Paul - a LOT of my friends are super-Pictage involved people too. That's part of the reason I've given them a huge chance. I know DJ, the Holritzes, Dane, LOTS of people we all know & love are Pictage users.
My thread here, at least MY intention, is not anti-pictage or pictage sucks. MY intention is to say EZPRINTS sucks. Not letting us know at all that they changed to IMO the worst lab I've ever dealt with sucks. But Pictage has been good for us. Pricey but good.
Full Version: Ouch, Pictage, ouch......
QUOTE(David from Puerto Rico @ September 18 2007, 09:35 PM) 
We have a saying in Puerto Rico that goes "En guerra aviasada no mueren soldados" (In an announced war no soldier dies).
To those who has ears let them hear!!!
To those who has ears let them hear!!!
me encanta esta cita David!
okay, so the problem, whether outsourcing or printing in-house, with Pictage is inconsistent print quality. so I ask the VP Dude, Ian, can Pictage be set up so we can still utilize the Pictage service but opt to use our own lab? Here's what I love about Pictage.....
* file back up
* email campaigns that do boost my sales (i get all of the same emails the clients do and I don't think it's offensive)
* the ability for clients and guests to create folders for me to design albums from
* they have a work flow that works with me
However, I really feel that the printing is inconsistent and I would love to use my lab of choice, so if that was an option, I think those who are on the fence, but not liking the print consistency would feel great about staying with or joining Pictage for the other benefits!
* file back up
* email campaigns that do boost my sales (i get all of the same emails the clients do and I don't think it's offensive)
* the ability for clients and guests to create folders for me to design albums from
* they have a work flow that works with me
However, I really feel that the printing is inconsistent and I would love to use my lab of choice, so if that was an option, I think those who are on the fence, but not liking the print consistency would feel great about staying with or joining Pictage for the other benefits!
QUOTE(mintandsage @ September 19 2007, 12:56 PM)
okay, so the problem, whether outsourcing or printing in-house, with Pictage is inconsistent print quality. so I ask the VP Dude, Ian, can Pictage be set up so we can still utilize the Pictage service but opt to use our own lab? Here's what I love about Pictage.....
* file back up
* email campaigns that do boost my sales (i get all of the same emails the clients do and I don't think it's offensive)
* the ability for clients and guests to create folders for me to design albums from
* they have a work flow that works with me
However, I really feel that the printing is inconsistent and I would love to use my lab of choice, so if that was an option, I think those who are on the fence, but not liking the print consistency would feel great about staying with or joining Pictage for the other benefits!
* file back up
* email campaigns that do boost my sales (i get all of the same emails the clients do and I don't think it's offensive)
* the ability for clients and guests to create folders for me to design albums from
* they have a work flow that works with me
However, I really feel that the printing is inconsistent and I would love to use my lab of choice, so if that was an option, I think those who are on the fence, but not liking the print consistency would feel great about staying with or joining Pictage for the other benefits!
You can choose to do that by listing your offerings as photographer fulfilled item and fulfill the orders yourself. The problem is that you pay a higher percentage to Pictage for these items than you do for things they fulfill. So basically you pay them more for doing nothing.
QUOTE(Mark Turner @ September 19 2007, 10:00 AM)
Pictage will bombard *your* customers with emails. Do you want that?
I must take issue with that...because is NOT True. It may have been in the past but NOT now (I wasn't there). That is an area they have listened.
Let me prove it to you.
I have several events where I receive all their email.
They don't know is me and I did it because of the allgdge spaming issue.Since march I have received a grand total of FOUR emails... (1) notifying me of the release of the event. (2) notifyinng me of the 2x1 (3) notifying me that the 2x1 is about to expire and (4) notifying me that the event is about to expire.Outside of those Four (4) emails I have not received anything else since march.
To say that they are spamming because ethey have sent those 4 emails is like saying you don't want your clients to know what is happening or that you don't want to sell.
Secondly, one of the jobs you are paying them for is to do marketing for you, to help you sell images. How are they going to do that if they don't email your clients? So, I expect them to do marketing for me.
That you want to have direct control over your marketing? Well, that is another issue altogether. And you can opt out of that too if you don't want Pictage marketing you.
Right now they are starting getting ready for the holidays and you can opt in or out of the promotion. So even on that, they have listened.
