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11/02/2008 03:56:28 PM · #1 |
Hello-
I was wondering if some of you can share your experiences with the online companies that print to order, either at cost or allowing the photog. to set the margin.
I am shooting more weddings and I am attracted to the convenience of posting shots online through one of these sites, and allowing the couple, family and friends to order directly from there. Have you done this? Is it a good idea, for starters?
Is the quality acceptable and consistent?
Is the customer service acceptable? Do people get their prints in good time, without problems?
Oh, and what about ordering across borders? I'm in Canada- what problems or extra fees would clients have ordering from the US or even UK?
Are there any recommendations you can make of specific companies?
Thanks very much for your help. |
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11/08/2008 04:38:10 PM · #2 |
Nobody?
Specifically, I'm wondering if you've used Smugmug or Zenfolio or a similar service to allow your clients to review, choose and print pics. How did it work out?
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11/08/2008 06:02:54 PM · #3 |
I do my own fulfillment. I use gallery for my print orders. Brinkster is having trouble right now so my gallery is not available but they said it should be back @ 100% by tomorrow :) I am very VERY pleased with it. It plugged right in to my regular website too.
ETA: AND, I get to keep 100% of my own profits :)
Message edited by author 2008-11-08 18:03:15. |
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11/08/2008 06:51:30 PM · #4 |
I'm a big fan of ExposureManager -- easy to set up galleries; easy to customize; domain-mapping so you can integrated it directly into your existing web site if you wish. Their pro lab is fantastic, and I regularly get compliments from my customers who are "just amazed" (usual phrase) from the print quality.
I use them primarily for my theatre and client assignment work, but I also used them for the last couple of weddings I did as well (and plan to continue to use them for all future web-proofing and web-gallery-printing work).
Reasonable prices (both for the EM account as well as prints). They offer a collection of novelty items (cards, magnets, mugs, mousepads, all the usual stuff) if you or your clients are into those things as well. You can use their pricesheet engine to only present the products you want customers to see, though -- so the end-user interface can be very easy and uncluttered. For products you wish to fulfill yourself, you can create "self-fulfillment" products, and they are listed right beside the other prints, etc. Customers can't even tell the difference -- very nice and streamlined. Display-only workflow (only upload low- to medium-resolution images until someone orders prints) saves lots of upload time for large galleries -- that's great for theatre and wedding galleries which may have hundreds of shots. The list goes on an on.
Lots of other sites offer many of those features as well -- some more, some less -- pick the most important features to you and make sure whomever you go with "does what you want."
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11/08/2008 10:38:11 PM · #5 |
You've got a couple of choices, the biggest difference is fulfillment. Do you want to do it or let them handle it.
I do my own. I pay less to the website and less for prints - I see every print that leaves and can put my marketing stuff in the envelope. I use instaproofs.com and love them. You only pay if someone buys something - no sales, no costs. No limits on uploads, etc.
A fellow photog friend uses Pictage and at times he complains about them (they tend to be a bit clingy (as in annnoying) to anyone whose email they get.) but he sells a lot thru them, but their costs are much higher (print, percentage and they have a monthly fee). He likes the fact he has to do nothing once the files are uploaded.
And that's the other thing - he has to edit EVERY file and upload hi-res. I upload smaller web size images and only edit what is sold. Now I have (over time) acquired a shipping department - envelopes that don't bend, small boxes, a postage meter machine, etc, and this costs money and takes up space. I also do enough business that even if I sell 3 4x6 prints online i can add it to a regular lab order - no minimum order issues that would cause me to wait to order $1 worth or product.
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11/09/2008 12:02:04 AM · #6 |
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11/09/2008 12:29:59 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by cdrice:
I'm a big fan of ExposureManager -- easy to set up galleries; easy to customize; domain-mapping so you can integrated it directly into your existing web site if you wish. Their pro lab is fantastic, and I regularly get compliments from my customers who are "just amazed" (usual phrase) from the print quality.
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+1 for exposuremanager. I'm a happy customer for two years.
Matt
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11/09/2008 05:36:09 AM · #8 |
| I use smugmug and am totally happy with it and have had no complaints so far. You can see my site if you want. There tutorials for helping you set up your website and customer service is great. |
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11/09/2008 12:37:16 PM · #9 |
| This is very useful- thanks very much, all. |
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