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05/01/2006 03:31:33 PM · #1 |
With my new system (WOOT!) I will be starting a semi-pro photography business. I have four jobs set up already (an I don't even have my stuff yet!). Two are family shoots, one's a baby (few weeks old) shoot), and the other is a guy who owns a ranch who wants pictures of his horses.
The mother of the baby already let me know she's going to want a huge print to put over her mantle and some other large prints to cover walls. I have a canon i9900 that I can use for proofs and prints up to 13 inches wide, but that won't be large enough in this case. There are many pro-photo labs on the net, and I'm wondering which ones you all use.
SmugMug has great prices. Does anyone know how good the quality is?
Also, I'll need to purchase folios and coffee table photo books at some point (soon), but can't find a reputable place with high quality and decent pricing. The only one I've heard good things about is Art Leater, but their site says they only sell to pro photographers (how do you become one of their photogs?). The other I found was PlasticSandwich, but they're out of Europe and very pricey. Does anyone know where I can go to order things like this? |
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05/01/2006 03:49:34 PM · #2 |
Costco.com
Their prices are so low it's worth the membership price. Plus if you have a Costco nearby you'll love shopping there and you can upload photos via the web and pick them up at the store the same day.
Quality is top knotch as well.
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05/01/2006 03:54:49 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by LoudDog:
Costco.com
Their prices are so low it's worth the membership price. Plus if you have a Costco nearby you'll love shopping there and you can upload photos via the web and pick them up at the store the same day.
Quality is top knotch as well. |
So for "pro" photo's to sell to clients get them at costco?! What do the prints say on the back? (ie. running "canon" or "kodak" text) Do they say "costco" anywhere on them?
People may (umm.. deffinately would) find that tacky and feel ripped off.
If they come as plain prints. AWESOME. There's a costco a few minutes away! |
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05/01/2006 04:14:06 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by Little King:
With my new system (WOOT!) I will be starting a semi-pro photography business. |
One piece of advice. By using that one word (semi-pro) you are selling yourself short. You're either a professional photographer or you're not. You're prepared to charge for your services. I'd call you a professional. ;) |
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05/01/2006 04:15:36 PM · #5 |
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05/01/2006 04:15:40 PM · #6 |
I thought they even used archival quality ink? The back is blank I believe, can't remember. I know it doesn't say Costco. I know a few wedding photographers that print with Costco.
I had seen the same file printed at a pro lab (Ritz) and Costco and side by side the Costco one looked better. I've sworn by it since.
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05/01/2006 04:17:41 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by _eug:
Originally posted by Little King:
With my new system (WOOT!) I will be starting a semi-pro photography business. |
One piece of advice. By using that one word (semi-pro) you are selling yourself short. You're either a professional photographer or you're not. You're prepared to charge for your services. I'd call you a professional. ;) |
hahah... soon to be pro! I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE STUFF YET! :D |
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05/01/2006 04:23:44 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Little King:
Originally posted by LoudDog:
Costco.com
Their prices are so low it's worth the membership price. Plus if you have a Costco nearby you'll love shopping there and you can upload photos via the web and pick them up at the store the same day.
Quality is top knotch as well. |
So for "pro" photo's to sell to clients get them at costco?! What do the prints say on the back? (ie. running "canon" or "kodak" text) Do they say "costco" anywhere on them?
People may (umm.. deffinately would) find that tacky and feel ripped off.
If they come as plain prints. AWESOME. There's a costco a few minutes away! |
Costco and for sure Sam's Club uses Fuji archive paper and precess the same that some of the best custom labs use. They do not say Sam's on the back and in fact many pro wedding photogs use them extensively. I have also used MPix with good results. Where ever you go make sure you know if they will automatically adjust your photos. I always tell them no adjustment, I do it myself. Once you know how their machines print you can better adjust it yourself. No one will ever know you used Sam's unless you tell them. ;) Good luck.
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05/01/2006 04:30:44 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by PhantomEWO:
Originally posted by Little King:
Originally posted by LoudDog:
Costco.com
Their prices are so low it's worth the membership price. Plus if you have a Costco nearby you'll love shopping there and you can upload photos via the web and pick them up at the store the same day.
Quality is top knotch as well. |
So for "pro" photo's to sell to clients get them at costco?! What do the prints say on the back? (ie. running "canon" or "kodak" text) Do they say "costco" anywhere on them?
People may (umm.. deffinately would) find that tacky and feel ripped off.
If they come as plain prints. AWESOME. There's a costco a few minutes away! |
Costco and for sure Sam's Club uses Fuji archive paper and precess the same that some of the best custom labs use. They do not say Sam's on the back and in fact many pro wedding photogs use them extensively. I have also used MPix with good results. Where ever you go make sure you know if they will automatically adjust your photos. I always tell them no adjustment, I do it myself. Once you know how their machines print you can better adjust it yourself. No one will ever know you used Sam's unless you tell them. ;) Good luck. |
Awesome. Thank you very much!
