How do you handle ordering / printing? [No cost questions ! :) ]

[GregSteer]

Hi,

I'm getting to the stage that people are asking for prints from me, from single images of shoots, to making an event shoot available for viewing and ordering.

My question is (and it's not about what to charge!) how do you handle the printing? :confused:

I've thought of the following options but I'm not sure of the best avenue to pursue so thought it best to find out how everyone else handles it (if you don't mind telling!)

1) Do you take the orders yourself (either directly or via the web) and print everything yourself at home?

2) Do you take the orders yourself (either directly or via the web) and outsource the printing to a print shop? Secondary to this questions is do you have the prints shipped directly to the customer or to yourself and then sent on?

3) Do you outsource the ordering and printing to a website/printhouse and have nothing to do with it after uploading the images?

4) Depending on the order size, ie single image vs 10+, do you print the low volume at home but oursource the larger event sets etc?

FYI the current equipment I have at home for printing is a HP Photosmart 8700. I'm not currently calibrated in any sense so I know this is a very important first step but want to get myself down the right path in my mind regarding printing first.

Any advice is much appreciated, I'll start looking at UK options for the actually printing once I've got a feel for the best way to handle it.

[bildeb0rg]

Try one of the online hosts like Exposure Manager or Zenfolio. They take the orders for you and then ship out the prints on your behalf.
Do a quick search on here and you should get a few links
Personnaly, I get them to contact me direct, as I like to talk to a customer rather than be a little anonymous. I take the files to a local lab, then deliver/send them on.

[slappy sam]

I am in the same position as you. I have had a few print requests this summer, and currently handle it like you described in 2. I print with WHCC and have them delivered to me, then ship or deliver in person to the customer (because I see most people who would be ordering the prints almost daily).

I want something on my site where someone can order a photo and pay online, and it will tell me (via email?) what photo they've ordered - I then ship it to whcc and then to the customer if neccessary.

Either that or a lab that will print and send to the customer, but I do like whcc's quality and I want to make sure that this lab will have high quality as well. Also, I don't like this because these sites normally take a cut, correct? As high as 30% in some things I've read.

[Dennis_Hammer]

Absolutely ExposureManager is great for Event photos. You get unlimited storage, the galleries are completely customizable to match your site. Plus no one will ever know they are at someplace other than yours. They take credit cards, do the shipping with your return address. They only take a 10% commission (lowest I have found) and do great prints.

Here is a link for a free trial and discount

http://www.exposuremanager.com/aff/hammerphotos

[Patrick]

I take the orders myself through my site or through the mail. I currently use a lab but am thinking about doing small orders myself. Certain items I offer just can't be printed at home. I have everything sent to me then I distribute it. I like having total control, which is part of the reason for making my own site and not going with one of the all in one programs.

[tim]

I host images on my website using ordering software, I suggest the software from www.picturespro.com . Orders get emailed to me, I process the files, crop if necessary, then send to my lab. I don't do this every time I get an order, I do one print order a month, two in peak times. Once the prints come back I check them, package them, and send them out.

I have a $50 minimum order, to save me getting an order for one 6x4. I charge $15 shipping, though I might reduce that. My proofing website says people can expect their prints to arrive within 30 days of making the order. Most people pay online using Paypal and their credit card, but people can also mail me a cheque, call me with a credit card, or transfer money electronically.

Print orders can be quite lucrative, even for weddings where the couple get the CD.

[GregSteer]

Thanks for the responses so far:

Tim: I like the look of PicturesPro - I already have a server for hosting my websites so I'd prefer not to pay another company a fee for further hosting.

Dennis_Hammer + bildeb0rg: Exposure Manager and Zenfolio seem $$$ orientated, are they actually available for use in the UK ?

[aram535]

Depends on your volume, if you're doing a fair volume, 1 or 2 a week than a exposure manager or zenfolio is a good idea. If you're not I think the monthly charges eat away at whatever money you were going to see.

If you already have a website and it can accept PHP, think of adding "Gallery (http://gallery.menalto.com/)" to it. It simply has a paypal or other method of payment that attach to it all for free. You get the order you can print it/order it and give it to the customer yourself.

Personally, if the monthly charge from a "exposure manager" is more than 10% of your "Net Profit" for that month, than its not worth using them. I get $50-$500 a month from sales. I see about 30% profit, assuming its $15 a month to have a zenfolio account (no idea what it actually is) why would I give zenfolio 10% (not including the cut they are going to take)?

[tim]

I get $50-$500 a month from sales. I see about 30% profit, assuming its $15 a month to have a zenfolio account (no idea what it actually is) why would I give zenfolio 10% (not including the cut they are going to take)?

30% profit sound very low for print sales, assuming you're not counting your time in that calculation.

[kja]

I use Photocart (www.picturespro.com) - upload the client gallery, set all the prices and options, they view and order.

I then send the files to the lab. Prints are delivered to me so I can make sure they are perfect, then I forward them to the clients by hand delivery or post (pack them well!)

[aram535]

30% profit sound very low for print sales, assuming you're not counting your time in that calculation.

30% is after all costs and the time to build/assemble the frame/matts/packaging. It's also an average across all sales, some I make 200% but some I break even.

Its really all a loss since I don't count the cost of bodies/lenses/gas/time to go get the picture in the first place. I enjoy it, that's how I look at it.

[Tandem]

My SmugMug account has paid for itself many times over in the time I save by not having to process, print, and deliver orders. I would rather be out shooting than handling orders. The way I look at it is that I make what I want for taking the photo and my customer pays a little more to SmugMug to process, print, and deliver the order.

[Dennis_Hammer]

Not sure exposuremanager can be used UK don't see why not but you would have to check. I make roughly 75-80% profit on my orders and do roughly 1800-2500 a month depending on the event season.