Anyone using Smugmug for their wedding prints ?

Dave Clee

I am considering moving my wedding prints to online via the
smugmug print option for each gallery. Seems like it would be so
much easier to have the bride and groom plus all of the family and friends
order the print directly and have it shipped to them.
But I have a few questions.

- Not sure about print quality, is anyone else using them for wedding prints ?
- Being in Canada, I am concerned about the time it takes for the order to
get to the client. Does Smugmug ship to Canada and if so what is the ETA? Is there any customs info that needs to be filled out ?
- Is anyone out there using Smugmug for wedding prints and if so what has your experience been like..Are you happy ?
- Is there a custom printer profile I need to use ?

I am getting to the point where I would like to minimize the effort it is taking me to get the prints done here and having the client order and pay online would be great if it works well.

Looking for some feedback.

Cheers

Dave

slpollett

SmugMug print quality is excellent for their regular service. You now also have the option to have the prints come from an alternate vendor--Bay Photo (I think). It costs a little bit more, but I've heard the quality is top notch. What I've read from other posts is that you probably want to choose that one for wedding photos.

The print orders are filled and shipped very quickly to US addresses. I'm sorry I can't answer about Canadian addresses.

Sherry

Dave Clee

Thanks Sherry, anyone canadians out there using this service ?? Curious as to how long it takes.

Cheers

Dave

slpollett wrote:

SmugMug print quality is excellent for their regular service. You now also have the option to have the prints come from an alternate vendor--Bay Photo (I think). It costs a little bit more, but I've heard the quality is top notch. What I've read from other posts is that you probably want to choose that one for wedding photos.

The print orders are filled and shipped very quickly to US addresses. I'm sorry I can't answer about Canadian addresses.

Sherry

Ann McRae

Hi David

Well, I am in Edmonton, so I think I count!

I have placed orders from both EZPrints and Bay Photo. I have experimented with the different shipping options.

First, don't worry at all about print quality. Both labs make great prints. They have slightly different product lists and Bay does color correction by hand whereas EZP has automated color correction. Print quality is awesome.

Shipping - well, I have decided that I value a tracking number for my shipments! I use the International Economy option rather than the Air Mail option. With International Economy, prints are delivered by FedEx (EZP) or UPS (Bay), with tracking numbers and without additional brokerage or customs fees. My experience is that the packages arrive in 2 to 3 days. As well, the additional cost is usually about $10. From my perspective, that is $10 well spent.

Air Mail relies on USPS, Canada Customs and then Canada Post......I don't think I need to elaborate on why that can take a while!


Holler if you have any other questions!

ann

Dave Clee

Ann, thanks for taking the time to reply. That definitely helps me with deciding to do it or not.

Cheers

Dave

Ann McRae wrote:

Hi David

Well, I am in Edmonton, so I think I count!

I have placed orders from both EZPrints and Bay Photo. I have experimented with the different shipping options.

First, don't worry at all about print quality. Both labs make great prints. They have slightly different product lists and Bay does color correction by hand whereas EZP has automated color correction. Print quality is awesome.

Shipping - well, I have decided that I value a tracking number for my shipments! I use the International Economy option rather than the Air Mail option. With International Economy, prints are delivered by FedEx (EZP) or UPS (Bay), with tracking numbers and without additional brokerage or customs fees. My experience is that the packages arrive in 2 to 3 days. As well, the additional cost is usually about $10. From my perspective, that is $10 well spent.

Air Mail relies on USPS, Canada Customs and then Canada Post......I don't think I need to elaborate on why that can take a while!


Holler if you have any other questions!

ann

Snowgirl

from the Maritimes
Hi Dave. I'm in beautiful downtown Smiths Creek, New Brunswick - on the distant east coast from Ann. I've been using SM's print services for over a year now and have discovered a couple of things as far as shipping to Canada goes:

Ann's found the solution. I ordered packages using the regular airmail method and it took FOREVER - the hangup was Canadian customs. The package sat in brokerage for a long time. Not SmugMug's fault nor the processor's. It wasn't really even UPS's fault - although they didn't help matters much.

For clients the problems (complaints) I had was that for small orders, the shipping costs were too high and the exchange on the US currency (now that there's a significant gap again) is a real issue.

One way around it is to amass your orders and do a bulk buy yourself - one shipping fee; one delivery - you then separate and deliver to your clients.

I've looked at a couple of Canadian suppliers but haven't tried any yet. As for the quality from SM's printers - excellent. But beware of the auto colour adjustment feature. I had one toddler / gramma picture come back a delightful shade of blue and when I checked my original RAW it didn't match. To save time and frustration for the client (they'd been waiting a long time for the pic.) I had it re-done at a local lab at my expense - and the client was happy - much better for business but expensive and a PITA.

Snowgirl

Your site
PS: had a look at your site. Nice work!

Dave Clee

Thanks SG, your email regarding the services, its exactly what I needed to hear. My goal for using SM was to basically upload all of the wedding photos online and from there friends and family of the B&G could order directly. It would of saved me having to mess around with the small orders here and there...4X6's 5X7's 8X10's etc. I will always take care of the B&G prints, but was hoping to eliminate the other stuff. Sounds like if one of their friends wanted to order 1 or 2 4X6's from the site, it could take awhile and cost them more $$ b/c of the extra shipping charge and US conversion. So that doesnt really work. If the work around is me having to amass the big order and send it out, then I may as well stick to what I am doing right now. At least I know the print order will be back in a few days.

Thanks again.

Dave

Snowgirl wrote:

PS: had a look at your site. Nice work!

smurfy

I use smugmug (EZ prints) for weddings- I color correct before uploads, and pick "true" instead of "auto" for color, so don't really see a need to use Bay photo. Smugmug says they chose them over other equally excellent labs due to the packaging being the best, and to give pros of choice for color correction if they don't do it themselves. I'll try them soon just to see the packaging. Smugmug's prints via EZ prints are fabulous, and clients are very pleased with them. They ship very quickly and the quality is amazing! I restrict the shopping cart to Lustre, so no glossies on cheaper paper can be purchased for wedding prints.

I'm in NY state and can't comment on the Canada shipping.


http://godburnphotos.smugmug.com/

Dave Clee

Thanks, I think if I was in the States it would be a no brainer.

Cheers

Dave

smurfy wrote:

I use smugmug (EZ prints) for weddings- I color correct before uploads, and pick "true" instead of "auto" for color, so don't really see a need to use Bay photo. Smugmug says they chose them over other equally excellent labs due to the packaging being the best, and to give pros of choice for color correction if they don't do it themselves. I'll try them soon just to see the packaging. Smugmug's prints via EZ prints are fabulous, and clients are very pleased with them. They ship very quickly and the quality is amazing! I restrict the shopping cart to Lustre, so no glossies on cheaper paper can be purchased for wedding prints.

I'm in NY state and can't comment on the Canada shipping.


http://godburnphotos.smugmug.com/

BPerron

I have heard good things about smugmug's print quality, however I think and agree with Zack Arias it is not the best or most flattering name to have associated with your business....

cwphotos

I use smugmug for my main site and for image orders and it has been nothing short of awesome. Check out my site in my signature if you want to see my implementation.