On-line Photo Store Questions

[Mike330R]

Hello,
I am wanting to set-up a web based picture store. It will be a very basic store. I have a few questions.

1. Can some of you please post links to your picture store? I'd like to get pricing info from it and maybe other idea's.

2. When posting the photo for potential customers to view should I post it is a rather small size (640x480) and allow them to view the full image if wanted?

3. Water marks--where in the image should I put it?

4. What is the best way to ship a photo to prevent damage?

5. Does Costco make good enough prints or should I go somewhere that is better?

6. I usually shoot in the largest jpeg format. What is the max size print I can print with it still looking good?

Anything else I need to consider?

thanks!

[Mike Panic]

1) are you looking for a way to sell prints, is that what you are refering to as "store"? - pricing will be drasticly different from everyone, depending on what the images are, what they are being printed on, bla bla bla - ill show you sites where photographers sell 8x10's for $6 and others that sell them for $500

2) NO NO NO - if you give them the full size view - they can just download it and print it on their own

3) generally in the lower right or left corner

4) cardboard box w/ cardboard for packing - not the lightest but the best

5) ive heard good and bad things from costco - keep in mind they just take your files... if you have special needs or requests or are not happy w/ something - o well. your far better off finding a local lab you can build a relationship with

6) start shooting RAW now.

[Mike330R]

1. Yes to sell prints. Images will be either action pictures or landscape shots mostly desert and dunes.

2, 3, 4 and 5-- OK thanks!

6. Can stores print from a RAW format or do I convert it then submit for printing?
What's the max size that can be printed in RAW?

[Mike Panic]

1) ues paypal to start - its fast and easy to setup - the front end (graphics / code / layout) will be up to you. if you are finding that your selling tons of stuff - get oscommerce installed and get a merchant account w/ a bank to run credit cards yourself

6) no... you need to convert them to 8bit tiff files or jpg's - but you will have a LOT more data to edit from the RAW files

[NGrinerPhoto]

www.pictures4life.com is a great site.

that's who i use. all you do is give them the photos and they mail you a check once a month.

[R1 Kid]

What would be an advantage for using pictures4life.com verse your own website? Seems like you would be paying a middleman so to speak. But I am guessing that if it was not much difference it would be benificial?? Anyone else use a service like pictures4life.com?

[IndyJeff]

I highly recommend Printroom.com. They provide a website which has a secure connection for ordering. You upload thumbs and when a purchase is made you upload only the fullsize files that were sold. This saves you not only time but webspace.

Once a customer places an order you upload your fullsize file and your done. PR collects the payment, prints and ships. Then on the 15th of the month you get a check minus their commission and print costs. You set your own prices, create packages, discount after a certain amount is ordered etc, etc. Your in full control.

You may not want a middle man but, if you are selling a lot of images trying to keep the orders straight and get them shipped out to the proper customer may become a nightmare. No worries about labeling, shipping containers, postage, getting them to the post office, not to mention the trips to the lab. In short, the money you pay PR will be cheaper than doing it all yourself.

[Vegas Poboy]

I use printroom & it works great for me. I have a link from my website to it & give people a password to access the weddings & other private events. Make sure you price high enough to make a profit due to the fees they charge for printing. They'll send a check every month with the net income. It's pretty worry free.