So, lets be fair. The fact that you may hate Pictage don't give anyone the right to be imprecise or unfair. Lets the true truth ring.
QUOTE(Matt Antonino @ September 19 2007, 02:00 PM)
Paul - a LOT of my friends are super-Pictage involved people too. That's part of the reason I've given them a huge chance. I know DJ, the Holritzes, Dane, LOTS of people we all know & love are Pictage users.My thread here, at least MY intention, is not anti-pictage or pictage sucks. MY intention is to say EZPRINTS sucks. Not letting us know at all that they changed to IMO the worst lab I've ever dealt with sucks. But Pictage has been good for us. Pricey but good.
100% agree with that.
My post in no way should be construded to be anti-Pictage but rather pro-Pictage in the sense I want them to do it right and succeed.
QUOTE
However I must say that OSP is really jaded towards them....
Paul, go to the Pictage board, you will see the same complaints from actual Pictage users. The amount of recurring "mistakes" is to much to ignore anymore.
The bottom line is that they don't inspire confidence in their "partner" (us) when you see the same over, and over, and over. What we do? we start fulfilling order ourselves... then, tell me again, why do I pay $99 a month and 10% of my sales if I have to do the job myself? That is what Pictage is fostering.
I get better proof from a local lab for .49 cents a print than from Pictage/EZ Prints at $1.50 a print. For that money I expect superb quality print 99.99% of the time. And no excuses.
QUOTE(Mark Turner @ September 18 2007, 04:26 PM)
Everybody leave Pictage, get to a real pro lab, Pictage goes out of business, and those dang emails *may* stop!
I hate Pictage. And I've never used them. Pictage=Spam.
I hate Pictage. And I've never used them. Pictage=Spam.
Right on Brother!
I left Pictage two months ago for WHCC and have never been happier. ( I still get PICspam tho..)
QUOTE
Proofs are just that.. Proofs! They aren't meant to be used as 4x6's or anything quality.. Push proof magazines if you don't like it.
Just a note here ... some of us DO expect our proofs to be used at 4x6s/quality.
For the lowest of my coverage options, proofs (or as I call them - bordered first-edition prints) *are* the final product the client receives. I would be upset if my lab outsourced my proofs to a lesser quality lab w/out telling me.
I want my proofs to be a nice finished presentation for those clients who order them.
Karen
QUOTE(KarenS @ September 19 2007, 02:57 PM)
Just a note here ... some of us DO expect our proofs to be used at 4x6s/quality.
For the lowest of my coverage options, proofs (or as I call them - bordered first-edition prints) *are* the final product the client receives. I would be upset if my lab outsourced my proofs to a lesser quality lab w/out telling me.
I want my proofs to be a nice finished presentation for those clients who order them.
Karen
For the lowest of my coverage options, proofs (or as I call them - bordered first-edition prints) *are* the final product the client receives. I would be upset if my lab outsourced my proofs to a lesser quality lab w/out telling me.
I want my proofs to be a nice finished presentation for those clients who order them.
Karen
+1
I think at the heart of this issue is trust.
We, who use Pictage, have entrusted them the most important element of our brand: Quality control over our final product, may it be a proof or a final print. That can break or make our businesses.
When our clients order from Pictage we don't see what was sent to them. We trust that Pictage, the one we are paying $99 a mont plus 10% fee in each sale, that are doing QA to the highest standard. It does not matter if they are proof or finals... it is what the client is seeing and they (we) are paying premium prrices for it...it has to be of the highest quality.
When Pictage outsource work to a third party, neither Pictage nor us see what is been sent. Now QA is left to a third party to which we have no knowledge of whom they are. (no we find is one of the worst labs)
Now we are asked to trust Pictage that they choosing trustworthy third parties to do QA... But they don't know what is been sent. How do the hear about problems with QA? when a client complain to us or them. By then the damage to our brand (not Pictage, but ours because is who the client gies to) is already done.
PS.. Please let your opinion be known in a poll that is going on in another thread. So far is shaping very interesting...
We, who use Pictage, have entrusted them the most important element of our brand: Quality control over our final product, may it be a proof or a final print. That can break or make our businesses.
