Photo books have a lot of value as a photographer. Making and editing a book has you look at your work critically, objectively and thematically. Also, it is a way to have lots of images in a physical form which doesn’t require turning on a device that takes up an inch on your bookshelf. Here are a few things to consider while making a book:
What is your subject of the book? What is the thread that links all of the images together? What experience do you want to convey to the viewer?
If you have lots of different types of photography such as travel, nudes, landscape, abstract patterns, street photography etc. all in one book it would be a bit scattered, having each subject in chapters helps but it can still dilute the importance of the images by seeming random. Then again, having too many similar photos also diminishes the impact of each photo. That said, if there are graphic elements and approaches that tie images together to make a visual connection that can stretch the viewer to make the connection between the two photos, that can be very powerful.

Edit, Edit, Edit.
You have probably heard me say “Love your work but don’t fall in love with your work”. Having objectivity when editing your work is essential. Usually by the time we get further into selecting images we have already gone through the subjective round of responding emotionally to the images so the photos will have that connection. Looking at your work from the outside and asking which images say the most? Does the composition have movement or a sense of direction? Is there anything in the photo that is a distraction? How is the technical aspect of the image? (not that it has to be perfect, just enough to get the idea across).

Think forward and backward
Arrange the book so it works starting at the front AND if you are starting from the back. I often look at photo books starting from the back and go forward, and it is common for people to do this. Start and end with an image that sets up what is to come and fits the theme of the book.

“Pinnacle” Images
Some images cover a lot of ideas and everything seems to come together in them. I call them pinnacle images and they can be destinations in a book, much like writers planning where the climax of a story should be. Think about “pinnacle” images and where they are in the book.

Layout
How each page and spread look and the relationship of images will impact how the photos are perceived. Some services have templates for multiple images and it is good to try different arrangements to see how they work graphically and thematically. I often do a very simple one image per page and let the photos be the design.

Words?
I own a lot of photo books and I have to admit I rarely read the text. However, I think it is good to have at least one page of text that tells about your vision, process, theme or context of what the book is about. Writing about your work can help articulate what you do and your intent. It tells people why you made the book and want people to see it.

Title
What do you call your book that encompasses the theme and content? Many photography books have an implied philosophical flavor, Like Irving Penn’s Passages. Or do you go with an objective “Selected Photographs from 2015 to 2019”? Which title stands out and is more memorable? One book by Gilles Bensimone is titled Random Images. That is your call.

Size
How large or small do you want to make your book? How many pages? That can be defined by the subject, how many images, the type of images – the more complex larger work better, simpler can be smaller. Oversized books can be difficult to find space on your bookshelf, but give lots of room to experience your photos. Small books are easy to shelve and are more intimate to engage with. They are also less expensive so they can be nice gifts.

I have been using Blurb for my books but there are other services as well. Their pricing is OK, but I usually wait for one of their sales that seem to happen each month. They have their own app for laying out a book but also a Lightroom interface as well. Blurb also has an online store for selling books, which is a really nice feature, yet it can be pricey for the buyer, especially if you want any sizable profit from the book sales.

Books make a great portfolio to show your work. When people ask what kind of work I do I hand them a couple of books. Seeing your work in print is really good feedback on how images work and having them in a book puts them in context with your other photos.

I love making books. It is very tangible having a well edited book you can hold in your hand. Every photographer needs to make a book.