Print, frame and ship to customer service

[Celtic Tiger]

Can anyone recommend an all in one service for this.

I have one unique photo of a hard to come by object (game used ball from Busch Stadium's inaugural game 4/10/2006...stamped to that effect). I took a macro shot of it and put a deep red background color behind it in Photoshop. I've done a square 12 x 12 crop and I'm happy with the way it turned out. I evision a dark green mat and a dark wood frame.

The print by itself is kinda cool and all, but I'd like to sell it as a higher end gift type item as a framed piece of (Cardinal baseball) art. Think father's day gift. Cardinal Nation is a large one. I'm just starting to crystalize my thinking here. This item might sell 0 or might sell 100.

Anyway, I don't want to have to do hardly ANYTHING with this. I don't want to have to cut mats and frame and ship etc. I'm looking for total turnkey with the ability to customize just once and just one print and style. I would be willing to transmit addresses and money (and the unframed print if necessary) to the service provider if its not a Smugmug type of service; but that's about all I'd be willing to do.

Mpix seems to offer something along those lines but their mat colors are limited to black or white.

Any thoughts?

[Tom Reichner]

Mpix seems to offer something along those lines but their mat colors are limited to black or white.

Contact mPix and see if they'll do this with a custom color for you. mPix is quite costly, however. With their high base cost it'll be tough for you to get customers to pay enough to cover the mPix cost plus have profit left over for you.

[Mike R]

Check to be sure that you can sell it, that it's not considerd the type of shot that MLB (or the Cardnials) would stop you from selling, like a player shot from a game. It sounds like a nice shot, how about posting it?

[Celtic Tiger]

Yeah,
Here's a breakdown of the cost:

12x12 Print...$ 5.59
Frame...........30.00
Mat............... 9.50
Glass..............7.00
Shipping........10.75
Total Cost....$62.84

I have no idea what the market would bear on something like this. There are a lot of crazy Cardinal fans. The appeal would be limited as this would be more of an office or den (who has a den any more???) type of gift. Maybe St. Louis sports bars etc.

It might have legs who knows? I just don't have the time to mess around with any of this. I've already spent too much time today thinking about it:o.

[gonzogolf]

yeah, you may be treading too close to copyright infringement there with the Inaugural game logo. Better check with an attorney before you offer it for sale.

[FlyingPhotog]

yeah, you may be treading too close to copyright infringement there with the Inaugural game logo. Better check with an attorney before you offer it for sale.

I was just about to ask if MLB has actually given their blessings to this project...

(Which sounds cool btw...)

[gonzogolf]

Yeah,


I have no idea what the market would bear on something like this. There are a lot of crazy Cardinal fans. The appeal would be limited as this would be more of an office or den (who has a den any more???) type of gift. Maybe St. Louis sports bars etc.
.


We prefer the term passionate, or enthusiastic :)

[Celtic Tiger]

Check to be sure that you can sell it, that it's not considerd the type of shot that MLB (or the Cardnials) would stop you from selling, like a player shot from a game. It sounds like a nice shot, how about posting it?

I thought about that. I know I still have some homework to do in that regard. That's part of why I wanted to go the high-end route, fewer sales, less visability. I've posed some questions on another thread in that regard but I'm still not sure where I am with it:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=839801

I'm at the O now without access to it. If I get a chance later I'll post.

[Celtic Tiger]

I've done a little work on the photo itself since this first upload; but this will give you the general idea of where I'd like to go with it:

[Celtic Tiger]

Uh-oh...nothing further after the visual.

I have since straightend a bit, sharpened and dodged/cloned the bottom where it is dark. My fear is my enthusiastic audience so far consists of my brother-in-law; who is a bigger Cardinal fan than I (if that's possible).

Let me know honestly:
1. Problems with the photo (and if so...fixable?)
2. Problems with the concept
3. Problems with the execution

At a minimum it will make a great birthday present for my brother-in-law.;)

[Tom Reichner]

Let me know honestly:
1. Problems with the photo (and if so...fixable?)
2. Problems with the concept
3. Problems with the execution

I am wondering if you ever considered a dark green background instead of the dark red?

[Celtic Tiger]

I am wondering if you ever considered a dark green background instead of the dark red?

No problem to try it. I had hoped to do the red with a green mat. What you see depicted is a mock up of the image from Mpix's site. They only offer black or white mat.

If I tried green, would you suggest staying with the black mat...or trying another color?

[D Thompson]

Try pictureframes.com and go to the personal frame shop tab. You can upload a small jpeg and then take it thru all kinds of matting/framing choices. I've never had them print anything for me, but I have ordered several mat/frames and have been very happy. I don't know if they still do or not, but they sent me free samples (1/2"x3") of the mat colors.

