help with online services

[erin753]

i am new to the business side of photography and am in the process of researching different options for displaying photographs to clients post-session. i am wondering what recommendations anyone might have. it seems that a lot of people use Pictage and didn't know if anyone had thoughts on that service. thanks!

[Mike Panic]

pictage will rape you - to the tune of $250 per month plus 20% of the retail prices you set for every item you sell.

find a local lab that supports performer pro - much more affordable solution - and talk to your local lab in general about a pro hosted solution.

[gmen]

www.photoshelter.com

---- Gavin

[blinking8s]

www.photoshelter.com

---- Gavin

^^ what he said ^^

[Mike Panic]

here is the other, commonly overlooked thing w/ pictage and photoshelter... they do the credit card transactions - that means that they are making more money off you. yes they cost money, as does paypal, but photoshelter is charging $1 per transaction on top of whatever credit card fees are, which is not listed.

additionally, they now have your customers contact info. a fellow photographer was using pictage for a while for her wedding business, she sent me an album so i could see what it was like - it was indeed nice, the products they offer are nice, and the print quality is pretty good. what i don't like is that at least 3 times a week for the last 6 months i receive emails from pictage now for this stupid wedding... and they offer sales and discounts that the photographer was unaware of.

[symes]

www.photoshelter.com (http://www.photoshelter.com)

---- Gavin

gets my vote too...It is a great way to ensure the safety of your best shots far away from your home...

Cheers,

[gmen]

here is the other, commonly overlooked thing w/ pictage and photoshelter... they do the credit card transactions - that means that they are making more money off you. yes they cost money, as does paypal, but photoshelter is charging $1 per transaction on top of whatever credit card fees are, which is not listed.
Might be worth reading a bit more about PhotoShelter: http://www.photoshelter.com/tour/

Specifically: http://www.photoshelter.com/tour/?c=sell and http://www.photoshelter.com/tour/?c=price

Not sure what you mean about the credit card transactions. You'll need to involve a third party with credit card sales when setting up a merchant account and, as such, there will be fees. PhotoShelter allows credit card transactions but they do NOT handle the credit card sales themselves.

additionally, they now have your customers contact info. a fellow photographer was using pictage for a while for her wedding business, she sent me an album so i could see what it was like - it was indeed nice, the products they offer are nice, and the print quality is pretty good. what i don't like is that at least 3 times a week for the last 6 months i receive emails from pictage now for this stupid wedding... and they offer sales and discounts that the photographer was unaware of.The only mail I receive from PhotoShelter is to notify me of improvements to the site and a newsletter (which I choose to receive) :rolleyes:

PhotoShelter lets you set your own pricing structure for prints and licencing images. They charge a fee of $1 per transaction, whether the sale is $10 or $10,000 - there is NO commission structure - that's a fundamental part of the basic concept of the site: "PhotoShelter is not an agency and does not represent you, act as a middle man for your negotiations, nor take a commission from your sales. So PhotoShelter can compliment your agency relationship by giving you a direct sales channel to a different client base."

Hmmmm....

EDIT: I know nothing about 'pictage' but it doesn't sound like the same sort of beast as PhotoShelter...

EDIT 2: Just visited the 'pictage' site and it most certainly is a different kettle of fish...

---- Gavin

[PhotosGuy]

http://www.printroom.com
www.photoshelter.com
http://www.performerpro.com/
http://www.shutterfly.com
Do a Title search for "sell prints", WITH the quote marks for lots more info.

[imaculate]

www.printroom.com
you shoot, post it online with the storefront they give you, as thumbnails for proofing and previewing. Customer's buy prints or specialty gift items that you choose to offer and at your prices. Printroom will print it, ship it and take payment processing for you. You sit back and collect the profit checks they give you. email me if you want my rep's info. They're great. I've done 10k already with online sales in the first 8 months with them. What made them better then the others that i've used, photoreflect, photoshelter, smug mug and pictage was that you have an assigned account manager that works closely with you to grow your business. You always have a live person to work with you. my email imaculate@yahoo.com

[mdm]

Check out fotki.com