p.2 #1 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
No idea what the price is, but put in a plug for a local lab who does good work and has friendly staff. www.topflightlab.com - uses ROES.
Also Brad, please try to more patient with the free responses on this public message board. So what if they're providing unsolicited advice and not exactly answering your question? Most of the people responding with Millers, etc. are the type to shoot $4k+ weddings at a lower volume. Not sure if you've posted much on the wedding forum here at FM, but the vibe / approach is one to inculcate a sense of quality and luxury, even if not explicitly asked for. It's driven out of a heart for raising the bar for the market as a whole. Folks here are a little more "artsy" and less analytical than on the sports shooter board.
p.2 #3 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
@Andrew...thank you for being the first to actually answer the original question.
I'll check them out as well. (I dont post much here cause too many wannabe's trying to make themselves look good by giving "advice" they are not qualified to dispense. There are a few really great photogs here, like The Hoffers, and a couple others, but mostly not so much....especially those that dont have THEIR sites and info listed.
@Tony.....Yes, I'm frustrated, because its a simple question. Should be a simple answer. "Hey check out so and so"....or "no idea at that rate" If folks dont have any labs that fit the criteria, thats fine, dont answer. Imagine, if you could suddenly save 50-70% on your proofing costs? Hmmmmm? Thats what I've been doing for the past several years. Wouldnt that be a nice tid bit of info? Hmmmmmm? At the volume most labs operate, they are able to buy paper much cheaper than the smaller independents of yesteryear (of which I was one). The true "cost" of a 4x6 in my lab was around 5-6cts. Doing it at such high levels would cut that in half easily. So its not a losing proposition....provided you have the volume to keep it going. (how do you guys think snapfish, dot photo, o photo, sams club, costco et al can do it? Same machines.....its volume. That...and the fact that by offering cheapo 4x6's they get people in the door (or cyberdoor) and sell them more profitable items. Its basic retail. You just need to find one that has 4x6's as their loss leader so to speak. Its not unrealistic at all. Doesnt have to be 6cts either....but 18-19 cts while doesnt sound like much, is in reality 300% more. Why spend it if you dont have to? Why spend it if your client cant tell the difference...or more correctly...doesnt care. Spend you money where it shows...and counts...on your album mfgrs, and larger print providers. It shows there....
On assumptions being made...a LOT have been made because of my Avatar being Sportsshooter.com logo. In fact, I am a full time wedding photographer, have been for longer than most of you here. I've shot more weddings than most of you here, and I'm the most expensive wedding photographer in our area, and have been for some time. I know the drill...I just lost a gem of a lab, and would love to find another alternative. I "found" that one on a tip from a DWF post (back when DWF was worth a crap).
So.....sorry if I'm a bit touchy...but its pretty frustrating when folks try to give advice for an issue that doesnt exist...and dont even answer the question. I teach wedding photography, and I've owned a photo lab...so again, on both of those topics, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR ADVICE. Just a simple answer to a simple question.
If thats too hard for many of you..please feel free not to respond at all. If you do have a line on a good lab that fits the description please feel free to pass it on here, or via pm if you dont want to be seen in a poor light by the throngs here just cause you are sensible enough to have found a good thing
p.2 #6 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
Ok, so for those that are actually willing to entertain the notion of a viable alternative for proofs, here's what I've got so far:
Sams....at 8cts is among the cheapest, BUT they KILL you on shipping. 16 bucks for usps that will fit in a 4 dollar flat rate box. Uploader ok..not great. More like snapfish or dot photo type of thing.
EZ Digital...same story...
Dimeprints.com....seems pretty good, reviews were decent .10cts per plus max of 10.00 shipping....so for 500 its 60 bucks. Uploader fairly quick n easy
bonusprint.com also seems decent at .11cts plus flat rate of 2.99 usps. so approx same cost here. uploader here again, quick n easy
mpix.com 19cts plus shipping....= approx. twice the above costs
bay photo same
whcc same
all three of those have known quality....
so...the next step, I ordered 12 prints from each..of the same files, color and bw. We'll see how much difference there really is. I had done this previously when I had found the last one. Cheap price to pay for research. You guys should do the same. Worst case scenario, the cheap labs suck, and your suspicions are confirmed. Best case, you find one of those gems like I had for the last few years. Its simply good business to explore all your options.....and remember, this is a very small print size. Each will have to judge the results on their own.
p.2 #8 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
Brad Barr wrote:
What? We can sell albums?? Holy shit? Who knew??
Fricking genius.......how about just answering the question or have a great big glass of shut the hell up
And this post is were you went from a guy looking for a good/cheap lab to an a**hole. Congrats!
As for you being the most expensive photographer in your area and teaching photography....... ummm... yikes
p.2 #10 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
I have a client that requires 4x6 prints. I have been using Costco which is .13 each.
Lowest price I can find. Not all stores are the same ans they use different printers so you need to do a test run. Color profiles are available. I do see a slight difference between them and what I get from WHCC but they work for low cost proofs.
p.2 #11 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
jefferies1 wrote:
I have a client that requires 4x6 prints. I have been using Costco which is .13 each.
