Selecting printing service?

How do you select your photo printing service provider?

Do you prefer internet/mail or face-to-face service?

What is/are your most important criteria when selecting the printing service?

The most important criteria for me was the quality of the product and reliability to deliver the product.

I am in the US and I went with an online service. I have found that there is one professional print lab in my area, but I have chosen to stick with the online source at this time. I've had good results and I know what to expect.

I print myself, at home.

Its not a cheap option, but I can control the quality and get exactly what I want.

Thanks for your comments!

drvnbysound wrote in post #16001597
The most important criteria for me was the quality of the product and reliability to deliver the product.

I am in the US and I went with an online service. I have found that there is one professional print lab in my area, but I have chosen to stick with the online source at this time. I've had good results and I know what to expect.

How did you find the pro lab? Did you google it, or did somebody recommend it?

Lowner wrote in post #16001912
I print myself, at home.

Its not a cheap option, but I can control the quality and get exactly what I want.

Lowner, if you need a large number (several tens) of postcard size prints, would you print those at home as well?

Olli wrote in post #16004842
Lowner, if you need a large number (several tens) of postcard size prints, would you print those at home as well?

Yes, but using my R2880 would be overkill for postcard size prints. Much better I think to use something smaller. But I generally do not do large print runs.

I use Mpix (US), which I heard of through various mediums - other photographers, magazine ads, and via various sponsorships (KelbyTV). Technically, I'd say that Mpix is the consumer side of their lab (Miller's), but they use many of the same products and perform color correction when needed. Additionally, I'd order from WHCC and/or BayPhoto.

I have NO idea what's available in Finland...

Lowner wrote in post #16004860
Yes, but using my R2880 would be overkill for postcard size prints. Much better I think to use something smaller. But I generally do not do large print runs.

That's a fine printer, Lowner. I have a smaller Epson and happy with that, though I use labs as well.

drvnbysound wrote in post #16005020
I use Mpix (US), which I heard of through various mediums - other photographers, magazine ads, and via various sponsorships (KelbyTV). Technically, I'd say that Mpix is the consumer side of their lab (Miller's), but they use many of the same products and perform color correction when needed. Additionally, I'd order from WHCC and/or BayPhoto.

I have NO idea what's available in Finland...

Thanks for this specific info. In Finland we do have many domestic and several international (European) print labs. My main interest is the process how to select the service, be it a local shop or internet service provider.

Do you know if there is an internet site (portal) in US, where you can compare different print labs?

That I don't know. As mentioned, I basically went off the experience and word of others who had also used the same service. I figured if it was good enough for them that it would also be good enough for me. Note that my first order was a fairly small order as well - probably a few 5x7s and 8x10s. This gave me a chance to see the prints for myself and determine if I wanted to continue using them in the future or look for something else.

I don't know of any site that offers a comparison of various print labs.