How do I get started?

[markubig]

Hello -

I want to start photographing small events (birthdays, christenings, etc.). I am probably going to start with friends/family to get exposure. For them, I would not charge at all for the picture-taking. I would strictly be doing it for the experience and just let them pay for whatever prints they would want.

Where are good places to start looking to having prints made?

online printing places? Are sites like ofoto, snapfish, or fotki considered the types of sites i would want to go to for professional-looking prints?
Photo labs? I would want places that have the ability to create nice, professional-looking prints and maybe some creative photo albums. Can photo labs in places like Costco, Sams Clubs, BJ's have the ability to create these things?
I'm in northern New Jersey, so if anyone could recommend a local place, it would be greatly appreciated.

By the way, if I were to run into people, whom I would be willing to charge, what is the going rate (excluding prints) for these types of events?

Thanks for your help!

[leony]

Yey dude, I'm in 07003. Cheers!

There is a very good pro-lab in Paramus, NJ http://www.accucolorlabs.com
I use them and love it. They will do anything you might ever need printing related, exept billboards. Turn around is 3 business days, regardless of the size of the job. They use FUJI paper and can print from digital files up to 20x30 ($25).

Costco and the like are unpredictable and they ALWAY stamp their "costco #XXX" line on every print they make. You don't really want to be known as THE PHOTOGRAPHER that uses Costco. They're cheap, but unpredictable. And they only print up to 8x12. Where do you go to get a 10x13 or 11x14 or 16x20 made?

Photo albums, you have to get your own. http://www.tap-usa.com comes to mind as a good budget-priced alternative to leather bound hand made wedding albums. Buy in bulk to save money.

In photography, there is no such thing as going rate. Whatever people are willing to pay, that's the going rate. If someone is willing to pay $80 for a 10x13 print - that's the going price for it. Look at this thread here on the forum(http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50370) for pricing structures.

Best of luck to you!

[markubig]

Yey dude, I'm in 07003. Cheers!

There is a very good pro-lab in Paramus, NJ http://www.accucolorlabs.com (http://www.accucolorlabs.com/)
I use them and love it. They will do anything you might ever need printing related, exept billboards. Turn around is 3 business days, regardless of the size of the job. They use FUJI paper and can print from digital files up to 20x30 ($25).

Costco and the like are unpredictable and they ALWAY stamp their "costco #XXX" line on every print they make. You don't really want to be known as THE PHOTOGRAPHER that uses Costco. They're cheap, but unpredictable. And they only print up to 8x12. Where do you go to get a 10x13 or 11x14 or 16x20 made?

Photo albums, you have to get your own. http://www.tap-usa.com (http://www.tap-usa.com/) comes to mind as a good budget-priced alternative to leather bound hand made wedding albums. Buy in bulk to save money.

In photography, there is no such thing as going rate. Whatever people are willing to pay, that's the going rate. If someone is willing to pay $80 for a 10x13 print - that's the going price for it. Look at this thread here on the forum(http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50370) for pricing structures.

Best of luck to you!Leony,

Thank you so much for the info . . . I'll definitely keep your suggestions handy when it's time for me to get going. Have a great New Year!!!

[Divyak]

Costco has a new online service that allows you to have custom printed backs with your copyright, etc. Time and time again I have used Costco for events and they have been the best printing I can find. The trick is, tell them not to color correct your images. If they do, you will have less than satisfactory results.