Jenn M
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Oct 24, 2006, 1:24 PM
Post #3 of 41
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Re: [Postal Boy] For those of you who print proofs...
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Hi Postal,
We also use MPix for prints. I like their quality, but it takes forever to download so many files. We were wondering if we were A) doing something wrong or B) unaware of other options.
We've been using Walmart for quickie printing. We haven't yet had to deliver anything that anyone has paid for specifically. The engagement sessions have been part of booked packages, but technically we are only required to deliver the CD of proofs. I just included prints as a 'goodwill' gesture. For the weddings, however, they will receive up to 300 proofs, and here's my dilemma...
We had some prints done at Walmart, Sam's Club and CVS. CVS was horrible - we ended up getting our money back. They were flat and had marks on them, which the manager said was an error and was probably due to the paper being changed. But they also use glossy paper, which I don't like. The saturation and contrast was horrible.
Sam's Club delivered many different colors - one batch was fine, another batch was red and another batch was green.
Walmart was fine everytime except this last time when it counted - I went to purposely have prints done to deliver to the Client. They came back blue. The B&W images were blue and white, and when compared to the same print I had ordered there earlier in the week, they looked bad. What a waste of time. ACtually, when got them back from Walmart another time and they had lines on them - as if the ink were running out - almost like inkjet lines.
SO, if I'm delivering proofs to the Client, I want them to have decent quality in their hands to compare any future prints they have done so they don't think WE'RE they ones who screwed up. See what I'm saying?
If I were the average unaware Client and I had taken my CD of images to CVS and they came back looking like that... I would have thought the photographer was a hack. I suddenly saw why many photographers want full quality control and make their prints available only through their studio.
But I figure I can combat this issue as long as I include good quality prints for them to compare with their 'in-store' prints. Not to mention the following disclaimer, which I've included with my last few CDs:
Disclaimer: in-store and consumer-quality labs yield different results from professional labs and may even vary from order to order depending on their choice of paper, ink, equipment and personnel. Please understand that we cannot control or guarantee the quality of these prints. You, the Client, assume full responsibility for any reprints or enlargements made by anyone other than Images by Moak.
I also include a handy-dandy 'tip sheet' (yes, another tip sheet) with instructions if they do decide to print files on their own, including advice to turn 'OFF' the auto-enhance feature. The average Client may have no clue what they are doing and end up wasting their money, which I'm sure most seasoned photographers would say is their own fault. In fact, I bet their hair would curl if they saw my tip sheet.  I put too much control in the Client's hands, which traditionally, photographers don't like, but at least for now, I'm not greedy. I'm just happy to be able to shoot their photos!
(This post was edited by Jenn M on Oct 24, 2006, 1:33 PM)
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Do it properly and I think you'll change your mind, however. 
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