A Q&A With the Brains Behind Peanut Press Books

“Joe with Fish,” Baffin Island 1997. Credit: Photo © David J. Carol

Photographers David J. Carol and Ashly Stohl, who have also paired up as co-founders of Peanut Press Books, are quick to explain that neither wants to be in the “book publishing” business. Their sole focus at Peanut is to make great books, and for the right reasons. “We partner with great photographers to make the book they will love, that we will love, that exists for one purpose,” says David. “Not to make money, though we hope it will, but to produce a beautiful and precious treasure that will put photographs first. The work comes first at Peanut Press, or we won’t get involved.” David further dives into his approach in the following Q&A.

Jacqueline Tobin: Why is the photographic print so important to you?
David Carol: Seeing images online is easy and convenient, but for me it’s artificial and edgy, and not conducive to relaxation and enjoyment. I like to sit with photographs in a comfortable chair or on the sofa and spend time with them. There’s an intimacy that is lost seeing photos on a glowing computer screen. A well-made photograph or photography book on beautiful paper is more “human.” It never gets old.

JT: Why did you and Ashly start Peanut Press?
DC: Knowing my history in self-publishing, Ashly asked me to help her publish her book, Charth Vader. It was a big hit and sold out very quickly, and people were coming to us and asking who made it, how we did it, etc. We already had a great team in place, so Ashly and I discussed it and decided that we should help other photographers make books, too. We agreed it had to be fun and rewarding, and at the same time give the client the book they always wanted. Our goal is to make three to four books a year for photographers who see the book as a beautiful object that is intrinsic to the presentation of their photographs. We’ve made four books so far with two currently in production. We have commitments to five or six more photographers through 2018.

We made a conscious decision to put the photographs, the reproduction quality and the materials used as our first priority. Yes, it’s more expensive, but if we are going to commit our time and energy to making books they must be of the highest quality possible. Therefore we print our books at Meridian Printing in Rhode Island, where we personally go on press to ensure the photographer gets the look and feel they want. The book is the object, the book is the treasure.

“Who Cares,” New York, NY 2015. Credit: Photo © David J. Carol

JT: How can photographers get published by Peanut Press?
DC: Well, we have many ways of finding work. For example, Ashly was just at Review Santa Fe looking at work. I attend at least three to five photo festivals each year as well, either looking at work or being exposed to work when giving lectures or workshops. People can also submit their work to us through the Peanut Press website (peanutpressbooks.com). There is no fee for us to look at your work.

JT: Which books have you published so far?
DC: Ashly Stohl’s Charth Vader, Richard Bram’s New York, Rammy Narula’s Platform 10 and my newest book, NO PLAN B. We currently have two more books in production—one by Robert Larson and the other by Victoria Will, both to be released in 2017. We are having a Peanut Press Exhibition during June/July 2017 at the Rayko Photo Center in San Francisco.

JT: What’s the premise behind your new book, No Plan B?
DC: The title, NO PLAN B, came from an article I wrote a few years back about how I never had a plan other than being a photographer. Seemed like a good title. Then Leica came to me and offered me a show. They said I could do whatever I wanted. I’m a big fan of books, obviously, and I also love how my photographs look when printed on gelatin silver paper. As Tom A. Smith of Leica and I tossed around ideas, one of us said retrospective. I thought, well, I’ve been a photographer for 35+ years, that makes sense. I’ve always used Leicas, so that made sense, too. Peanut Press published a hardcover catalogue of my show. Ashly designed it, Meridian printed it, Joe Chanin did pre-press for it, and Guggenheim recipient Jason Eskenazi wrote the afterword. It doesn’t get any better than this.

David Carol is the co-founder/editor-in-chief of Peanut Press Books, DOP at Outfront Media, and author of numerous photo books.

To view this article in the digital edition, click here.

Related: Book Preview: David J. Carol’s NO PLAN B