Only one question left: The folio's and coffee table photo books... |
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05/01/2006 04:34:45 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by LoudDog:
I thought they even used archival quality ink? The back is blank I believe, can't remember. I know it doesn't say Costco. I know a few wedding photographers that print with Costco.
I had seen the same file printed at a pro lab (Ritz) and Costco and side by side the Costco one looked better. I've sworn by it since. |
I'd hardly call Ritz a "pro" lab.
I can see using Costco or a similar service for proofs, but for final product, I'd be a little leery.
A real pro lab will help you out when something goes wrong or you need that special job turned around FAST. The guy at Costco or whereever is just as likely to shrug his shoulders and say "Not my problem." and leave you hangin' in the breeze.
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05/01/2006 04:36:31 PM · #11 |
lots of album choices
albums inc
TAP
asuka
mypublisher
apollo photo imagizing (illuma memory books)
Art leather - contact them and ask for the local rep.
For labs I tried Winkflash.com - not bad, but it you're a pro try a real lab - BIG difference in quality and I can get 8x10s for $1. Yes, $1. Free shipping too. Minus is a $10 minimum order and a $2 handling fee per order, but the prints are BOXED and shipped UPS. You also get lots of othe benefits - free software being one of them, the other being able to order some of the art leather albums one at a time. Who are they? //www.profilmet.com/ - call and ask for patty gionta and tell her chris perry told you to call.
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05/01/2006 04:37:33 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by PhantomEWO:
No one will ever know you used Sam's unless you tell them. ;) Good luck. |
Unless you run into your customer while waiting in line.... LOL
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05/01/2006 04:38:37 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Little King:
Only one question left: The folio's and coffee table photo books... |
Lots of people don't like Gary Fong for whatever reason, but I've had good luck with his Cornerstone Albums. You don't have to use his software either, you can just as easily lay it out on Photoshop.
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05/01/2006 04:40:36 PM · #14 |
Art Leather will sell to a semi-Pro photographer, just make out like you are full pro. You will need a website and a business card to send to them to prove you are a pro. They are the only company I use for my folios; high quality and dependable... You get your own representative too!
Also, I am using Clickimage.com for my e-commerce and fulfillment. I haven't actually seen any of their work yet, but they use the same printers and paper as my local photoshop. It's a pretty nice setup that clickimage has; proof sites, gift items out the wazzooo, and decent prices/fees for their services. |
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05/01/2006 04:46:02 PM · #15 |
I personally would never have an online solution that i didn't personally send out the prints. yo uhave no clue what is in that box - I bet for a price I can put my business card in your box.
You need to give good service, and that means more customer contact than is normal in todays society, not less. having some third party send out who knows what is not my idea of great customer service - I want my biz card, my ad, my bag with my name on it to go in their hands, not some third party somebody.
Breezebrowser Pro can make web galleries with prices, carts, etc and paypal can be linked in to take the money. You pay 2.9%, not 10, 15, 20% like many online solutions. You get an email with what they ordered, you get it printed and ready to go, you are the final quality control as well, and you make more money.
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05/01/2006 04:49:59 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
I personally would never have an online solution that i didn't personally send out the prints. yo uhave no clue what is in that box - I bet for a price I can put my business card in your box.
You need to give good service, and that means more customer contact than is normal in todays society, not less. having some third party send out who knows what is not my idea of great customer service - I want my biz card, my ad, my bag with my name on it to go in their hands, not some third party somebody.
Breezebrowser Pro can make web galleries with prices, carts, etc and paypal can be linked in to take the money. You pay 2.9%, not 10, 15, 20% like many online solutions. You get an email with what they ordered, you get it printed and ready to go, you are the final quality control as well, and you make more money. |
Well, clickimage.com allows the photographer to handle the actual processing of the prints if the photographer did not want clickimage to process them... Clickimage.com would essentially then work as a order taking and proof site... the orders come in an e-mail and then the photographer goes down to the shop to have them processed. Either way, it behooves me, and my business model, to use them, and it could even hurt my business if I don't use them in some fashion--I don't have an alternative e-commerce solution of my own. |
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05/01/2006 05:01:45 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I'd hardly call Ritz a "pro" lab.
I can see using Costco or a similar service for proofs, but for final product, I'd be a little leery.
A real pro lab will help you out when something goes wrong or you need that special job turned around FAST. The guy at Costco or whereever is just as likely to shrug his shoulders and say "Not my problem." and leave you hangin' in the breeze. |
I use Sam's Club for anything I need at 4x6, 5x7, and sometimes 8x10. Their prints are excellent quality and I have never been disappointed. As far as quick turnaround goes, it's a 1 hour lab and I have only had to wait longer than that one or two times. I had one bad print in a batch one time, and they replaced it for me within an hour also. I can't imagine the service being any better than that.