When our clients order from Pictage we don't see what was sent to them. We trust that Pictage, the one we are paying $99 a mont plus 10% fee in each sale, that are doing QA to the highest standard. It does not matter if they are proof or finals... it is what the client is seeing and they (we) are paying premium prrices for it...it has to be of the highest quality.
When Pictage outsource work to a third party, neither Pictage nor us see what is been sent. Now QA is left to a third party to which we have no knowledge of whom they are. (no we find is one of the worst labs)
Now we are asked to trust Pictage that they choosing trustworthy third parties to do QA... But they don't know what is been sent. How do the hear about problems with QA? when a client complain to us or them. By then the damage to our brand (not Pictage, but ours because is who the client gies to) is already done.
PS.. Please let your opinion be known in a poll that is going on in another thread. So far is shaping very interesting...
QUOTE(David from Puerto Rico @ September 19 2007, 03:58 PM)
When Pictage outsource work to a third party, neither Pictage nor us see what is been sent. Now QA is left to a third party to which we have no knowledge of whom they are. (no we find is one of the worst labs)
Now we are asked to trust Pictage that they choosing trustworthy third parties to do QA... But they don't know what is been sent. How do the hear about problems with QA? when a client complain to us or them. By then the damage to our brand (not Pictage, but ours because is who the client gies to) is already done.
Now we are asked to trust Pictage that they choosing trustworthy third parties to do QA... But they don't know what is been sent. How do the hear about problems with QA? when a client complain to us or them. By then the damage to our brand (not Pictage, but ours because is who the client gies to) is already done.
Actually you do get to see what is sent. Proof prints go to the photographer.
QUOTE(Lynn Squier @ September 19 2007, 09:08 AM)
You can choose to do that by listing your offerings as photographer fulfilled item and fulfill the orders yourself. The problem is that you pay a higher percentage to Pictage for these items than you do for things they fulfill. So basically you pay them more for doing nothing.
Hi Lynn -
At the beginning of this year we changed that. The commission on specialty products is the same as the commission on products we fulfill ourselves.
-----------
Ian Siegel
VP Product and Technology
Pictage, Inc.
QUOTE(Lynn Squier @ September 19 2007, 12:08 PM)
You can choose to do that by listing your offerings as photographer fulfilled item and fulfill the orders yourself. The problem is that you pay a higher percentage to Pictage for these items than you do for things they fulfill. So basically you pay them more for doing nothing.
That's dumb.QUOTE(KarenS @ September 19 2007, 01:57 PM)
Just a note here ... some of us DO expect our proofs to be used at 4x6s/quality. For the lowest of my coverage options, proofs (or as I call them - bordered first-edition prints) *are* the final product the client receives. I would be upset if my lab outsourced my proofs to a lesser quality lab w/out telling me.I want my proofs to be a nice finished presentation for those clients who order them.Karen
+1Sometimes, my clients book the smallest package because they really want to use me but can't afford a package with an album so they get 4x6 proofs and do their own album with those prints.QUOTE(IanSiegel @ September 19 2007, 03:36 PM)
Hi Lynn -At the beginning of this year we changed that. The commission on specialty products is the same as the commission on products we fulfill ourselves.-----------Ian SiegelVP Product and TechnologyPictage, Inc.
Thanks for clearing this up Ian. I retract my that's dumb statement.
QUOTE(David from Puerto Rico @ September 19 2007, 11:58 AM)
We, who use Pictage, have entrusted them the most important element of our brand: Quality control over our final product, may it be a proof or a final print. That can break or make our businesses.
Hi David -
I think that was perfectly said. It is a responsibility we take extremenly seriously. Thank you and everyone else who has offered feedback. We are listening.
------------
Ian Siegel
VP Product and Technology
Pictage, Inc.
QUOTE(Jill Higgins @ September 19 2007, 06:03 PM)
Actually you do get to see what is sent. Proof prints go to the photographer.
First, let me correct something I said that may be misleading... proof prints are .20 cents and not $1.50.
Yes, we may get the proof but if you have to send them back because of bad quality it waste time and makes you look bad with the client.
Nothing should come out from Pictage that has to be sent back. The quality should be number 1 because we are paying primo prices. I know the VP "dude"
(sorry Ian, that will be your name from now on...) will agree with that.But what I am hearing here and at the Pictage Forum is frustration because they have to send proof and print back too often. That tells me that there are some holes in the QA.
