UK printing

[JoYork]

Hi all,

I've reached the point where I have had a handful of people say they'd like to buy some of my photos. I'm quite flattered by it, but I realise I'm not going to make enough money from this to give up the day job :)

I'd like to get some photos printed out and framed, then sell them for a few pounds over cost price. I might even give a couple away to family members as Christmas presents.

What are my options?

Ideally I'd like to get a small number printed out at A4 or A3 size. Jessops will print out A3 onto inkjet paper for about £9 a go - has anyone used them? What's the quality like? Are there better places to try?

I know it's probably better in the long run to buy my own printer, but at £300-400 for the printer alone I'd have to print out several hundred before I come close to breaking even compared to a printing service.

Thanks.

[bildeb0rg]

Congrats on the potential sales Jo, but don't sell yourself short on your abilities or your pricing.
RGB here http://www.rgb-tech.co.uk/page/6 do a really good pro service that is still cheaper than Jessops, and as you're pretty local in York, they shouldn't have a problem in posting out your order.
You need to create an account to order on line, but I would suggest you call first to have a chat about the best way to use this

[TTk]

Hi,
Look in your Yellow Pages for a local printer and have a chat with them and look at there work find out what thay do, I am a wedding photographer and print my own but now and then need bigger than A3+. People like Jessops are ok for jo public but thay use someone else to do there printing, therefore your customer loves your photo but your local high street printer has spoilt it and then your customer changes there mind, a customer that never comes back..

[JoYork]

Thanks for that, guys - RGB look really good, much cheaper than I was expecting too. I think I'll give Jessops a miss - they're still ok for holiday snaps IMO :)

[Halcyon]

For up to A4, border-less, the Epson R285 is only about £62 and Tesco Finest A4 photo paper is very good quality and only £7.35 for 50 sheets.
Ikea have nice frames and homebase do some nice black A4 frames

So you don't have to spend a fortune to get good (enough) results that far out-perform Jessops.

[JoYork]

Thanks, Halcyon. I hadn't considered a cheaper alternative - most of the recommended printers I read about were several hundred pounds. So long as I'm happy with A4 the Epson sounds good value.

Much reading to do, methinks...

[bildeb0rg]

While cheap printers, ink and paper are fine for something for your nan on her birthday, do you really want a customer returning a print in a few months with a complaint?
In my, limited, experience the ink goes off relatively quickly, and it runs out at an alarming rate too.
£100 for printer/ink/paper sounds a bargain, but you can buyan awful lot of prints for the same money.
And what would you rather be doing? Printing or shooting?

[Halcyon]

I can't agree with bildeb0rg.
The Epson photo printer range are very good and the ink should last for 100 years (in an album)
Check this PAGE: (http://www.epson.co.uk/supplies/supplies/ink/types/durabrite.htm) for more info.

Of course, a more expensive printer will have better results, but the law of dimishing returns starts to get involved pretty soon after something like the Epson R800.

The 285 sounded like a perfect printer for someone on a budget with limited requirements. It's not butch enough for constant use, but I don't think Jo is after that. It has 6 colours and handles skin tones very well.
I honestly think it would be worth your while.

[Mike]

I use Photobox (http://www.photobox.co.uk/) for online prints. I have got prints from 6x4 all the way up to A2 and also other things like calendars and mousemats printed. The quality of print is great and the results are terrific. Further to this you can open an online pro-gallery and sell online (this feature is being re-hauled at the mo tho). The pro gallery looks like this: http://www.photoboxgallery.com/mikegreenphotography