Proofing/printing questions... - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/31/2006 03:41:00 PM · #1

For anyone who shoots weddings, portraits or anything else where you would show a client proofs, I'm trying to get a handle on a good workflow to follow.

There's the Smugmug route, with website and printing integrated into one. Here I can just upload the proofs for the client to view and select what they want printed, giving me more time to do other things.

Another route is where I would create a website that contains the proofs for the client to view. They could select the ones they want and the sizes they want and I could send those sizes/photos onto an online printing lab. In this case, I'm not sure if I would receive the prints to present to the client or if I would have the prints sent to them directly. Also, who pays for the prints initially? Do I pay and then get reimbursed from the client when they receive them, or do I collect up front before ordering the prints?

Yet another scenario would be to get all the proofs printed as 4x6's and go over them with the client in person. They can decide on what photos they want and at what sizes, and then I can send the selections off to a printing lab for processing. Again, who pays initially?

Am I correct in assuming these are the most standard approaches for presenting and printing photos for clients? What method works for you, or hasn't worked for you in the past? If there are any other proof/print workflows that I haven't mentioned, please chime in.

I'm also trying to figure out which print lab would be the best for my situation. I've read other threads naming off a number of print labs to use, but I'd like to find someone in Canada, if possible. Has anyone ever heard of or used Imagine Photo? They seem to have very good prices compared to Mpix and Smugmug, which are the two major pricing schemes that I've been looking at. My major concern with going through Smugmug where the client can choose what they want to print, is that the prices are in US$, which might be a bit misleading to my clients in determining a correct cost.

I'm sure I'm forgetting to ask something, but I think there's enough here already. Thanks in advance to anyone with advice/suggestions/whatever.

LoveSpuds

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

08/31/2006 03:53:42 PM · #2

Thankfully I have a decent 17" laptop with a good screen, so I tent to go along and sit with the client to go through the images.

You could also put the images on disk (make sure you reduce the resolution of each image) and they could look on there own PC's.

Aother idea I have been toying with is making a video CD for use on a DVD player.

08/31/2006 09:53:45 PM · #3

bump

09/01/2006 10:21:45 AM · #4

Nobody else has any advice to lend?

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

09/01/2006 08:12:55 PM · #5

Last bump and then I'm giving up :)

wavelength

Nikon D300

09/01/2006 09:18:02 PM · #6

Bill, I am currently using //www.expressdigital.com (photoreflect.com) as proofing/ordering site.

If you already have a smugmug pro account then skip it.

If you need something quick and don't have the money to shell out up front, then go with them. There are surcharges and stuff for orders that get passed on to your customers though, but you don't have to up your prices in the interim to cover your expenses anyways...

Download the free version of their software, you have to set up pricing and packages and such, but once it's done it's more simple for the customers. If your customers have slow connections, they will hate this and rather you ordered proofs.

Unless you have an amazing TFT laptop display, don't use that.

The CD with small images is an idea, but I'd watermark them, if you don't watermark them, charge them for it. Some people are quite happy to get 4x6's, scan them, and send them off to be printed larger. Crappy as the quality may be..

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

09/01/2006 09:36:19 PM · #7

I am considering switching to Lifepics.com

$50 setup and %15 overhead, but a much nicer interface for the customers.

Prof_Fate

09/03/2006 11:17:20 AM · #8

double post.

Message edited by author 2006-09-03 11:20:11.

Prof_Fate

09/03/2006 11:19:55 AM · #9

Current 'bset method' for most sales per client and biggest prints is to use a LCD type projector and have a view and choose session - client comes to you, you project teh proofs big on the screen/wall and they choose the prints, the sizes, etc right then and there. ALL the studios that have gone to this method have seen 50% to 100% increase in sales.

If you can't do that for whatever reason (like my wedding last night - the live in Georgia, 1100 miles from me) you can:
-web proof (low res, they pick the pics and email you the filenames)
-print proofs - be it loose 4x6 prints in a box, put in proof album, or have one fo the fancier solutions (proofing books, spriral bound, etc)
-you print pages of proofs on your inkjet
-CD proofs

They choose what they want and the size and place the order with you. I am currently doing web proofs (my web space, breezebrowser pro for making the watermarked proofs and web pages). this works, but I don't find I'm getting as big a sale per client as if i'd show them in person. This works for weddings IMO, but not so well for portrait work (HS seniors, etc).

You can have it all happen on the web of course, but personally I want to see the prints, and do the packaging myself - quailty control and branding - I don't want some third party name on my customers prints/envelops/packaging. I also prefer to hand deliver (they can pick up or i may take it to them) as opposed to mailing it, although I do a bit of that - it's 7 miles to the PO and I have to package it up - i can often drive to their house in less time/miles!

Prices....i use winkflash for 4x6 proof prints (12c ea and 99c shipping) quaility if fine, BUT they butcher the order of the prints - i don't know how or why, but the proofs i get are in some random order - an envelop of 36 prints may have getting ready shots, ceremony and reception shots all together - it's not worth my time to sort them out and put them in order(512 prints will take a while). I tell the client to pick the ones they want in the album and give those back to me (filenames are on the back of the prints). I'm not sure i like the scrambled order...artsy or stupid? I don't know yet.

I don't use winkflash for other prints - poor packaging, bent prints, not good. I have not tried MPix - i can get cheaper from my local pro lab - $10 min order, $1 8x10s, 50c 5x7s, and $2 hadling per order, no shipping and they come via UPS in a box so no bent anything and they upoloading is via ROES, not some half-assed web interface. Once you use a ROES you wont' waste you time with the other methods. They will host your pics and all that too, but charge for it and I can do it for free, so I do. (www.profilmet.com)

Makka

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/03/2006 11:30:46 AM · #10

For myself, when I shoot weddings I always print the proofs as 2.5" x 3.5" and put them in an album. My reason for this is that they are paying for the service and I more than cover this in my pricing. Fair enough it may take a bit of extra time but I truly believe in delivering a nice finished product. For portraits we usually reduce them down and 'stamp' them so they can view them on their PC or by request we will also put them up on our website for them to view. Once again, these are also reduced and 'stamped' to reduce the chance of them printing them off.

KiwiChris

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

09/03/2006 03:58:45 PM · #11

Hi-ho,

My 'workflow' for this part is to show the customer the images on screen at the time of shooting if practical, and ask if they want to order there. If not I do A4 sheet proofs with 18 images per sheet and post them out, or put them on my website. I charge $5/sheet for the inkjet proofs, and they are watermarked.

I have written scripts for imagemagick that create the thumbnail sheets and website proof sets automatically, which saves a lot of time.. When I did a school ball back in June and had to do proof sheets for 800+ images it took me about 10 minutes to change the script to do 10x15" sheets with smaller images and then I walked away and left the PC to chew on the sheets while I slept.

Works fine for me as it is, although if I were any busier it'd get awkward, given that I'm part-time and my full time job really requires more than 40hrs/week attention. The awkward bit would be staggered orders coming in, as I don't have a set amount of time available to process orders, and they always seem to come in just when I've booked another job...

Cheers, Me.