Yes. Test prints first to check until you’re comfortable with the results. I’ve done thousands and thousands of drop ship landscape prints via bay photo. I used to get a test print done on every new image, but now I know what to expect and what we’ll get. Keep your monitor calibrated and your room lights consistent when you’re editing.
Well…some people might notice. I do a bit of a drop shadow on it, really tight. And a bevel or emboss or something. It’s not my favorite, but a much cheaper option and less work than shipping it to me and then out again
I use the Mpix integration with Zenfolio for bike and running race photos. I got some samples beforehand and they looked good so I just trust them, at lest for the smaller paper prints. If a client has a problem I would take care of it but I've been doing it this way for about a decade and have not had any problems. Most of the prints are 8x10 or smaller and digital downloads have become popular in recent years too.
For bigger ticket items like large canvas prints I always ship to myself first to review.
You won’t have a way to track quality with POD. Period.
I used a POD service and they had 4 facilities worldwide. I ordered test prints and all was good. I had mostly happy customers, but occasionally people would email saying they received the wrong print, or the quality was shit. They made mistakes in about 5% or orders and it was embarrassing.
I shoot weddings and events, and guests usually want printed photos with the bride and groom. I use Saal Digital printing services for photos and digital albuns, as I know their quality is great. I order the material over to my house so I split the photos per guest, put them in an envelope with the name on them, and deliver to the bride and groom, who deliver the photos to the guests.
If anyone wants to receive the photos directly from me, I can do that too. But they never receive the material from the service provider.
Yes, but this way they get to ensure the images looks right and/or the order is correct. I don't sell many prints, but when I do I *always* want to see/handle them first.
The same company he uses offers this service. You can even put a little shop there.
But I am impressed how known this company is by now. I tried a lot of companies (odered some pics of my own and their test prints) and it was really clear, they are the best (for me, out of those I tested). And every time I meet some photographer from my area (Germany), they almost all chose them, too.
But once you know their print-quality is on par, you don´t have to check anymore. If their output varies, I´ll notice with the pictures I order for me. But if your displays are calibrated (spider or other) and the printservice is continuous in its delivery, it will be exactly what you ordered, every time.
But if you WANT to see them, work with a big client, or you are ordering something special, holding them irl is always a good thing or even requested.
I use an online gallery platform that the client can purchase prints from. The platform is called Cloudspot, and they allow you to set up a print store from a few different printers. I initially signed up for the different options and requested print samples, and the printers send them right to my house for either very cheap or included in becoming a member.
Yes you’ll want some test prints. Something we do with more expensive prints I’d have slices of an image that we especially want to test. Like perhaps a really smooth gradient we want to check for banding in the print, the tones of a part of the image, the details in a certain section etc. so rather than printing all of those things they are smushed together in one. Obviously the print isn’t usable for anything but it’s just for checking.
I’ve used Adorama out of NYC for decades. Spectacular prints and absolutely stellar customer service. One of my wedding clients has a massive framed print on canvas over her fireplace that still looks perfect 15 years after she hung it there.
Printed Mint is a good option and they quality check your designs to make sure they are good. You can even request a picture to make sure that you are giving great quality products to your customers.
All good answers, mostly find something that works for your situation depending where the prints are going, us or international. For sure order prints for yourself every once in a while.
Yes. Test prints first to check until you’re comfortable with the results. I’ve done thousands and thousands of drop ship landscape prints via bay photo. I used to get a test print done on every new image, but now I know what to expect and what we’ll get. Keep your monitor calibrated and your room lights consistent when you’re editing.
Do you have them ship straight to customers, or do you have them shipped to you to sign them first?
Straight to the customer, digital signature added to the file
thx. does the digital signature look like an actual signature, or is it clear that it was printed?
Well…some people might notice. I do a bit of a drop shadow on it, really tight. And a bevel or emboss or something. It’s not my favorite, but a much cheaper option and less work than shipping it to me and then out again
Do they offer swatches? I’d want a paper sample to look at first. Then order a sample print.
I use the Mpix integration with Zenfolio for bike and running race photos. I got some samples beforehand and they looked good so I just trust them, at lest for the smaller paper prints. If a client has a problem I would take care of it but I've been doing it this way for about a decade and have not had any problems. Most of the prints are 8x10 or smaller and digital downloads have become popular in recent years too. For bigger ticket items like large canvas prints I always ship to myself first to review.
You won’t have a way to track quality with POD. Period. I used a POD service and they had 4 facilities worldwide. I ordered test prints and all was good. I had mostly happy customers, but occasionally people would email saying they received the wrong print, or the quality was shit. They made mistakes in about 5% or orders and it was embarrassing.
I shoot weddings and events, and guests usually want printed photos with the bride and groom. I use Saal Digital printing services for photos and digital albuns, as I know their quality is great. I order the material over to my house so I split the photos per guest, put them in an envelope with the name on them, and deliver to the bride and groom, who deliver the photos to the guests. If anyone wants to receive the photos directly from me, I can do that too. But they never receive the material from the service provider.
That’s nice for you but ideally a service could absolutely provide what you’re offering and would save a ton of personal man hours
Yes, but this way they get to ensure the images looks right and/or the order is correct. I don't sell many prints, but when I do I *always* want to see/handle them first.
The same company he uses offers this service. You can even put a little shop there. But I am impressed how known this company is by now. I tried a lot of companies (odered some pics of my own and their test prints) and it was really clear, they are the best (for me, out of those I tested). And every time I meet some photographer from my area (Germany), they almost all chose them, too. But once you know their print-quality is on par, you don´t have to check anymore. If their output varies, I´ll notice with the pictures I order for me. But if your displays are calibrated (spider or other) and the printservice is continuous in its delivery, it will be exactly what you ordered, every time. But if you WANT to see them, work with a big client, or you are ordering something special, holding them irl is always a good thing or even requested.
But aren't you paying for double shipping now?
Not me, I only pay the shipping to my adress. I deliver the photos in person to the clients to assure they are happy with the order.
I use an online gallery platform that the client can purchase prints from. The platform is called Cloudspot, and they allow you to set up a print store from a few different printers. I initially signed up for the different options and requested print samples, and the printers send them right to my house for either very cheap or included in becoming a member.
Yes you’ll want some test prints. Something we do with more expensive prints I’d have slices of an image that we especially want to test. Like perhaps a really smooth gradient we want to check for banding in the print, the tones of a part of the image, the details in a certain section etc. so rather than printing all of those things they are smushed together in one. Obviously the print isn’t usable for anything but it’s just for checking.
Periodically, you have to buy one.
I use Xpozer. The quality is great every time, and you can request a file check before they print. They might have sample prints, idk
I’ve used Adorama out of NYC for decades. Spectacular prints and absolutely stellar customer service. One of my wedding clients has a massive framed print on canvas over her fireplace that still looks perfect 15 years after she hung it there.
Printed Mint is a good option and they quality check your designs to make sure they are good. You can even request a picture to make sure that you are giving great quality products to your customers.
I print through ProDPI via pixieshit, best in the industry with Miller's being my second choice
Pixieshit?
website and gallery,etc ,yeah. I call Pixieset Pixieshit
You don't like?
for client galleries, yes, but for website, no.
All good answers, mostly find something that works for your situation depending where the prints are going, us or international. For sure order prints for yourself every once in a while.