Created my Photobook With Mixam
If you've ever stared at thousands of photos on your hard drive wondering how to turn them into something tangible like a real photo book, this video is for me sharing my first real experience creating and printing one with Mixam. I put together a 140-page collection of my favorite travel photography from the past ten years in Africa, mostly Tanzania, with about seventy images plus stories behind some of them. I walk through the unboxing, my initial disappointment with the print quality, how I used their software to build it, the fixes that made everything look great in the final version, and why I'm now really proud of the finished book. It's called Safari Encounters, and it's become a little legacy piece for my family and anyone who loves wildlife and culture.
Unboxing the First Copies
When the package arrived, I had no idea what to expect since I had never seen a test print or the final product.
I ordered forty copies in grayscale landscape format, 8.38 x 10.88 inches.
Chose satin pages with 100 lb text for a richer feel, perfect binding, satin 100 lb cover with matte lamination.
Added full cover foiling and shrink-wrapped them in bundles of five for easier gallery inventory.
Initial Reaction and Disappointment
Opening the box was exciting at first.
The cover looked stunning with that satin finish and rich feel.
Flipping through, one photo immediately stood out as beautiful.
Then I noticed the colors were washed out, contrast was low, blacks looked gray, and details were lost in many images.
I felt pretty bummed because the test print did not match what I saw on my screen.
How I Built the Book with Mixam Software
I started in their online tool and found it straightforward once I got going.
Set up the book size and options first, then downloaded a PDF template for the cover (front, spine, back) to use as a guide for bleed and layout.
Switched to expert mode for more control over resizing, rotating, and positioning frames.
Dragged and dropped photos and added multi-line text boxes; used Crimson text font at a larger size (24-28 point) for readability.
The arrange pages feature was super helpful—just drag and drop to reorder entire spreads.
Added images by uploading (even large 25 MB files worked fine), adjusted fit, centered horizontally and vertically, and extended to bleed where possible.
For odd-shaped photos like my zebra panorama, I centered them without forcing bleed and copied pages to keep layouts consistent.
Saved frequently so I could step away and come back.
Why the Final Book Turned Out Great
The initial test print looked flat, but Mixam communicated clearly about formatting issues.
They pointed out problems, I made corrections, and the final production run looked much better.
Richer blacks, better contrast, and colors popped the way I intended.
Now I'm thrilled with how it turned out, the washed-out look was fixed in the main batch.
A Quick Flip Through Safari Encounters
This book captures ten years of adventures in Tanzania.
Cover photo from Tarangire National Park with beautiful leading lines, horizon, and clouds.
Simple title, my name, contact info, self-published note, and a dedication to my friend Ken Redmond who passed in 2023 and taught me so much about wildlife.
Inside features my best wildlife shots (migration, hippos, leopards, jumping Maasai), cultural moments (medicine man at Olduvai Gorge, Hadzabe, Datoga), and everyday scenes like Moto Wambo banana transport.
I kept text minimal to let photos breathe but added stories behind some favorites.
One hippo shot was inspired by David Yarrow's famous Dexter image, I got low for a similar angle.
Final Thoughts on Mixam and the Book
I'm genuinely proud of this project.
It feels like a meaningful legacy after a decade of travel, something for my kids, grandkids, and anyone who enjoys these images.
Mixam staff communicated well, helped fix issues, and delivered high quality at an affordable price compared to other services I've tried.
People have already bought copies, and feedback on the larger text has been positive, easier to read as we get older.
I kept embellishment light so the photos stay the focus.
Overall, 100 percent happy and I will definitely use Mixam again.