Where do you send clients (or other non-professional photographers) for canvas printing when they have high resolution files? I've been asked by someone and don't know where to send them off the top of my head.

I'm thinking of suggesting that I process their order for them through my canvas supplier (Simply Canvas) except how should I figure a price? Wouldn't make sense to charge my regular rate since they have the file and we (as a collective group of professional photographers) wouldn't want our cost to get out to the public by telling them we'll charge them XX amount above cost. Hmm?

www.connect2phototek.com does canvas and will ship them out.

I believe Mpix.com also does gallery wraps on canvas....

Thanks, ladies!

This is a great start... keep 'em coming!

I think I heard that Shutterfly or Snapfish offers canvases. Not sure on the quality though

I realize there are a lot of places that do canvas (dude, my local grocery store does them - yikes) but I wonder if anyone can verify the quality of a place that anyone can use. I've seen some canvas' crack and have heard of peeling by others (not sure who, of course, it'd be good if I remembered those things).

Keep 'em coming!

i think they can use pixel2canvas... they can just straight up order canvases without being a member of the artists program.

of course, being a member of the artists program (for professional photographers and other visual artists) means you get a 10% discount... which consumers wont

Sounds like an argument for them ordering a canvas print through you instead. If someone had the files and asked me where to have a canvas print made, I'd probably explain to them that pro labs like the ones I use offer quality unmatched by the grocery store.

Same with albums... if a client asked me where they could have an album made themselves, I don't think I'd bend over backwards trying to help them find easy-to-use design software and a lab that printed for consumers... I'd help them see why it's better to trust the professionals for such services.

It's kind of like asking your mechanic to point you to a good website that'll teach you how to fix your car yourself. "You know, so I don't have to pay so much money for YOU to replace my transmission."

+1

shannon, even though they have the files, YOU are still the pro - give them a pro option. i would NOT recommend where to get them printed, for the reason above. give them a special by upgrading the size or something.
this is all about how you value your work. ( i'm on a roll today )

I don't know... maybe the grocery store is pretty good. Just kidding

This particular request is being made by a consumer that took their own pictures, it's not my stuff or my client (but I hope to make them a client wink wink so I'm trying to be helpful).

Agreed that I shouldn't bend over backwards to find the information and maybe that's what I'm going to end up advising the consumer... that I don't know where a non-professional photographer can have images printed on quality canvas but I can process it for them through my vendor.

Would I charge them regular price or offer a little discount since it's their own file?

Ah, well that changes things a little... because my packages include the high-res files I usually recommend Mpix.com as a place where they should have prints made since they do a better job than the 1-hr labs, so in this case I probably wouldn't hesitate to do the same thing. But I WOULD offer a pro option as well... possibly a LITTLE discounted from your regular prices, but not much (and I'm not even sure about a little), because you don't want to function as print-fulfiller for this client (or any other) any time they want something that regular labs can't offer.

Seriously

Thanks for all the advice. Looks like I'm going to suggest Mpix as a print lab that also does canvas!