PS. you would have to bone up on some color management stuff too - what things look like on your screen versus what is printed. it's not hard - i can help!
starting at 200 bucks an album here http://www.beckerphotos.com/
beckerphotos_034.htm
these are laid out digitally - not THAT HARD. you can even get
software that does this already... paid or free templates http://
www.photojunction.com/templates/index.html
that's where mine are too! :-)
you should really think about it - so easy to do remotely. you could do one just for fun and see what you think!
i've thought about doing these for engagement or just a cheap option - good layouts and quick to design. www.blurb.com
basically the photog (or you) would order the album from the company and specify how many pages - then you would put it together. the ones that are "mounted" (photos actually stuck on pages) would require that the photog provide you with prints OR provide you with digital files which you would size to what you wanted and then order (and charge the photog of course.)
the digital albums would be laid out in a program, uploaded to the album vendor and they would print and ship.
more info on some design software
http://www.gpalbums.com/softwareSolutions.htm