Frequently Asked Questions
About Us & Publishing Proposal
Snap Collective is an innovative and unconventional publishing concept founded by the Müller family. We publish high-quality art books without requiring any financial contribution from the artist. Our mission is to support artists in realizing their dreams by making art book publishing accessible while giving artists complete creative freedom to design their books.
We offer:
- High-quality publishing services at no cost to the artist
- Access to the best printing partners
- Distribution via our online shop
- Expert assistance in editing, design, and marketing
Our eco-friendly print-on-demand technology allows us to meet customer demand efficiently. Books are printed using state-of-the-art digital offset printing on HP Indigo 100k and Canon VarioPrint machines.
We specialize in working with creative visual artists across various fields, including photography, design, illustration, sculpture, architecture, styling, fashion, and more.
Our unique pre-order campaign system allows us to test the market before full publication. This approach ensures that we can offer artists free copies, royalties, and bulk discounts based on the success of their book sales.
Snap Collective is committed to supporting artists while reinventing the publishing industry, making it possible for artists to publish their work without financial risk and retain full copyright of their art.
No, you do not need to pay or invest any money to publish your book with Snap Collective. Our innovative publishing concept is designed to support artists without requiring any financial contribution from them.
What we ask from you instead is:
- Your time and creativity: You’ll need to dedicate time to prepare your work and collaborate with us during the publishing process.
- Content creation: You’re responsible for providing the original content for your book, including images and any text.
- Uploading materials: You’ll need to upload all interior content directly to the Snap Collective portal according to our technical specifications.
- Marketing efforts: While we provide support, your active participation in promoting your book, especially during the pre-order campaign, is crucial for success.
You retain the copyright to your work and have the opportunity to earn through free copies and bulk discounts based on your book’s sales performance.
We don’t ask for money from artists because our business model is built on a different principle – one that prioritizes artistic freedom and accessibility. Here’s why:
Removing financial barriers: We believe that financial constraints shouldn’t hinder talented artists from publishing their work. By not requiring upfront investment, we make high-quality book publishing accessible to a wider range of artists.
Risk-sharing: Our printing technology allows us to minimize upfront costs. We share the risk with the artist by investing our resources in the design, publishing, and distribution process.
Aligning interests: Our success is directly tied to the success of your book. This motivates us to provide the best possible quality and marketing support to ensure your book sells well.
Supporting artistic communities: By removing financial barriers, we can publish a diverse range of artists, enriching the artistic community and the publishing landscape.
Innovative business model: Our approach allows us to tap into a market of talented artists who might not have the means to publish traditionally, creating unique, high-quality art books.
Pre-order system: Our pre-order campaign helps gauge market interest before full production, reducing financial risk for both parties.
Mutual benefit: As your book sells, both you and Snap Collective benefit. You receive royalties or free copies, while we cover our costs and make our profit through book sales.
This model allows us to focus on what matters most – bringing beautiful, high-quality art books to the market while supporting artists in realizing their publishing dreams.
1. Application: Submit your book concept and initial photos via our web app at: https://app.snap-collective.com/#/sfw/Ihome
2. Approval: Our team reviews and approves your project.
3. Cover & Mockup Design: We design your book cover.
4. Pre-Order Campaign (14 days): The book is sold at a special pre-sale price.
5. Layout & Production: If the pre-order meets its goal (25 copies for Standard, 35 for Premium), we proceed with the book’s interior layout.
6. Printing & Distribution: The book is printed and distributed worldwide.
You retain full creative control and copyright of your work throughout.
It depends on the pre-order campaign. On average, 40–50 copies are sold per campaign.
You can reach us by sending an email to . This is the best way to get in touch with our team for inquiries about your book project, technical questions, or collaboration proposals. We aim to respond to all messages promptly. If you’ve already started a project, you may also contact your assigned publisher representative directly for more specific support.
To submit your work to Snap Collective and apply for publication, please go to our submission portal at https://app.snap-collective.com/#/sfw/Ihome. There, you can create an account, upload your images, and provide details about your book concept. This is the first step in starting your publishing journey with us. Once your submission is received, our team will review your project and contact you with the next steps.
The Book
Note: Artists choose to publish in either the Standard format (A4) or the Premium format (large). We usually do not release a book in both formats. The Premium format includes higher-quality materials, a more exclusive finish, and, where applicable, additional pages—making it ideal for collectors or those seeking a more refined presentation of the artist’s work.
Feature | Standard Format (A4) | Premium Format (Large) |
|---|---|---|
Dimensions | 297 x 210 mm (11.69 x 8.27 inches | 297 x 297 mm (11.69 x 11.69 inches) |
Pages | 144 – 192 | 288 – 320 |
Cover Type | Hardcover | Hardcover |
Paper Type | 170 gsm matte | 170 gsm matte |
Special Features | Bookmark, QR codes | Bookmark, QR codes |
Pre-Order Option 1 | Minimum 25 copies sold @ 119 EUR each | Minimum 35 copies sold @ 249 EUR each |
Pre-Order Option 2 | Minimum 35 copies sold @ 99 EUR each | Minimum 50 copies sold @ 199 EUR each |
Free Copies | 25 = 4 copies; 50 = 15 copies | 35 = 3 copies; 50 = 10 copies |
The Premium Format offered by Snap Collective is designed as a deluxe edition for artists who want their book to make a bold, lasting impression. Unlike the A4 Standard Format, the Premium edition comes in a striking square format (297 x 297 mm) and includes up to 320 pages, allowing for a more immersive visual experience. What truly sets it apart, however, are the custom bookmarks and colored headbands, offering a refined and tactile aesthetic.
