Smug Mug Printing

[CincyShooter]

Okay, So I am doing my first senior photo shoot tomorrow, and honestly its my first serious shoot and only one I have ever gotten paid to do. I am printing through Smugmug.com and was wondering if any of you have experience with their quality. I gave them the option of either Matte or Lustre finish, hoping they choose Lustre because it is printed on Fuji Professional paper. Were they as good as you expected color wise? Was the packaging okay? and Finally, is this a good decision? --Dennis

[PhotosByEric]

I love SM and their prints. Their customer service is topnotch and if for some reason you do have a problem with the prints they will be more than happy to help you out and make everything good.

Eric

[jerryr]

Hi -
I have printed via smugmug for a lot of sports pictures to a variety of people
and have received some great feedback ! I also have done some printing,
and again, I have been very very impressed!
I love the fact that smugmug (ezprints) takes care of the order fulfillment, etc..
so basically I just determine the cost and set up the shopping cart :)


My site - www.jrphotosandwebdesign.com (http://www.jrphotosandwebdesign.com)

So I would give smugmug a thumbs up :)

- jerryr

[redbutt]

If you don't need the sales front end, just go straight to the source. SmugMug printing is sourced through EZprints.com. They do an excellent job at a great price.

[Strick]

Do you guys use "true color" or "auto"?

[redbutt]

True...I make sure all my images are converted to sRGB, profiled and print ready before sending them. I trust soft proofing on my calibrated monitor more than any "auto" setting. Also, go to ezprints.com directly and you can download and request a hard copy reference print from their printers,

[Strick]

Ok so if you were like me and have not yet got the equipment to calibrate ou monitor would you use "auto"?

I know, I know, I need to get my stuff calibrated.

[PhotosByEric]

Before I bought my calibrator I used the "auto" and never had any problems. I've yet to order anything since I got the Huey few weeks ago.

Eric

[bwolford]

Why go to ezprints.com directly. I can get similar or lower prices from other providers some of which contract to EZprints.

[dirt lover]

True...I make sure all my images are converted to sRGB, profiled and print ready before sending them. I trust soft proofing on my calibrated monitor more than any "auto" setting. Also, go to ezprints.com directly and you can download and request a hard copy reference print from their printers,

You convert your images (from Adobe RGB1998 ??) to sRGB for print????

[CincyShooter]

OK well this being my first shoot I guess went ok, Go figure my 430EX tried to swim and was ruined early this morning So I was frustrated as Hell...but anyways, if you want to take a look these Images are straight from the Camera! If you would like, Any editing is OK with me.



www.flickr.com/photos/drye87

IMG_6515 is a total Joke btw

[MJPhotos24]

Won't catch me using EZPrints again, quality just doesn't match up to other companies like Exposure Manager (since that's the main company I use). Won't repeat what I've said in the past about EZPrints, you can find TONS of threads about online printers on here so do a search and you'll have tons of reading to do to choose who works best for you. Personally, I would look at something like Mpix, or Millers - Exposure Manager you have to pay the yearly fee to be a part of, which makes it worth while because only "pros" use them and it's not open to just anyone with a digi camera to upload online.

As for your photos, some are way to bright and some way to dark, gotta work on the exposure and fill flash. Senior pics the person is supposed to "jump" out at you and she doesn't for the most part. A few of the girls on the team I coach had there's the other day and man that guy who did them did a great job, something I can't do, ha. The girls jumped out of the picture and colors were amazing. Made me question doing them big time as I have one set up for tomorrow. You're not far off, poses are fine just need to work on the fill and balancing the light.

[In2Photos]

I tried SmugMug and the print looked great. I compared it to Costco and a couple of others and could not tell a difference. That is why I now offer my images through SmugMug. The problem I had was pacakaging and the US mail. They bent my photos even though it says "Do Not Bend" right on the front. For smaller prints this will not be an issue.

I have also just started using Miller's for my team portraits and they are fantastic. Prints look great, great pricing, and next day FedEx included. You will need an account though or just use Mpix which is owned by them.

[Uhland]

ive printed via smugmug (ezprints)... looked great to me.
But then im no print expert either.

[MJPhotos24]

I'm picky as can get...I want it dead on or else and can usually pick out imperfections immediately...The costomer is holding the print, and that's what others see so it best be on exactly as it's supposed to be, or I won't be happy. :)

EZPrints packaging definately sucks compared to other places, they use flimsy packaging (cheaper) and that little "do not bend" stamp does nothing. Mail gets knocked around no matter what and I had 4x6's come bent from them just because the packaging was so bad the corners got all knicked around big time. I'd say most of the returns I did with EZPrints was because of poor packaging. My best costomer for the last 7 years emailed me when switching to Exposure Manager raving about there packaging because the mailer were THICK or they were sent in boxes packaged right and not flimsy mailers. I wonder how Millers/Mpix packaging is??

[In2Photos]

I'm picky as can get...I want it dead on or else and can usually pick out imperfections immediately...The costomer is holding the print, and that's what others see so it best be on exactly as it's supposed to be, or I won't be happy. :)

EZPrints packaging definately sucks compared to other places, they use flimsy packaging (cheaper) and that little "do not bend" stamp does nothing. Mail gets knocked around no matter what and I had 4x6's come bent from them just because the packaging was so bad the corners got all knicked around big time. I'd say most of the returns I did with EZPrints was because of poor packaging. My best costomer for the last 7 years emailed me when switching to Exposure Manager raving about there packaging because the mailer were THICK or they were sent in boxes packaged right and not flimsy mailers. I wonder how Millers/Mpix packaging is??
Miller's uses boxes and ships next day FedEx. Both packages so far have arrived in perfect condition and the contents have been immaculate. They shrink wrap everything inside to a cardboard piece that is as big as the inside of the box so it can not move around.

[MJPhotos24]

Miller's uses boxes and ships next day FedEx. Both packages so far have arrived in perfect condition and the contents have been immaculate. They shrink wrap everything inside to a cardboard piece that is as big as the inside of the box so it can not move around.

Sounds similar to Exposure Manager. I just got that package for being a costomer today, not bad prints at all they sent out to give examples of the surfaces. Give it a shot to see how I like it for an order of different prints.

[AudobonTom]

I've not utilized Smugmug for prints, but have had a lot of success with MPIX. Prints have all turned out great, and the packaging is solid. I've never had a print ruined during the shipping process with their packaging. AT

[RX350]

smugmug work great for me.

[MJPhotos24]

buy a photo from EZPrints and then compare it to a real print that someone color corrected for the printer, and not just set on auto like EZPrints does. If you don't see a difference, you're blind...literally or figuritevly (yes bad spelling and all)

[liza]

EZ Prints sucks. Mpix is much, much better.

[In2Photos]

buy a photo from EZPrints and then compare it to a real print that someone color corrected for the printer, and not just set on auto like EZPrints does. If you don't see a difference, you're blind...literally or figuritevly (yes bad spelling and all)
I ordered two prints from EZprints for this photo (http://www.pbase.com/madawson/image/83574129), one using their Auto and one using no color correction (and an sPRG profile, not their printer profile). I then ordered the same print from Costco using their profile and soft proofing. All 3 photos were so close that I would have been happy with any of them. I haven't ordered that shot from MPix/Millers yet but I might soon.

Also, I have asked all my clients how they like their shots from EZPrints and every one of them has been extremely satisfied.