Biography and Memoir Printing
Biographies, memoirs, and family histories printed with photo insert sections, hardcover binding, and premium finishes.
Why Print Your Biography With Us
Photo Insert Sections
Mixed-stock printing places black-and-white text on uncoated paper with color photo sections on coated stock for sharp image reproduction.
Hardcover and Softcover
Hardcover for library collections and premium editions. Softcover for broader distribution and lower retail price.
Premium Finishes
Foil stamping, 3D Spot UV, custom endsheets, and dust jackets available on every order at any quantity.
Short-Run Friendly
Order 25 to 5,000 copies. Ideal for family histories with a defined audience. Free shipping on 100+ copies.
Origin Books prints biographies, memoirs, autobiographies, and family histories in softcover and hardcover formats in runs of 25 to 5,000 copies. Photo insert sections, hardcover binding, and foil stamping suit books built to preserve a person’s story.
Recommended Specifications
Biographies and Memoirs
- Binding: Hardcover (case bound) or softcover (perfect bound)
- Page count: 200—400 pages
- Interior: Black-and-white on 60lb uncoated paper, with optional color photo sections on 80lb coated paper
- Paper color: White (better contrast for photographs) or cream
- Trim size: 6 x 9 inches (standard for narrative nonfiction)
- Cover: Matte lamination
Hardcover binding is common for biographies, especially titles about public figures or books intended for library collections. Many authors offer both hardcover (primary edition) and softcover (broader distribution).
Books with photographs benefit from mixed-stock printing: black-and-white text pages on uncoated paper with photo insert sections printed on coated stock for sharper image reproduction.
Family Histories and Personal Autobiographies
- Binding: Hardcover or softcover
- Page count: 100—300 pages
- Interior: Black-and-white with optional color photo sections
- Trim size: 6 x 9 inches or 8.5 x 11 inches (for photo-heavy layouts)
- Cover: Matte or gloss lamination
Family histories often have a defined audience --- relatives, descendants, community members. Short-run printing allows quantities of 25—250 copies that match the intended readership without overproduction.
For the full selection of paper options and weights, see Paper and Materials.
Pricing
Biography printing cost depends on page count, binding, and whether the interior includes color photo sections.
For a 6 x 9 book with a black-and-white interior:
| Binding | Pages | 100 copies | 250 copies | 500 copies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softcover | 150 | $6.72/book | $6.07/book | $5.57/book |
| Softcover | 300 | $10.38/book | $9.61/book | $8.95/book |
| Hardcover | 150 | $20.37/book | $17.06/book | $15.01/book |
| Hardcover | 300 | $24.23/book | $20.33/book | $17.95/book |
Color photo insert sections add cost based on the number of color pages. The pricing calculator shows exact pricing for any combination of B&W and color pages. No account required. Orders of 100 or more books ship free.
For a full breakdown of all publishing costs, see Cost to Self-Publish a Book.
Cover and Premium Features
- Foil stamping applies metallic foil to the title or author name on hardcover editions. Common for biographies of public or historical figures.
- 3D Spot UV adds raised, glossy texture to cover photos or title text.
- Custom endsheets (hardcover only) add colored or designed pages inside the front and back covers.
- Dust jackets provide a removable printed wrapper over a hardcover case.
Origin Books offers these options on every order at any quantity.
Design and File Preparation
Biographies and memoirs with photographs require attention to image quality:
- All photos at 300 DPI minimum at final printed size
- CMYK color mode for color photo sections
- Scanned archival photographs cleaned and adjusted for print reproduction
- Consistent captioning and photo placement throughout
Origin Books offers cover design starting at $89 and interior design starting at $399. See Design Services for tier details.
For authors preparing files independently, Origin Books provides templates and layout tools. Full specifications are in the file preparation guide.
Selling Your Biography
Direct sales. Sell directly through your own website, at events, or through bookstores. Speaking engagements, local history events, and book signings are common sales channels for biographies.
Retail and library distribution. Libraries actively acquire biographies, especially titles with local or regional relevance. Each format requires its own ISBN. See the Distribution Guide for channel details and the ISBN guide for purchasing.
Family and community distribution. Family histories and personal autobiographies often reach readers through reunions, community organizations, and direct outreach. Short-run printing allows reorders in small quantities as copies sell through.