Lowest price I can find. Not all stores are the same ans they use different printers so you need to do a test run. Color profiles are available. I do see a slight difference between them and what I get from WHCC but they work for low cost proofs.
Thanks! I'm waiting on the test prints from the earlier mentioned labs, as we dont have a costco near us. Sams is 8cts mailed, and 13 if you pick up.
Hoping one of the bunch will be suitable for a low cost proofing options when the situation calls for one
ACI, American color imaging. I have tried the rest and found them to be the most consistent.
Thanks Teebat! I hadnt looked at their plans in quite a number of years...I'll look again!
And this post is were you went from a guy looking for a good/cheap lab to an a**hole. Congrats!
As for you being the most expensive photographer in your area and teaching photography....... ummm... yikes
another terrific response from someone that has no link to any of their own work....consider the source. Its a pretty good strategy for these sorts of things....again...just looking for a simple answer to a simple question, not all the unsolicited advice on how to run MY business....the one that is full time...and has fed my family and paid my mortgage for the last 12+ years...from someone without a shred of documentation online at all....not even your name...your email...your website...just some made up name here. Hmmmmmmmm At least have the guts to put your own name on your wonderful posts.
stop being an ass. Sure thing as soon as folks stop posting unsolicited and unwanted "advice" and just answer the question or move along to the next thread. But hey, at least you have a link to your website so one can at least see how credible your responses are...thanks for that. I have no problem taking criticism, or advice from those that have demonstrated their credibility to do so.....(even if you call me an ass ) .....but I have a huge problem with folks spouting off without posting their qualifications for doing so...at least via their own websites. Anonymous critiques are usually not worth much. Its ALWAYS better to consider the source, for better or worse so to speak
p.2 #12 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
Brad Barr wrote:
another terrific response from someone that has no link to any of their own work....consider the source. Its a pretty good strategy for these sorts of things....again...just looking for a simple answer to a simple question, not all the unsolicited advice on how to run MY business....the one that is full time...and has fed my family and paid my mortgage for the last 12+ years...from someone without a shred of documentation online at all....not even your name...your email...your website...just some made up name here. Hmmmmmmmm At least have the guts to put your own name on your wonderful posts.
My work is on here, and I am not a pro, just a second shooter who likes working with and learning from some of the awesome photographers on here. You are not in their league.
I bet you would have gotten quite a bit of help by now if you had approached things better.
p.2 #13 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
yeah, you're right SLO...or whatever your name really is..my work sucks, always has. Unimaginable I've made it so long in this business.
But go back and read the first post. It was a simple question. I didnt ask for any of the other crap that has been dropped on this thread. In NO way did I even intimate that I wanted "help" with my business model....or my client offerings..not that any of the "advisers" actually have a clue as to what those offerings already are....instead THEY just ignored the original question and postulated how stupid the idea was in the first place, and how I should rethink my business....yeah...thats gonna make anyone real happy to hear....esp someone who is a proven full time wedding pro.
I am not a pro, just a second shooter
Amazingly......I already figured as much. Nothing wrong with that mind you, just that you, in that position should not be trying to advise those who do this every day for a living....sorry mate
p.2 #14 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
Brad Barr wrote:
yeah, you're right SLO...or whatever your name really is..my work sucks, always has. Unimaginable I've made it so long in this business.
But go back and read the first post. It was a simple question. I didnt ask for any of the other crap that has been dropped on this thread. In NO way did I even intimate that I wanted "help" with my business model....or my client offerings..not that any of the "advisers" actually have a clue as to what those offerings already are....instead THEY just ignored the original question and postulated how stupid the idea was in the first place, and how I should rethink my business....yeah...thats gonna make anyone real happy to hear....esp someone who is a proven full time wedding pro.
Amazingly......I already figured as much. Nothing wrong with that mind you, just that you, in that position should not be trying to advise those who do this every day for a living....sorry mate...Show more →
Hey, I am not the one swinging my ego around...
And btw, I never gave you advice on your business, just to stop being a dick around here. Which is still good advice
p.2 #17 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
You asked a question...got a few responses...you added more comments...a reasonable conversation began with others asking questions in order to possibly help you out...you copped an attitude and talked about how great you are...others returned the attitude...you crossed fully into douche territory.
p.2 #18 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
Joel, I probably did bristle a bit.....not saying I didnt. Hope you can understand why.
That one is also on the list/link I posted quite a while ago....I know folks who used them and were not too happy. But thanks just the same for the link. (see it wasnt that hard to actually just answer the request after all was it)
Sorry to all of you if I came across as a dick.....again, just wanted to find essentially what I just lost...nothing more, nothing less. Its not that big a deal...but seemed a worthwhile request in case someone actually had a solution (like the original find) which also came from a forum....although not this one.
p.2 #19 · Need new proofing lab! Mine just closed its doors
even Costco/Sam's Club (around here) charge 19+ cents per proof. Cheapest I know of. Have a friend that "gangs up" 4 proofs per 10x12 sheet and uses Adorama - don't know the cost, but seems like xtra work cutting all apart. We've been 'proofless' for 7 yrs. - have proofs as an 'add on' - never sold any. GL. ED K.