So far, I haven't had a client complaint about prints (I haven't had great volume anyway) but unfortunately I cannot be certain that is because the prints were good or because the client didn't want to waste time complaining. I want to assume the best.
I did have a problem with an album that I had to send back due to air bubble in one image. It was solve but it took time. 1 out 1. I had hundreds of albums made by Renaissance with only one glitch.
ooops are ok ocassionally, we are human, but when you hear horror story after horror story it affect your confidence level. To tell you the truth, right now I am afraid to order prints through Pictage because I am not sure what will happen.
But what does not help is when I hear a Pictage users trivializing others users experiences because it has not been theirs or just because they want to defend Pictage no matter what.
Hey, I have no doubt that Ian and the rest of the guys and gals at Pictage are nice people. That is not the issue here.
My proof prints from Pictage (or whoever they outsource to) have been AMAZING as I posted about here. I'm stoked on them.
Like I said in my previous post, I've been considering signing up. I've really read this thread, word for word, and I'm almost more confused than before.
QUOTE(davidjay @ September 19 2007, 07:12 PM)
My proof prints from Pictage (or whoever they outsource to) have been AMAZING
I do wanna point out tho that was 9 months ago, which would seem to mean you got those from Cali, not Ezpoop.
They've been outsourcing their proofs for awhile.
Have you actually gotten some you didn't like?
Have you actually gotten some you didn't like?
QUOTE(Lynn Squier @ September 19 2007, 01:08 PM)
You can choose to do that by listing your offerings as photographer fulfilled item and fulfill the orders yourself. The problem is that you pay a higher percentage to Pictage for these items than you do for things they fulfill. So basically you pay them more for doing nothing.
That was changed this year - it is the same commission (10%) for Pictage fulfilled orders and studio fulfilled orders.
Edit - didn't read all the way through to notice Ian had responded!
I don't care who prints what - I haven't had a problem with my print quality and my clients haven't complained. Most of my fall 2006 clients reordered additional prints when their events were released for the 2-for-1 promo in March 2007. It was like I got a bonus! And, I have a lot of clients who place a 2nd order after they receive their first print order. That always makes me smile.
QUOTE(Matt Antonino @ September 19 2007, 04:23 PM)
I do wanna point out tho that was 9 months ago, which would seem to mean you got those from Cali, not Ezpoop.
That made me laugh!
QUOTE(davidjay @ September 19 2007, 07:46 PM)
Have you actually gotten some you didn't like?
Not of late no. Just final prints. It's more a *fear* of ezprints I have than a current reality. I just found out they send to ezprints and that scares me because I've used Ezprints A LOT in the past. Multiple sites, multiple other vendors, some small, some HUGE (you can't tell me Smugmug doesn't "bring volume" to the table).
I'm not currently unhappy with Pictage's work either - I am unhappy that ezprints & pictage are at all related in any way, shape or form. Let's just say - imagine Rick was appointed VP of client relations and you weren't told. If he hadn't yet spoken to you but you knew he oversaw your account, would you be happy? Slightly worried? Ticked?
I want to reiterate that I am happy with Pictage's service AND products (except a few final prints as of late). I am EXTREMELY unhappy that Ezprints is anywhere within 500 miles of my work again.
M
Our proofs prints are SOOO nice I always get excited about getting batches of proofs prints, because they are always so sweet!
I always get excited about getting batches of proofs prints, because they are always so sweet!
QUOTE(davidjay @ September 19 2007, 04:46 PM)
They've been outsourcing their proofs for awhile.
Have you actually gotten some you didn't like?
Have you actually gotten some you didn't like?
We just got 200 that are mostly flat & dull. We were very disappointed, but since we don't have a clue who our PRO consultant is, we had just resigned ourselves to using them anyway. HOWEVER, after Ian's post, I am going to follow his advice and contact Pictage to see if they would be willing to reprint. I am all about second chances.
QUOTE(Matt Antonino @ September 19 2007, 08:14 PM)
... imagine Rick was appointed VP of client relations and you weren't told. If he hadn't yet spoken to you but you knew he oversaw your account, would you be happy? Slightly worried? Ticked?
How'd you know he was up for that job?
PrintRoom use EZPrints?