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05/01/2006 05:04:10 PM · #18 |
Mpix all the way! They are awesome, their quality is beautiful and their customer service is outstanding! Plus $5 for shipping!!!!
I used to use Sam's, but the problem is... mine could never color balance their machine the same way. I would get prints back in one color... and get reprints and have them totally off! Not only that, but I haven't found another lab that prints TRUE B&W besides Mpix. all others have a green or yellow tint.
As far as table books go.... Asukabooks is the best. I have ordered books from there and they are beautiful! I actually have my first 10x10 hard cover coming in this week! I can't even tell you how excited I am to see it! :) They are a bit more expensive... but everyone that I have showed them to, loves them! And they are well worth the money!
Best of luck to you with your new business.... I love being a professional photographer! :)
~Lorrie
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05/01/2006 05:07:46 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by nsoroma79:
Mpix all the way! They are awesome, their quality is beautiful and their customer service is outstanding! Plus $5 for shipping!!!!
I used to use Sam's, but the problem is... mine could never color balance their machine the same way. I would get prints back in one color... and get reprints and have them totally off! Not only that, but I haven't found another lab that prints TRUE B&W besides Mpix. all others have a green or yellow tint.
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I agree. I use MPIX for everything I need over 12x18. The local labs will vary, but my local Sam's does excellent work. It's worthwhile to look around and find a great local lab to work with. The turnaround is quicker when you need it, and the prices (at Sam's) can't be beat.
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05/01/2006 05:12:38 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I'd hardly call Ritz a "pro" lab.
I can see using Costco or a similar service for proofs, but for final product, I'd be a little leery.
A real pro lab will help you out when something goes wrong or you need that special job turned around FAST. The guy at Costco or whereever is just as likely to shrug his shoulders and say "Not my problem." and leave you hangin' in the breeze. |
Ritz calls themselves a pro lab, I wouldn't call them pro either though. :)
Actually the people at the costco I go to know what they are doing (I heard that's not as true with Wal-Mart and Sams who both use the same equipment as Costco), and if there is ever a problem they'll re-print it for you at no charge. And, if you drop it off at the store you can always get it back in an hour, so there is no need to request a fast turn around. Sometimes you can even upload it and pick it up in an hour.
As far as adjustments, Costco does nothing, they print your file as is. If you are worried about the color coming out you can download their color profile. Just be sure your monitor is calibrated.
I've told customers I print at Costco. I just be sure to tell them that Costco uses the same equip as most of the pro labs, and if they don't like the quality I'll charge them more and print it elsewhere for them.
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05/01/2006 05:27:28 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by nsoroma79:
Mpix all the way! They are awesome, their quality is beautiful and their customer service is outstanding! Plus $5 for shipping!!!!
I used to use Sam's, but the problem is... mine could never color balance their machine the same way. I would get prints back in one color... and get reprints and have them totally off! Not only that, but I haven't found another lab that prints TRUE B&W besides Mpix. all others have a green or yellow tint.
As far as table books go.... Asukabooks is the best. I have ordered books from there and they are beautiful! I actually have my first 10x10 hard cover coming in this week! I can't even tell you how excited I am to see it! :) They are a bit more expensive... but everyone that I have showed them to, loves them! And they are well worth the money!
Best of luck to you with your new business.... I love being a professional photographer! :)
~Lorrie |
What do you have to do to qualify as a professional photographer to become a member at Asuka books? Does it have to be your full time career? Do you just need a website and a business card? If anybody knows the answer to this I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
Charles |
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05/01/2006 06:49:51 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I'd hardly call Ritz a "pro" lab.
I can see using Costco or a similar service for proofs, but for final product, I'd be a little leery.
A real pro lab will help you out when something goes wrong or you need that special job turned around FAST. The guy at Costco or whereever is just as likely to shrug his shoulders and say "Not my problem." and leave you hangin' in the breeze. |
I use Sam's Club for anything I need at 4x6, 5x7, and sometimes 8x10. Their prints are excellent quality and I have never been disappointed. As far as quick turnaround goes, it's a 1 hour lab and I have only had to wait longer than that one or two times. I had one bad print in a batch one time, and they replaced it for me within an hour also. I can't imagine the service being any better than that. |
Even on some photos I messed up they didn't charge. A couple times when they were a little late on the one hour they didn't charge. AND I did not have to ask for a discount. Don't look down at them unless you have used them. They can do up to I think, 10x15 in the one hour side of their business too. They're mail order printing uses a different paper but both are quality.
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