Calling all Wedding/Engagement Photographers....

05/29/2008 05:53:10 PM · #1

Ok, so I recently did my first engagement shoot (thank you

imagesbytlp!) and I have two questions.
One:
Where is a good place to get prints done? What do you charge? Do you do albums and extra stuff too? I have never had to do anything like this since for headshots, the clients take the file to the printer themselves.
Two:
This is going to sound really lame, but, how does one do a triptych in photoshop? I know, I know, I should probably already know how to do this....but I don't!
I want to do a really nice triptych of the actual proposal and I need help please.

Thanks for any input!

Sharon

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

05/29/2008 06:35:16 PM · #2

bump

amandak

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

05/29/2008 08:55:05 PM · #3

Hmmmmm.....maybe you should have thought about this before you did the shoot???? Check out MPix for prints - very reasonable and good quality. For triptychs, check out Triptychs or Creating a Triptych

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

05/29/2008 08:57:00 PM · #4

Sorry, but I don't need a scolding. Not that it matters, but it was a last minute request. Thanks for the info anyway.

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

05/29/2008 08:59:58 PM · #5

Your a bad bad girl Rompy, you should give your camera away to someone that isnt a bad bad girl 44(mememmemememememmememememmeem) hehehehehhe

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

05/29/2008 09:01:41 PM · #6

Originally posted by JulietNN:

Your a bad bad girl Rompy, you should give your camera away to someone that isnt a bad bad girl 44(mememmemememememmememememmeem) hehehehehhe

lol! Not a chance :)

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

05/29/2008 09:03:44 PM · #7

Damn, my evil plan did not work

Okay, back to the drawing board

NVPhoto

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

05/30/2008 12:40:30 PM · #8

I don't like mpix. I use bayphoto.com mostly and profilmet for 8x10s. If you want to do albums most of these online labs print them. If you really want to give them the best, use artleather.com. You will need a federal business ID# to set up an acct... its only for registered businesses.

Charge whatever you want for prints. Usually the client would know the price up front so you don't give them sticker shock, but you said its last minute so do what you need to do. I charge anywhere from $15 to $35 for 8x10s depending on the job. Best thing to do is look at what they cost you and find a number that makes you some money and works for the client. Im a big fan of working with my clients to find a great package that impresses them rather than give them my "unchangeable set in stone" package.

Doing triptychs is fairly easy. there are numerous ways to do it so just search some forums and find what works for you.

to the folks who tell you that this should have been thought of before... they are right but seriously there is no need to point that out now. Photography is sink or swim. If you go into something unprepared and can't complete the job then you fail and your clients will tell everyone you failed and your business is pretty F$%#@ right off the bat. If you do a good job you are off and running. Just because you haven't done this type of job before and don't know all teh details does not mean you can't do it well. I booked my first wedding w/o any wedding experience... never 2nd shot or assisted. I hadn't even attended a wedding since i was 15. I booked it got a deposit and learned what I needed to know to get the job done. The couple loved it and recommended me to others and wrote a wonderful testimonial that I will use eventually.

cdrice

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

05/30/2008 01:14:25 PM · #9

I'll cast my vote/referral in for exposuremanager.com. I've been very impressed with their print quality compared to others, including mpix. I've seen several other independent comparisons of online print shops which listed them as a top pick (which is what led me to them in the first place). I use them for all of my customer prints, and I consistently get positive (often surprised) comments on how remarkable the prints turn out. They have a great variety of print sizes and styles, including "products" (mugs, magnets, etc.).

You can set up your own gallery structure and pricing yourself -- everything is customizable, and they have some great starter gallery layouts. The learning curve is a little steep at first (lots of options, etc), but I think it's a great way to sell your work and provide great prints.

Very responsive support staff as well.

Oh oh oh! This sounds like an actual use for my "referral linky thingy mahbob..." Let's see if I can actually get it right: exposuremanger.com

rbryan22

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 Compact High Speed Zoom for Nikon

06/03/2008 11:01:28 PM · #10

I'm going to recommend White House Custom Color. //www.whcc.com. Their prints are awesome and they have free shipping....most of the wedding photographers I know either use WHCC or Millers lab. For wedding albums I'd suggest looking at Asuka Book, Finao, Laguna Albums, and Tuscany.

Message edited by author 2008-06-03 23:04:08.

mirdonamy

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/03/2008 11:13:17 PM · #11

I use Millers. Their ambassador prints are incredible! White House is great if you have a great monitor. I use a laptop, and even with my EyeOneXrite, it's nowhere near what Millers can do! :)

Prof_Fate

06/04/2008 12:23:49 AM · #12

profilmet.com, h&h color lab, abcphoto out of connecticut are my labs (most stuff, press and odds and ends, 4x6's respectively)

for eng pics... you can do an album - a coffee table book (h&h, art leather, apollo photo's illuma books, asuka and others) - a hard cover (photocover or not) and the inside laid out like a story or similar ot a wedding album. You can use the same book with blank or lined pages on one side as a guest book for the reception. You can do a signature frame (pic in middle of a large white matte that guests sign at the reception) or other reception photo display. I've seen a number of couples use photos from their dating days at the reception as center pieces, table decorations/seating charge uses, digital picture frames (usually at the bar or guest book area). Save the Date cards or magnets, thank you cards or wallet photos, etc.

What to charge? enough to stay in business hopefully. Find out what other photogs in your area are charging and charge accordingly - what your market is willing to pay may be very different from here. And sports buyers for little league the the like will pay a lot less for an 8x10 than a family portrait so it can be hard to guage. Currently I'm charging $24 for an 8x10 with a package, but that's going up soon I suspect - all my costs are up so it's about time I pass that along.