What Photo Labs products would you recommend

mrpbnm

Senior Member
What Photo Labs and/or products would you recommend for a new Family and Portrait photography business? I am just getting started and do not have a studio. I haven't set my packages and pricing up yet. But I know that I'll have to buy prints and other products from somewhere. Who do you recommend? They must have good quality and reasonable prices.

Thanks,
Phil
 

mrpbnm

Senior Member
Thanks guys, I will check out Nations. Rick, I haven't done any work yet. I am a corporate photographer/videographer. I take photos for internal communications for a large corporation. Of course, none of the work is mine. I just started taking photos for my portfolio, so there is not much in it. Phillip Banks Photography I am seeking clients now.


Edit to say: I just looked at both of your web sites and am awed. Beautiful does not do it justice. Rick, your work is breathtaking! I have a lot to learn...
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
Thanks Phil! Looks like you are well on your way with wedding/portraiture, nice work! Nations runs a lot of good sales and the quality is excellent. Since I primarily sell art prints, I stock up during sales to keep costs down. It is a bit more difficult doing portraits/events since you are subject to current prices. Even at full price, Nations is quite reasonable and a 500% markup over print cost is still competitive. I've never had a quality issue and they print on Kodak Endura paper. They do tend to roll prints 16x20 and larger, so I make it a point to request they do not roll prints for shipping (I hate trying to mount or frame a large print which has been rolled).
 

Krs_2007

Senior Member
Yes at least get on their email list, I get weekly sales. I got one this week for 1.44 8x10's. They did another one 1.00 a few months back.

thanks on the comments, Rick does a lot more scenery than I do. Not that I don't want to but I stay busy enough with sports right now. I need to update my portfolio again.

You have some good work as well and like the website. Stick around, there is some great talent on this site and not a lot BS like on other sites.

Look forward to seeing more of your work.
 

TedG954

Senior Member
Adorama does a very good job. There prices are so good, it costs more for shipping an 11X14 that the cost of printing. The prints are very good.



Addendum...... I just checked that Nations site, and I'll be trying them next time. Thanks.
 
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mrpbnm

Senior Member
Thanks all for the kind welcome, comments and Lab recommendations. It will take some work to see prices at Mpix Pro, but I checked out all three recommended labs and like what I see. I think I should keep my product offerings simple, at least to start. But there are so many to choose from...
 

cbg

Senior Member
Second on Nations Photo. I received my first order from them yesterday and the prints were absolutely great. The first upload to them got corrupted somehow and they called me as soon as the discovered the problem and had me resubmit the file. This was Wednesday morning, the prints arrived yesterday well packaged so there was no damage. I've used a couple of other labs, and the print quality and colors are better than some of the others and the prices are great.
 

briansullivan

Senior Member
Hello Phil,

Good luck on your new adventure!

Having recently found and joined this great group, I hate to self-promote, but, I think it may help you and others.
I started in 1975 and have not only shot many weddings, but, have worked and managed many photo labs in the Boston area. I started a printing side business as I really could not find a service that resembled the old fashioned pro labs of the eighties. Especially a smaller, niche service that gets to know the shooters and becomes in sense, they're partner. I print all the shots personally.
APPROMO14
I look at some of these prices and cannot believe they are much more than quick machine prints. So, I started archival-photos.com. I use Epson printers, paper and ink, and focus on the 16 x X and under sizes. They are pigment inks, and last for generations. A selling point for wedding prints in my opinion, and can provide a niche in your marketing. Yes, they cost more, but, our customers feel it is worth it for those special shots.

We just re-launched the site and are offering a discount of 25% until 12/1/2014. Use promo code APPROMO14. I am working on building in a discount based on the number of images ordered, but, that may take a little bit to work out the bugs.

I appreciate any feedback and suggestions, as well as any questions.

Again, good luck!

Brian
 

brent.mel72

Senior Member
I am pretty new also to the portrait and family photography. I have 3 Labs that I have delt with. Miller's photo is better than Nations for quick turn around time. They have free overnight. They are around the same price as nations. Great quality photos too. Just my 2 cents.
 
I am pretty new also to the portrait and family photography. I have 3 Labs that I have delt with. Miller's photo is better than Nations for quick turn around time. They have free overnight. They are around the same price as nations. Great quality photos too. Just my 2 cents.

Just checked them out. Not real happy with them. You have to have an account to even see their prices. I don't like giving away information just to see if I want to use their lab.
 

briansullivan

Senior Member
Just checked them out. Not real happy with them. You have to have an account to even see their prices. I don't like giving away information just to see if I want to use their lab.

I agree. No way am I going to sign up to see if I may use them or not. I don't buy the "protect our professionals" statement.
We did a usability study on a client who also does large format printing, and that was a biggy. What are the prices/shipping.
Why I have that on my site.

Brian
 
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