The Premium Format also comes with a jewelry-style slipcase with magnetic closure, elevating it to a collector-grade product. These enhancements make the Premium Format especially suitable for exhibitions, gallery distribution, or high-end personal branding. It’s more than a book—it’s a statement piece that amplifies the artist’s vision beyond the page.
A4 books typically contain 120–180 photos, depending on layout. Big format books include around 250–300 images.
We have publisher agents worldwide (e.g. in Paris, Düsseldorf, Warsaw, USA, Chisinau, Riga, Tbilisi, Berlin, London, Budapest), and if you live nearby, it may be possible to arrange a meeting with one of our representatives to see our books and check the quality.
However, we recommend that you start a book project and invest a bit to order copies directly. Artists and customers consistently express high satisfaction with the print quality, materials, and craftsmanship. Seeing your own work in book form is the best way to fully experience the value of our publishing process.
When publishing with Snap Collective, you’ll choose between two format options for your book: Standard and Premium. Each format has a different size and pricing structure, based on how many copies you expect to sell during your pre-order campaign. This pricing determines what your buyers will pay—not you—and influences how many free copies or discounts you can earn as the artist.
Here’s how it works:
📘 Standard Format (A4 – 21 x 29.7 cm):
119 EUR per book if you aim for 25 pre-orders
99 EUR per book if you’re confident you can reach 35 pre-orders
After the campaign, the regular price is 129 EUR
📕 Premium Format (Square – 297 x 297 mm):
249 EUR per book if you aim for 35 pre-orders
199 EUR per book if you aim for 50 pre-orders
After the campaign, the regular price is 269 EUR
📌 The pre-order price is what buyers will pay during your campaign—not you.
📌 As the artist, you can earn free copies and bulk order discounts based on your campaign’s success.
📌 Choosing a more ambitious pricing model can make the book more affordable for your audience, but requires a stronger promotional effort.
If you’re looking to see how other published books are priced, please consult our book catalogue at shop.snap-collective.com.
Our pricing reflects several key factors:
- Production Quality:
• Print-on-demand digital printing for each individual book
• Handmade hardcover binding
• High-quality materials and finishing - Business Model:
• All publishing services are completely free for artists
• No upfront costs or fees for authors
• Publishing costs must be covered through book sales - Print Economics:
• Individual book printing costs more than mass production
• Each book is crafted to order
• Premium materials and handcrafted elements
While we understand your concern about the price point, this model allows us to:
- Maintain high product quality
- Offer risk-free publishing to artists
- Ensure sustainable business operations
- Provide ongoing support and services
Both Standard (119-129 EUR) and Premium (249-269 EUR) formats represent the quality and craftsmanship that collectors and art enthusiasts value in a fine art publication.
Book Design
That’s wonderful! Then you may prepare the references and clear instructions on how you see your cover. Please, note that you may have 5 corrections.
Don’t worry. Our designers can offer you 3 variants of the cover which can help to choose the direction of the style design. Please, remember that there will be 5 corrections available.
Each book cover should fulfill certain legal requirements.
On the front cover following details should be included in the cover design:
– Title
– Author
– Logo of the publisher
On the back cover:
-ISBN (International Standard Book Number) which is a unique identifier for each book, this number will be provided by us.
Your work with the designer starts from the cover. Here you can make 5 corrections. When the cover is put on the Pre-Order Campaign and it is successful, then the designer starts to work with the core of the book. In this part of the process the artist has 40 corrections. You can change 10 pages 4 times or change 40 pages once and so on .
Yes, you can work with your designer. Ask your publisher agent for more information about the design requirements.
Our designers are working with Photoshop and InDesign.
We use high-quality 170gsm premium matte paper for our books. This paper weight provides:
• Excellent print quality
• Good opacity
• Professional feel
• Optimal reproduction of photographs
• Durability while maintaining elegance
The matte finish helps reduce glare and shows photographic details clearly while providing a sophisticated, professional appearance.
There are limited customization options available. This is because:
- Our business model focuses on providing free publishing services to artists
- We maintain consistent high-quality standards through our carefully selected:
• Paper type (170g premium matte)
• Format options (Standard A4 or Premium 30x30cm)
• Production processes
While customization is limited, our chosen formats and materials are based on extensive experience and provide optimal presentation for both artists and readers. The standardized options help us:
• Keep publishing free for artists
• Maintain consistent quality
• Ensure reliable production
• Keep costs manageable
These carefully selected specifications have proven to work well for a wide range of photographic works and artistic styles.
Yes, we can create a text for your book if you send us some key words or guidelines.
