event file upload help

[Zilly]

Hey people

in june im covering a event and intending to sell prints

my problem is that the event has no mains power no wi fi and no telephone connection

I'm taking a small genirator to power the computer and small formate printer to producing proofs. i have aranged a deal with my printing company that the will deliver the prints to the stand 9 oclock sunday morning from saterdays orders for people to pick up.

I'm a at a bit of a loss of how to upload the large format prints to there ftp server i was thinking smart phone pluged into computer to send that way would that work or would it be too slow

what do you think

[Gary_Evans]

When do you intend to sell the prints? Onsite? Then you dont need to worry about uploading there and then, you need view stations and printers

In my experience people at the event wont be worried about looking online until they get home that night, which has given you time to get to a phone connection.

[Zilly]

ahh u see the problem is there is no power on the site and it is a dust bowl. were taking a computer and small printer to do proofs to order from and i have aranged with a printing company that if i upload the pictures to them the'll print em off over night and have them delivered to my stall at 12 on the sunday (its a two day event and nearly all will be there on both days if there not there both day thell be posted on)

[hijinks]

How far is the printer from you? Take the prints on disk to them? How far is the nearest wifi connection. I am thinking that a phone line with a large number of high res photos would take too long to upload.

[Zilly]

you see thats what im thinking nearest wi fi probably 10 miles and the printer is about 100 miles away u see the problem :(

[Zilly]

oooh and i carnt go home ither as thats 2 and a half hours each way i might be in a tent maby in a b+b (small family run type afair not major chain)

[ed from pa]

Buy the Hp 470WBT printer, this is a mobile printer with battery and a small netbook with bluetooth inside, also battery operated, then you are good to go.

[amfoto1]

I simply upload thumbnails to Printroom.com and let people purchase there, after the event. I only have to upload the large file after a purchase is made.

We do onsite sales at some events (often very dusty), but only when power is available, with a very limited selection of print sizes and finishes (4x6, 5x7 & 8x10, glossy), 'quick & dirty' post processing and higher priced than online. We charge more because it costs more to do onsite printing... Between equipment and hiring someone to handle the sales, downloading and printing.

It's a better deal for customers, to go online. But some just have to have their prints right now, and we wouldn't care to disappoint!

It is entirely possible to do onsite sales with a generator. It just needs to be adequate power, quiet enough and steady enough that it won't crash the computer equipment. I haven't done this personally, but many event photographers do.

[dekalbSTEEL]

the event was 18 months ago, I wonder how the Op made out?:D