Explains their pricing.
And their 'API'. I was impressed by that, non of the online labs have anything quite so handy, but then it is pretty easy to make an API if you are a middle man and manually uploading orders to another company. I got the impression it was integrated with a lab.
Impressive they've made a business out of it, and they seem to know where other services are lacking and can get away with charging more because they have those features (even if they totally fake it) -- all they need now is a lab. lol. damn... that's a little cheeky.
Explains their pricing.
And their 'API'. I was impressed by that, non of the online labs have anything quite so handy, but then it is pretty easy to make an API if you are a middle man and manually uploading orders to another company. I got the impression it was integrated with a lab.
Impressive they've made a business out of it, and they seem to know where other services are lacking and can get away with charging more because they have those features (even if they totally fake it) -- all they need now is a lab. lol. damn... that's a little cheeky.
QUOTE(Airika @ September 19 2007, 10:19 PM)
We just got 200 that are mostly flat & dull. We were very disappointed, but since we don't have a clue who our PRO consultant is, we had just resigned ourselves to using them anyway. HOWEVER, after Ian's post, I am going to follow his advice and contact Pictage to see if they would be willing to reprint. I am all about second chances.
Hi Airika -
Please contact Monty Jessop today (mjessop@pictage.com). He will take care of you on the proof order.
Also - please email me your Pictage studio ID (ian@pictage.com) and I will have your pro consultant introduce themself today. Having a pro consultant is like having a personal account manager at Pictage. It makes everything easier. I strongly reccomend you speak to yours.
--------------
Ian Siegel
VP Product and Technology
Pictage, Inc.
QUOTE(Matt Antonino @ September 19 2007, 07:23 PM)
Ezpoop.
matt - ROTFL - that really struck my as hilarious this morning. thanks.
Matt..thanks for posting this because I am just looking into getting a cart. i don't have any of the above mentioned, I only use WHCC & clients mainly order in person or via email & I send the goods to WHCC. But, it is very time consuming so I'm looking at various carts.
Thanks Robin for posting yours. I'm going to check 'em out!
Thanks Robin for posting yours. I'm going to check 'em out!
QUOTE(PamB @ September 19 2007, 07:20 PM)
Like I said in my previous post, I've been considering signing up. I've really read this thread, word for word, and I'm almost more confused than before.
Pam, your confusion is completely understandable... and that's largely because the "only" guarantee on these forums is regardless of the topic, you're going to have "pure evangelists" and "pure nay-sayers".
If you hang around these boards for any length of time, you'll know who's who on various topics. And in both camps, you'll pretty much get to know what's gonna be said once you get past their screen name or avitar.
Gee, I hope I'm never that predictable!!! 
Although I suspect we all have our preferences.Anyway, if you can cut through the love-fest posts and take the overly critical posts for what they are, then somewhere in between is honestly what you're likely to experience. But if there's a serious trend in either camp, that's certainly something to watch out for. More than that... I'm not too sure what else you can garner from what are naturally going to be a broad variety of viewpoints here.
Best of luck, though... and proceed with caution.
David
I love Pictage and if thay want to outsource to another lab as long as thay are doing Q&A checks that is fine with me. I thank Pictage dos a GREAT JOB. I don't always tell everyone befor I deside to use another album Company, only if I have told the bride that is what she gets. I am not a pro printer and that is why I use a pro lab to outsource to and I have to trust a name like pictage. I have been with Pictage from almost the begining and I have seen them grow and most of the time make good decisions and work on fixing the times they did not. I am sticking with Pictage because they have worked for me and I know they are a working partner with me. And to each his on.
UPDATE!
We always hear about all of the things that are wrong with Pictage, so I owe it to them and this forum to update you on how our proof print problem is being resolved.
Per Ian's suggestion, we contacted Monty the print guru (actually he contacted us) and he reitterated the fact that even though they are "just proofs," we should be happy with them and he told us that he is committed to making them look right. Long story short, Monty found the problem and is getting all of our proofs reprinted at no cost to us (of course, because it wasn't our fault). I'm not really one to write long-winded posts with lots of details, but just know that we are very happy with the service we've received from Ian and Monty and hope that this is just a foretaste of the positive changes that Ian says are happening around Pictage.
