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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
developing pictures

garycox
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Jun 2, 2005, 10:29 AM

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developing pictures	Can't Post

I've finally decided to add to my video packages still photography. Not that I'm real good at setting up the subjects as I like it where the photographer sets them up! Fortunately my wife was a professional wedding photographer many years ago and does an excellent job at setting up the various poses. I just lost a video job yesterday as they decided to drop video in place of only having photo's due to their budget. If I provide both I could not only have all my shots setup and my wife take the still photo's but have a photographer I can work with that knows my needs for my shots. Since I like stills in the video as well as on the cover of the DVD case I'll have that and can combine the still photo with video to make a better price in a package. To my disappointment I'm finding that everyone will always get photo's of a wedding and if they need to save money they'll drop the video. If I can present it in the respect that just for a little more you can have both I think it will help sales....

Anyway the only thing I have to work out is development of the pictures. I actually did a test. I took some photo's and took them to various retail developers locally and I printed out my own on a Epson 320 on Kodak photo paper. I couldn't tell the difference, in fact, some cases mine was better.

For those who are using digital photography who do you have develop your photo's or do you do them? I'm thinking of offering it as an option of inkjet printing for a reduced cost (for those who are trying to save money) or photo lab printing. However, I'm not necessarily sold on the idea that photo lab printing is better based on my experiences?

Thoughts?

... Gary

adtr
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Jun 2, 2005, 11:50 AM

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Re: [garycox] developing pictures [In reply to]	Can't Post

There are so many online printers, it isn't cost effective to print your own except for special finishes. Gary Fong runs a massive printing operation and there are cheap options from places like photobox and myphoto that cover the range of budgets. Have a look at the dpn forums to see what is used in your area.

Colvin Eccleston
manchesterweddingstudio.co.uk

danno
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Jun 2, 2005, 1:24 PM

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Re: [adtr] developing pictures [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm with adtr on getting prints done at a local or online lab. Printing at home will definitely cost more, put more wear on your printer and is not an effective use of your time.

dan

_________________________________________________________
proud metrosexual.

Brackish
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Jun 3, 2005, 6:37 AM

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adtr
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Jun 3, 2005, 7:16 AM

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Re: [Brackish] developing pictures [In reply to]	Can't Post

Last time I saw that level of service was about 25 years ago, when I worked at the main photo lab in Manchester. Nowadays, it is up to the photog to prep the photos to the standard used by the lab. All I can suggest is prepare a photo as if you were going to print it yourself and see how the lab prints it. I know a few of them have downloadable profiles to set up your colour settings. The alternative is get an Epson 2200 or whatever the number is and charge enough to make it worthwhile.

Colvin Eccleston
manchesterweddingstudio.co.uk

garycox
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Jun 3, 2005, 2:03 PM

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Re: [Brackish] developing pictures [In reply to]	Can't Post

The biggest problem with standard retailers the back of the photo might say Walmart so it looks cheap... I too would like to find a good online developer where I can upload them and have them mailed to me......

... Gary

Corbs
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Jun 20, 2005, 12:25 PM

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Re: [garycox] developing pictures [In reply to]	Can't Post

Call me what you will, but I use Walmart for my proof books. You can request that they NOT PRINT ANYTHING on the back of the photos, and they do comply. They didnt like it at first becasue it is a little extra work, but once they got to know me, they warmed up a little and now know me by name, call me when my prints are done and have even discounted the price for me several times. Although .19 for a 4x6 is pretty cheap anyways. The wedding album I will still send away for prints, but roofs are just that - PROOFS - and if I can save a few dollars on the proofs, I can save the client a few dollars as well.

The prints come out quite well. I do the corrections before uploading them to WalMarts photo lab and they are printed on matte paper which adds to the look.

Scott Brooks
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Jun 20, 2005, 4:34 PM

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Re: [Corbs] developing pictures [In reply to]	Can't Post

Corbs ... I have to agree. Sams and Wal-Mart are using the same high-end Fuji Frontier printers that other labs use. Personally I find my Wal-Mart paper to be a bit thinner, but if you're just doing it for proofs it should make no difference.

My Wal-Mart (no Sams, here) has been a bit of a PIA, so for very small runs I go down to Oscos and use their kiosk. My plan is to not include 4x6 proofs, but instead provide a proof book or possibly a full res CD/DVD with their files and an on-line gallery for friends and family to order from.

Another alternative for me is to use Shared Ink for a proof book. This would be an upgrade should they choose to go that route. I will also begin using Shared Ink as my coffee table album and go to Zooks for my flush albums.

Corbs
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Jun 20, 2005, 8:55 PM

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Re: [Sparky] developing pictures [In reply to]	Can't Post

Scott, you may also want to check out My Publisher for similar books (might even be the same producer). I think the prices may be a little cheaper, and they have upgraded their covers to a cutout allowing you to view the leading page thru the cutout. IMHO a little better than the glued on "sticker".
Along with the linen covers My publisher also offers leather bound covers for 10 dollars more. The leather is not the greatest, but at least it is a little more easier to keep clean. I ordered their linen book for a sample book in black, and it gets dirty pretty quick if you aren't careful.
They also offer a huge 12x16 book (linen only).

Question for you...I typically present 250-300 pics for the client's proof album. I would much rather present a book style format - less work for me, but how do you go about identifying the pictures for later orders? Would you do 4 up per page?

Scott Brooks
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Jun 20, 2005, 9:38 PM

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Re: [Corbs] developing pictures [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

http://www.sharedink.com/products/fpo/default.aspx

This is the professional site to Shared Ink that the public cannot order from ... or usually even find. I've not tried them yet, but on the Digital Wedding Forum they're getting rave reviews. I was doing some second shooting this weekend and I'm thinking about making either a sample album or sample proof book so that I have something good to show. They also have several different sizes of books available.

I think I'm leaning towards somthing between a 4 up, 4 down to 6 up, 6 down. It will depend on the size of the book.

Someone here might have better ideas, but there are several programs out there that allow you to rename your files if you wish and those will print right along with the file ... allowing you to identify the photo for print orders. I'm thinking Page Gallery is one of those.

You can also get your proof books a lot cheaper by going with someone like Millers or White House. I know of several photographers that print their own proof books and then have them spiral bound at Staples or Office Max.

One other option is to give them a proof book, but it's not really for ordering. However, some clients might opt for these and never get an album. Personally I don't care about album sales, but many do.

You can supply an on-line gallery on all sorts of sites for your customers, friends and their families to order from. Right now I'm using PhotoReflect. They get 17% of the sales, but it costs nothing to have your photos on line and you can leave them up as long as you want.

As you can tell I'm quite new as well so the whole thing is a learning process.

dennish
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Jun 21, 2005, 9:42 AM

Post #11 of 12 (1240 views)
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Re: [garycox] developing pictures [In reply to]	Can't Post

For a reputable online lab, try www.whcc.com.

I've been using them this year and they are great.

kcpopps
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Jun 21, 2005, 2:01 PM

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Re: [garycox] developing pictures [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have been using MPIX for 6 to 8 months and I've been very impressed. MPIX is a division of Millers, a pro lab. I have used many other online processors and MPIX is far and away the best that I've used. Consistently good quality. Quick turnaround too. The only negative is their website ordering process is clunky and slow. But the superior quality is worth it to me. I've written them about that and they say that they are working on improvements.