The proof is the stage that makes made-to-order safe. It is a full digital PDF of the finished thing, sent to you before anything is printed, and nothing goes to press until you say so.
Most people skim it. It is worth twenty minutes.
What you get
Every page, in order, exactly as it will print. Not a mock-up or a sample spread — the whole object, including the cover, the captions and any text pages.
You also get told which photographs we had concerns about, and why. That list is usually short and it is the part most worth reading.
What to check, in order
| Check | Why it matters | Fixable after printing? |
|---|---|---|
| Names and spellings | The one error nobody forgives | No |
| Dates and years | Easy to get wrong from memory | No |
| The order of events | Chronology reads wrong if one is misplaced | No |
| Anyone missing | A person left out is the commonest regret | No |
| Which image is on the cover | It is seen daily | No |
| Captions saying what you meant | We shape your words; sometimes we shape them wrong | No |
| Photos flagged as low resolution | They will print exactly as shown | No |
Read it as the recipient would, from the first page to the last, rather than hunting for mistakes. Errors of sequence and omission only appear when you read it straight through.
What you can change
Effectively everything: layout, sequencing, captions, the cover, which photographs are in and which are out, and the size if the count turns out wrong.
Revisions are included. There is no per-change fee and no “final version” you are locked into before you are happy.
The two things that cannot change at this stage are the format itself — a magazine cannot become an album without re-quoting — and the delivery date, which moves later every time the proof cycles.
The one thing to be honest about
Each round of revisions costs a day or two, and the delivery estimate assumes roughly one. Three rounds of small changes will push a 5 to 14 day window towards the far end of it.
If a date is fixed, send everything you want changed in one message rather than three. It is the single biggest thing you control at this stage.
After you approve
It prints, and it joins the next weekly dispatch — we send on Mondays. From approval, expect the remainder of the 5 to 14 day window, 5 to 12 to Delhi NCR.
Approval is the point of no return. After it, only the delivery address can still change, and only before dispatch.
Changing an order after placing it →
Frequently asked
Do I see the design before it prints? Yes. A full digital PDF of every page, including the cover, and nothing prints until you approve it.
How many revisions do I get? Revisions are included rather than counted. The practical limit is time: each round adds a day or two to delivery.
What if I want a completely different layout? Say so. Layout, order, captions and cover can all change at this stage — that is what it is for.
Can I change the size after seeing the proof? Yes, if the photo count turns out wrong for the size chosen. The price adjusts to the new page count.
What happens if I approve it and then spot a mistake? If it has not gone to print yet, tell us immediately and we will hold it. Once printed it cannot be changed, which is why the proof is worth twenty minutes.
Part of our guide to ordering a personalised gift. See also: what happens after you order and photo book mistakes to avoid.
Design and revisions included: Photo magazines from ₹499 · All 11 keepsakes
Also asked: Can I get a digital copy of the book?