Quality is so important and this little interaction has made us even more confident in the services we use through Pictage. Like I said, everyone deserves a second chance!
Thanks Ian & Monty!
We always hear about all of the things that are wrong with Pictage, so I owe it to them and this forum to update you on how our proof print problem is being resolved.
Per Ian's suggestion, we contacted Monty the print guru (actually he contacted us) and he reitterated the fact that even though they are "just proofs," we should be happy with them and he told us that he is committed to making them look right. Long story short, Monty found the problem and is getting all of our proofs reprinted at no cost to us (of course, because it wasn't our fault). I'm not really one to write long-winded posts with lots of details, but just know that we are very happy with the service we've received from Ian and Monty and hope that this is just a foretaste of the positive changes that Ian says are happening around Pictage.
Quality is so important and this little interaction has made us even more confident in the services we use through Pictage. Like I said, everyone deserves a second chance!
Thanks Ian & Monty!
QUOTE(Matt Antonino @ September 18 2007, 03:21 PM)
I already do love mpix so it's not the lab I'm worried about - how do you do the online part of it? Does whcc have online galleries? Do you use a cart system?
I use morephotos.com it's basically an online shopping cart. The order comes to me and I fulfill it. Here's what the customer sees:
http://jenniferdavisphotography.morephotos...nt/pictures.asp
(there's no password on Chantal and Ken if you want to check it out)
QUOTE(PamB @ September 19 2007, 02:31 AM)
OMG - I am so totally confused right now. I have been running numbers and had just about decided to sign up with Pictage. I figure if nothing else, $99 per month with free album design service more than covers the design costs I pay my designer.
Ok, here is my rough estimate:
$99 x 12 months = $1188 / $14 per spread (what I pay my designer [and I get to keep my hi-res design files]) = 85 (spreads) / 20 (our average # of spreads per album) = 4.25 albums. Ta Da (who said on old dog can't learn that "new math")
So I'm thinking perhaps I might try out this Pictage thing. But now I'm really nervous again. I'm very serious when I say - I'm about to pull my hair out! I'm down to the final hour of developing our new pricing for 2008 and thought I had it figured out as far as my vendors but here we go again.
I'm sorry I don't remember who said it before me but, I've heard so much negative about Pictage (yet I'm considering them) can anyone post here or PM me and tell me why I should continue to consider Pictage? So far, all I know about them is that it costs me $99 per month regardless of what else I do with them. They will host my online gallery, fullfill online orders, take payment, and hopefully at some point send me a check assuming my orders out sell my monthly expenses. Have current users ever actually received a monthly check? Please tell me it's not just a place where all the "cool" people hang out.
I know I'm throughing a lot of questions. Hopefully at least three people will reply.
Ok, here is my rough estimate:
$99 x 12 months = $1188 / $14 per spread (what I pay my designer [and I get to keep my hi-res design files]) = 85 (spreads) / 20 (our average # of spreads per album) = 4.25 albums. Ta Da (who said on old dog can't learn that "new math")
So I'm thinking perhaps I might try out this Pictage thing. But now I'm really nervous again. I'm very serious when I say - I'm about to pull my hair out! I'm down to the final hour of developing our new pricing for 2008 and thought I had it figured out as far as my vendors but here we go again.
I'm sorry I don't remember who said it before me but, I've heard so much negative about Pictage (yet I'm considering them) can anyone post here or PM me and tell me why I should continue to consider Pictage? So far, all I know about them is that it costs me $99 per month regardless of what else I do with them. They will host my online gallery, fullfill online orders, take payment, and hopefully at some point send me a check assuming my orders out sell my monthly expenses. Have current users ever actually received a monthly check? Please tell me it's not just a place where all the "cool" people hang out.
I know I'm throughing a lot of questions. Hopefully at least three people will reply.
be sure to add in the fact that you have to print through pictage. They charge per image AND per print.
QUOTE(jenniferd @ September 25 2007, 04:00 PM)
be sure to add in the fact that you have to print through pictage. They charge per image AND per print.
In talking with the Pictage folks at the LA PartnerCon, apparently this is something that may be changed.
instaproofs.....instaproofs.....instaproofs....
that's it....not much more needs to be said.
-bones
that's it....not much more needs to be said.