Pre-Order
A Pre-Order Campaign for A4 is a crucial 14-day phase in our book publishing process. During this time, we collaborate with the artist to create a book cover and launch the campaign. The book is made available for pre-order at a special price: 119 EUR for the Standard format or 249 EUR for the Premium format.
Artists are offered the option to publish their book in either Standard or Premium format. We typically release a title in only one of the two formats, depending on the artist’s choice and the campaign strategy.
The campaign is considered successful if it reaches a minimum of 25 pre-orders for the Standard format or 35 pre-orders for the Premium format. If this threshold is not met, the project may be postponed or cancelled, and all pre-order payments will be fully refunded.
Success is defined by reaching the required number of orders within the 14-day period.
If the minimum order threshold isn’t met during the pre-order campaign (25 orders for Standard format or 35 for Premium format), you have two options:
- Stop the publication process: The project ends without any cost to you.
- Complete the order yourself: You can purchase the remaining books needed to reach the minimum threshold, allowing the project to move forward.
It’s crucial to actively promote your book during the campaign to your contacts, followers, and friends to increase the chances of success. We provide marketing support, but your personal network can significantly impact the campaign’s outcome.
Note: Typically, customers who placed orders would receive refunds if the project doesn’t move forward, but you should confirm this with us directly.
Even if the initial campaign doesn’t meet expectations, you can discuss alternative strategies with us to make your book project a reality.
We don’t have free shipping for customers.
The shipping cost is calculated automatically during checkout. However, we deliver complimentary copies to the author for free, and bulk orders (from 25 copies) are also shipped cost-free to the author.
International shipments are sent by Fedex and domestic shipments (in Germany) are sent by DPD
We cannot provide specific examples of followers/pre-orders ratios, as each pre-order campaign depends on different factors. The results vary based on the level of communication between the artist and their audience. Some artists place orders themselves to host a book presentation event later, while others secure small grants from galleries, etc. You can request the Handout for Artists and Promotion Workflow & Tips, which outline our recommended promotional strategies and tips to help maintain momentum throughout the campaign.
We do not organize book signing events and don’t sponsor such, but we do post such news on our website and promote it on Instagram.
Bookstores and museums interested in books by our Artists buy from our website. We don’t sell books on Amazon because we don’t have stock. Each book is registered in the Danish Royal Library.
Book Promotion
We provide a platform for selling your book in our online shop.
- Snap Collective’s efforts:
- Creation of promotional materials (e.g., banners, social media posts)
- Featuring your book in our online store
- Select books may be featured on our Instagram.
- Artist’s role (crucial for success):
- Leveraging your personal network and followers
- Sharing promotional content we create
- Creating your own marketing materials (we provide templates)
- Engaging with your audience directly
We provide the tools and platform, but the main marketing effort comes from you as the artist. You know your target audience best and have a direct connection to them. We expect our artists to have a commercial mindset and work actively with us to market their book.
Given our free-of-charge publishing service, we don’t offer additional paid marketing campaigns or advertisements. The success of the pre-order campaign and subsequent sales largely depends on your promotional efforts combined with our support.
We’ve prepared a comprehensive marketing guide to help you promote your book effectively. This guide includes:
- Social media strategies tailored for artists
- Tips for engaging with your existing audience
- Ideas for creating compelling content about your book
- Suggestions for leveraging your personal network
- Best practices for timing and frequency of promotions
- Templates for promotional posts and emails
Additionally, we provide customizable marketing materials such as mockups for social media, that you can use.
This is an automated process, – during pre-order, after each order placed, you will receive a notification via email.
Distribution
Yes, you can sell your book through your social media accounts, official website, or a dedicated page/link for book purchases. However, according to the fixed book price law, the price must match the one displayed on our Publishing House Shop page.
As soon as your book is published, it can be ordered on our online shop (shop.snapcollective.com) and shipped to any country in the world.
Copyrights
No, we will not own your photo rights, you only give us the rights to your book.
Of course, you can republish your work elsewhere. This means that you always have the right to further publish parts or even your whole work with another publisher at any point in time with no restrictions.
Please contact all the people from your photographs you intend to use in the book and inform them about the upcoming book publication. It is enough to get a simple written email as approval that they have no objections.
You can also use this contact opportunity to ask if they would be interested to have a printed book copy of their own when the book is published, these people are potential buyers.
Sure, it’s standard in all our books. This information is placed in the page along with the information regarding publisher, ISBN etc.
Agreement
No. Modifications of our publishing agreement are not possible because a publication free of charge and the worldwide distribution of the title will not be possible otherwise. Just as any other company, our internationally operating publishing house has to work profit oriented.
You are welcome to compare our offer with those proposed by other publishing houses — we are sure that you will not be able to find a better one in terms of the conditions, benefits or convenient and easy publishing process that we offer.
We strongly believe that you won’t find a better option than the one we are providing. We offer free of charge publishing services which is a quite unique business model. Before you take a decision towards our offer, please consider not only the Terms and Conditions of those other publishers, but also the aesthetic qualities of their books and catalogs and also their book distributors.
