Question for Smugmug Users - DPChallenge Forums

05/16/2005 11:32:42 PM · #1

For those of you that use Smugmug and have used their printing service, what do you think?

- How's the service and the quality?
- How does Smugmug compare to MPix and such?
- Do you use the pro package and allow your clients to purchase through Smugmug?
- Any other comments regarding Smugmug's printing?

I'm still trying to decide whether to start a website for my better pics, organize and use my current Smugmug site, or purchase a separate Smugmug site. Right now I have the good, bad, and ugly all mixed together and I want something a little nicer.

Thank you.

Jen

Olympus 18-180mm f/3.5-6.3 Zuiko ED Digitial Zoom

05/17/2005 04:54:24 PM · #2

Anyone?

rayg544

Olympus E-5

05/17/2005 05:27:19 PM · #3

I've never tried it - anyone else?

ahaze

05/17/2005 05:40:11 PM · #4

I got a similar response when I was asking a similar question. I had Smugmug send me 3 8x10's of their calibration print, one matte, one glossy and one lustre. The order failed to go through the first time, their support person told me it had something to do with their host- she emailed me later and told me to try it again and it went through fine- just bad timing I guess ;)

Once I got the prints, they were beautiful. They use EZ Prints, as does DPCPrints. As long as you've got your calibration matched to theirs, you should have no problem with quality. I got a print of one of my own shots from DPCP and was shocked at how oversaturated it was. But of course I wasn't calibrated to EZPrints. I'm still not- I decided to pass on Smugmug. $99 seems like too much for me when I already have a perfectly good website- even when I get serious about selling my prints I can't see it getting so busy that I won't have the time to handle order fulfillment myself, whether that be printing from my Epson 1280 or sending out the file for printing. I'll worry about a more automated system when demand calls for it.

That's just my own personal situation- not sure if it helps you at all or not, but hopefully it does ;)

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/17/2005 05:51:35 PM · #5

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

Hi Jen!

I've got a smugmug pro account and I highly recommend them. I've bought hundreds of prints from smugmug and I highly recommend their printing services as well. I really like their Lustre Finish prints!

If you do decide to sign up, give them my cupon code (qzDagz7w1S78w) on the signup page and you'll save some money. I will too, but that's completely beside the point. :)

05/23/2005 08:29:08 PM · #6

Hey, Andi. Thanks for replying! I'm glad you are happy with their prints. Have you ever tried MPix or one of the others? I'm very pleased with MPix and I'm especially curious how Smugmug compares to them. I'm still on the fence about what to do. Smugmug is just downright easy and the $99 doesn't bother me much...a personal website would take a bit more work. Although not super difficult a personal site would require an initial setup that would take longer than Smugmug. Ugh...decisions, decisions.

Thanks again. I'll toss it around a bit more.

Jen

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/23/2005 08:33:41 PM · #7

Originally posted by micknewton:

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"Hey dumbass, who do you think told you about smugmug?" ;-) Hehehe
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Mick,

Thanks for the reply and sorry about my tardy response (again). Like I said above, I'm torn. Smugmug is so easy and is ready to go. A website would give me much more flexibility in design and addition/personal pages.

Thanks again for replying. I'm so indecisive. :-/

Jen

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

05/23/2005 08:49:04 PM · #8

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

Originally posted by micknewton:
Hi Jen!

I've got a smugmug pro account and I highly recommend them. I've bought hundreds of prints from smugmug and I highly recommend their printing services as well. I really like their Lustre Finish prints!

If you do decide to sign up, give them my cupon code (qzDagz7w1S78w) on the signup page and you'll save some money. I will too, but that's completely beside the point. :)

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"Hey dumbass, who do you think told you about smugmug?" ;-) Hehehe
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Mick,

Thanks for the reply and sorry about my tardy response (again). Like I said above, I'm torn. Smugmug is so easy and is ready to go. A website would give me much more flexibility in design and addition/personal pages.

Thanks again for replying. I'm so indecisive. :-/

Jen

If you do your own website, how would you handle requests for prints? I suppose if the volume were small enough you can just order the prints through your current smugmug account, or dpcprints, and have them shipped directly to your customer. But, you'd still have to deal with collecting the money from the customer. If you sell lots of prints, that could get to be a PITA real quick. :)

You're right though, doing it yourself would give you (virtually) total control over the entire site.

Good luck with whatever you decide!