-bones
QUOTE(always_autumn @ October 15 2007, 12:42 PM)
instaproofs.....instaproofs.....instaproofs....
that's it....not much more needs to be said.
-bones
that's it....not much more needs to be said.
-bones
ditto.
but, you've heard me say that before...
EZPS + WHCC + Pixel2Canvas + Kiss = NIIIIICE!
QUOTE(MeeksDigital @ October 15 2007, 12:34 PM)
EZPS + WHCC + Pixel2Canvas + Kiss = NIIIIICE!
My thoughts almost exactly
QUOTE(Alyssa Lang @ October 15 2007, 01:13 PM)
My thoughts almost exactly
Yay for us!
And Carey!!!! 
QUOTE(matt.lee @ September 19 2007, 07:14 AM)
"Pictage will bombard *your* customers with emails. Do you want that?"
I'm gonna go against the flow on this one... Pictage's emails were one of the big reasons I decided to sign up and I've noticed a HUGE difference in my print sales.
I'm gonna go against the flow on this one... Pictage's emails were one of the big reasons I decided to sign up and I've noticed a HUGE difference in my print sales.
Couldn't agree more (sorry I know I skipped a page of replies here lol)... the first wedding I hosted on Pictage had a huge sales increase from any other wedding I've EVER shot, which is why I'm trying to deal with the couple of issues I've had with them. Plus the free album design and being able to design the album online and in the same spot as the galleries are... it's just more convenient than anything else out there.
I LOVE that they re-release events, I love that they send reminders when the promos are almost over, that they extend the 2-for-1 promo... those things have all made me a lot of money and I haven't gotten any complaints... if someone doesn't want to receive any more "spam" they can opt out of further notifications easily.
Now I actually don't even get printed proofs, so I can't speak to the quality of what's come out of EZprints, just for the record. But the final prints and album prints I've gotten have all been 100% accurate so far.
QUOTE(davidjay @ September 19 2007, 06:46 PM)
They've been outsourcing their proofs for awhile.Have you actually gotten some you didn't like?
LoL Glad David said this... as I'm reading this I see a lot of comments from ppl that "don't use pictage and never will" or don't use them any longer and are making up hypothetical situations that they are afraid of... that's really not fair, is it? If you screw up once at a wedding, regardless of all the great work you've put out before that, should brides consider you a crummy photographer?QUOTE(MeeksDigital @ October 15 2007, 02:34 PM)
EZPS + WHCC + Pixel2Canvas + Kiss = NIIIIICE!
Hey freakshow what's up... I thought you died... haha
QUOTE(rionoir @ October 21 2007, 07:18 PM)
Hey freakshow what's up... I thought you died... haha
uhhh... not sure if that's a "i'm glad to see you" or a bad thing... but either way, i'm not dead. i'm quite alive.
QUOTE(MeeksDigital @ October 21 2007, 09:24 PM)
uhhh... not sure if that's a "i'm glad to see you" or a bad thing... but either way, i'm not dead. i'm quite alive.
that wasn't a bad thing... just wound up this week... moving in 3 days.
QUOTE(jenny @ September 18 2007, 10:21 PM)
Ditto
Hey Jenny! You not with Pictage anymore????Send news!ClaireQUOTE(rionoir @ October 21 2007, 09:10 PM)
Couldn't agree more (sorry I know I skipped a page of replies here lol)... the first wedding I hosted on Pictage had a huge sales increase from any other wedding I've EVER shot, which is why I'm trying to deal with the couple of issues I've had with them. Plus the free album design and being able to design the album online and in the same spot as the galleries are... it's just more convenient than anything else out there.I LOVE that they re-release events, I love that they send reminders when the promos are almost over, that they extend the 2-for-1 promo... those things have all made me a lot of money and I haven't gotten any complaints... if someone doesn't want to receive any more "spam" they can opt out of further notifications easily.Now I actually don't even get printed proofs, so I can't speak to the quality of what's come out of EZprints, just for the record. But the final prints and album prints I've gotten have all been 100% accurate so far.