[Celtic Tiger]

Well...I did do something with this. I doubt I'll sell anything but I had fun putting this together. I bought a (literally) $10 book on how to build a website and built it from scratch...no templates...just an html editor (and believe me it shows:lol:). You couldn't find my website if you searched every word on my first page...in quotes!

Also did a ton of research on "fair use" of the Busch Stadium mark in my print. Also had an informal discussion with an IP atty. He said go for it. Then through a bizarre twist of fate, I found out that I have an unrelated to photography business relationship with the actual owner of the mark. If they have any objections down it comes. I'll probably find out in the next couple of days.

So I worked so long on this that I wanted it to go live for a couple of days at least. I rushed the last parts through tonight (again it shows) and uploaded it. I may get the cease and desist order tomorrow.

What I will say is I ordered a 12"x12" crop framed and matted from Mpix and it turned out beautifully. I have it hanging in my office and I get a lot of compliments on it. I also get some "you should sell those". Oh well, I started this project for my own display originally, so I got that out of it. Also ordered a 20"x30". Man, an almost 2' baseball really gets your attention. That would look great in a Sports Bar. Its very unique. Again, oh well.

So thanks for reading. Wanted to follow-up with those who left comments advice earlier. You can see the site here:

http://inauguralgame.com/index.html

Best regards!

[WisconsinLens]

I think it's a great idea, and turned out nice. The only thing that would make it a better idea is if it was from a game the Brewers won! (much more rare) :)

[crimsonblack]

Take your image to a "michaels" or some craft shop selling frames. Most have a custom shop in there that can even matte a frame you may find in there on sale. Screw all this sending it out to get in done in some other state and then your stuck with what you get.

[HappySnapper90]

Well...I did do something with this. I doubt I'll sell anything but I had fun putting this together. I bought a (literally) $10 book on how to build a website and built it from scratch...no templates...just an html editor (and believe me it shows:lol:). You couldn't find my website if you searched every word on my first page...in quotes!


Are you a lawyer or trying to sound like one? It sounds like you didn't contact a lawyer about selling photos of the baseball. You have that annoying disclaimer full of mumbo-jumbo trying to remove liability from your part. I think that liability disclaimer would chase away prospective buyers.

And I see photos of an entire stadium on its opening day a lot, never see a ball used on opening day. A ball's a ball. Each stadium is a landmark and is unique. Every baseball looks like every other baseball. That's what I think.

[Celtic Tiger]

Take your image to a "michaels" or some craft shop selling frames. Most have a custom shop in there that can even matte a frame you may find in there on sale. Screw all this sending it out to get in done in some other state and then your stuck with what you get.

The original intent of this thread was to find something completely turnkey. I have a more than a full time job and really don't want to touch any of this. It was really more the fun of pulling it all together than anything. Now that the site is up I don't have to do a thing. If someone stumbles accross it and buys a print, I'd be thrilled. If not, its all part of the hobby.

[Celtic Tiger]

Are you a lawyer or trying to sound like one? It sounds like you didn't contact a lawyer about selling photos of the baseball. You have that annoying disclaimer full of mumbo-jumbo trying to remove liability from your part. I think that liability disclaimer would chase away prospective buyers.

And I see photos of an entire stadium on its opening day a lot, never see a ball used on opening day. A ball's a ball. Each stadium is a landmark and is unique. Every baseball looks like every other baseball. That's what I think.

Actually did consult with an IP attorney. His opinion is the display of the mark is fair use. I did some additional research especially in light of the Upper Deck case and MLB. The "mumbo-jumbo" is culled from that case, statute and afew others. Will it work? Who knows. If MLB ever called I'd drop this like a rock.

As far as your other comment. You don't like it. I get it. Others do. Will it sell? Who knows; but it doesn't matter too much. I'm not feeding my family with it.

[Karl Johnston]

I recommend going through zenfolio and setting it up so you can buy whatever options you like then sell it to whoever.
www.zenfolio.com

it's about as simple and streamlined as they get.

[Celtic Tiger]

I recommend going through zenfolio and setting it up so you can buy whatever options you like then sell it to whoever.
www.zenfolio.com (http://www.zenfolio.com)

it's about as simple and streamlined as they get.

Thanks Karl. That's exactly what I did. I was printing through Mpix anyway. When I found out that Zenfolio's fulfillment partner was Mpix; that sealed the deal. It's on complete auto pilot now. Anyone that had the time or was serious about it could do it much more cost effectively I'm sure; but this met my requirement of no involvement on my part.

If I ever get around to it, I'll do some better SEO; but in the meantime its up and running and requires none of my attention.