Hello
Where do all of the portrait photographers do their printing?
I am a beginner with buz side of children's photography...

I am looking to have a storefront that sells and prints the photos... like pictage but for a smaller fee. I was looking into PRINTROOM... anybody recommend them? OR have another suggestion?

Also I think I am going to go with WHCC for the big prints...I have only heard good things about them.

I wish there was a good local lab in the area. I am from CT and well...not much to choose from so I think I have to stick with online. If you have any suggestions I am open to them all. I just want to find the best way to get my print sales going...without paying a huge cost to get it going.
Thanks!
Casey

Use WHCC for all your prints. I strongly recommend proofing in person for portraits and not posting for online sales until you have received the main order. We have found that people spend a lot more when the proofing session is in person than if we just post them online and let them order. We do post our portraits online, but the sales we make there are usually grandparents ordering or the parents adding on after their main order. The rare times we agree to post without an in person proofing session, the sales are usually much much less on the session.

I second WHCC. They are times that they are less than perfect, but they take care of it very very fast when that happens.

I use instaproofs and WHCC. I am a former printroom user, and think its a waste of money, I constantly had to buy extra space.

Thanks! Maybe I will not go with printroom... just stick with WHCC (which seems to be what the majority thinks is the best). Have you tried their labprints? I want to have people come over and order but give the option to add more to their orders once they go home and realize they want more... AND once they get their prints and want more. Thanks again for all the advice! Casey

I just got my test prints back from WHCC...WOW!! I never thought I would outsource, but I am going to give it a try for a few things at first to see how it goes. Mainly looking for a source for Metallic prints and other stuff I don't want to do because it takes too much time, i.e. bulk small prints, etc.

Just awesome prints and I had them in 2 days. They actually had them printed and shipped the very day I uploaded them. Seems to be wonderful service, just for that. I certainly did not expect that quick service for test prints.

I've been really happy with whcc. They have great customer service, too.

I use CPQ in Cleveland Tennessee. Great service and they offer a big variety of different products. I have heard tons of good things about White House but I haven't had a reason to switch. Millers is also another big pro lab.

I think I might have driven myself crazy if I worked with more than one lab! You should really commit to one lab that's consistent. WHCC...Millers...whatever works for you. I use WHCC and have had prints done weeks apart with amazing consistency. You don't get that from just any lab.

-Jess

I've never had a non-canvas order that DIDN'T go the same day I uploaded it. They are really amazing and they know how to package. Plus you always get it in two days.

+500

For my sports shots, I use Exposure Manager. It seems to work out well and I've been happy with them.

Cool, I use Exposure Manager too. Incredible bang for the buck. But for any enlargements stuff that's really important, I convert the order to self-fulfillment and I send it through WHCC.

Ben

Another vote for WHCC! I recently signed up with Pictage, but before that I was using EZPhotosales (Carey - Barefoot Memories is an owner) as my online proofing/ordering and it's awesome. You have to fulfill your orders, but it's a really great little setup.

I used Millers for the past couple years and I had a big problem with consistancy. Their speed is incredible, but the I felt like color suffered for speed (and cost). I've been using WHCC fot he past few moths and have been nothing but extactic every time I open my prints. And as far as cost goes, even for the small stuff, I put in all my small stuff in their proofing system and they cost .26 a 4x6! You can't beat that! And as far as I'm concerned their 4 color press for cards, etc. is unmatched. They look Great!

Wow, seems like WHCC is the way to go!

And as far as online hosting goes, I've used Photoreflect for the small stuff. They are a percentage base and it's nice because the orders come into my e-mail and I take care of them myself. They do have their disadvantages (no side by side comparison, no b&w conversion preview to name a couple) so I am in the proces of switching to digilabz. Their online gallery stuff looks great.

WHCC, no ifs, ands or buts. they are the best.

I agree WHCC and I use EZPhoto sales for people to veiw and order online. I love EZPhoto sales and cannot wait until the new version comes out.

WORD UP EZPHOTOSALES! Yayyy!