This is me exactly! I'm a portrait photographer with Pictage, and I've seen my print sales skyrocket! I don't do any proof products either - I do image presentations on a large flat screen in studio then upload to Pictage and then get print orders using the 2 for 1 sale. Been with Pictage for a year now, and I've been nothing but pleased so far...Sorry for those of you experiencing otherwise.Claire
PickPic + Local kick-ass lab = not one bad print or customer complaint EVER. I don't pay a percentage to anyone, and my clients don't ever get spammed. I'm still getting spammed from a random Pictage gallery I looked at over a year ago.
QUOTE(PamB @ September 19 2007, 02:31 AM)
can anyone post here or PM me and tell me why I should continue to consider Pictage? So far, all I know about them is that it costs me $99 per month regardless of what else I do with them. They will host my online gallery, fullfill online orders, take payment, and hopefully at some point send me a check assuming my orders out sell my monthly expenses. Have current users ever actually received a monthly check? Please tell me it's not just a place where all the "cool" people hang out.
I know I'm throughing a lot of questions. Hopefully at least three people will reply.
I know I'm throughing a lot of questions. Hopefully at least three people will reply.
Hey Pam...
I'll be one of 3 for you.
Main reasons why I use Pictage:
1. All my client files are backed up off site forever - so if all of my hard drives and CD backups fail, I still have access to the files.
2. It's mindless... I travel too much to take itty bitty orders from B&G's relatives all over the world and pull files, print, ship, etc. Now, my assistant sends a disk to Pictage and it's uploaded and categorized and online in days. Don't even bother with FTPing anymore.
3. The last time I've had to pay a Pictage bill was my 1st month with them - June 2005. My checks this year have consistently been 2-4+ K every month. I don't do anything.
What I DO focus my time on is
1. Selling 10k albums
2. Selling 2-3k framed art and canvas sets
These things we do in-house.
Note on this post in general: I haven't printed a SINGLE proof for ANY of my clients in the past 3 years.
If you've read PPA's Studio Financial Benchmark survey you'll know that studios that proof with paper proofs are less successful than those who Project or use alternate proofing methods. So we stopped offering proofs all together. This is what helps us sell those 10k albums. If they have proofs in hand, they're satisfied. Why would we want our clients to be satisfied with small, untouched, flimsy 3x5s or 4x6s??
Getting the images online and outsourcing the small prints allows us the time to get the album pre-design to them FIRST. Client gets married on Saturday, we rest on Sunday. Sara does her magic on Monday and Tuesday AM... by Tuesday PM they have an album draft, slideshow online, blog favorites, and the Pictage gallery is released on Friday or the following Monday. People want/buy what they see first.
Needless to say, I could care less who Pictage uses for proofing because we don't use printed proofs... it kills business IMHO.
QUOTE(PamB @ September 18 2007, 11:31 PM)
can anyone post here or PM me and tell me why I should continue to consider Pictage?
Here's my check from last month.
Not every month is $1,700 but some are bigger and some are smaller...and the greatest thing about it is that I didn't have to do any of the work for this! Most of this check came from a $2,000 order from a wedding 2 years ago!
Again, Pictage isn't for everyone but it has worked well for me and many others.
Most of this thread focuses on proofs. I completely agree with Liana.
So many of Pictages benefits go unused.
Look into these before you make a choice.
Free album design
P3 credit card processing (no retailer fee from the CC company)
Gift books
PUG meetings
And this is just a few... talk to your local rep and get all the benefits.
So many of Pictages benefits go unused.
Look into these before you make a choice.
Free album design
P3 credit card processing (no retailer fee from the CC company)
Gift books
PUG meetings
And this is just a few... talk to your local rep and get all the benefits.
I'm with Liana too. I love how pictage takes care of the families so I can take care of the B&G. My first few months I had to pay which stinks but I haven't had to pay since. I also really like the P3 service(Just got my Retainer from a bride in Texas today, and I'm for MA, Sweet)
I don't proof, just online, so that printing doesn't bother me.
I don't proof, just online, so that printing doesn't bother me.
RIGHT ON, Liana!
After our last ordeal with the proofs, we realized that even though Pictage fixed the problem and ended up sending us a great product, we didn't want our clients to be satisfied with proofs. So, when we reworked our packages, we knocked out everything proof-related, except Pictage!
After our last ordeal with the proofs, we realized that even though Pictage fixed the problem and ended up sending us a great product, we didn't want our clients to be satisfied with proofs. So, when we reworked our packages, we knocked out everything proof-related, except Pictage!
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