Would like to offer two sizes BayPhoto offers

Model Maker

I would like to only use Bay Photo for print fulfillment. I also only want to use two aspect ratios with no cropping allowed (4:5 and 3:4). Actors and Bands will want 4:5 aspect 8x10's and in my area the industry standard for models is 3:4 aspect 9x12's. This is the only two formats I deliver. I see Bay Photo offers 9x12 ratios on their website but it's not listed as an option on Smugmug. (9x12's are $4.25 color corrected and $29 for 18x24's on BayPhoto.com) Are their two sizes available through Smugmug?

EZprints offers 9x12's ,but I can't count on their automated color correction nor can I afford to buy myself prints to check their accuracy. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I hate to use my smugmug account until it expires as only a front end and have to deliver prints myself. Thanks for any suggestions.
9x12 and 8x10 only.
..gary (and I'm in Austin)

Andy

Hi, I'll see about adding them, could you put your request here please? http://smugmug.uservoice.com thanks!

Robpendragon

is this ever going to happen? Going to another printing company is a huge pain. My customers are not too happy either. If they offer 9x12 on their site why not here?

Model Maker

9x12 would be nice since i only offer 9x12 and 8x10
Bay Photo offers 9x12 prints, guess the waiting for the option from Smugmug will be for forever.

Andy

Model Maker wrote: »

guess the waiting for the option from Smugmug will be for forever.

Not forever. We'll get it done.

Robpendragon

Still waiting... my clients & models are still waiting any chance we can get this done! Someone is really asleep at the wheel here!

SamirD

You're going to need some votes to make this higher priority. Here's a link where to vote:
http://feedback.smugmug.com/forums/17723-smugmug/suggestions/420629-offer-9x12-s-through-bay-photo-like-they-offer-on?ref=title

Andy

SamirD wrote: »

You're going to need some votes to make this higher priority. Here's a link where to vote:
http://feedback.smugmug.com/forums/17723-smugmug/suggestions/420629-offer-9x12-s-through-bay-photo-like-they-offer-on?ref=title

Nah, more votes not necessary We'll get it done, don't worry.

SamirD

Andy wrote: »

Nah, more votes not necessary We'll get it done, don't worry.

Oh okay. Good to know.

Robpendragon

Any chance this will be done by the end of the month?

thaKing

asking for any sort of timeframe from SM is wasting your breath...they won't tell you anything about timelines - just their policy...

SamirD

But it doesn't hurt to ask.

Hinson

Andy; This might be a really dumb question, but why not offer all the sizes and products that Bay offers. Unless I'm wrong, once the size/price is plugged into the system, everything else (purchase/data sent to Bay/fulfillment) is handled by the computer. And having the full catalog would increase sales and the bottom line which is why SM exists in the first place.

Andy

thaKing wrote: »

asking for any sort of timeframe from SM is wasting your breath...they won't tell you anything about timelines - just their policy...

We're getting closer.... stay tuned.

Andy

Hinson wrote: »

Andy; This might be a really dumb question, but why not offer all the sizes and products that Bay offers. Unless I'm wrong, once the size/price is plugged into the system, everything else (purchase/data sent to Bay/fulfillment) is handled by the computer. And having the full catalog would increase sales and the bottom line which is why SM exists in the first place.

There are many sizes that are really true specialty size and the cost & complication of adding them in the UI needs to be evaluated. Thanks!

Hinson

Thanks for the prompt response.

Robpendragon

Andy wrote: »

There are many sizes that are really true specialty size and the cost & complication of adding them in the UI needs to be evaluated. Thanks!

Don't take this the wrong way Andy but I see a few Pro sizes & lots of useless garbage.
I pay for for Pro services & get no pro sizes...
My models need prints not mouse pads & coasters.
Maybe they can group up the novelty stuff into one section for people who need ....well, junk & the professional prints (in pro sizes) into a section that professional photographers have been paying for. I really see no reason for the delay...I also wrote to Bay Photos to get on the ball about this discrepancy with the handling of this matter.
This has no reason to continue like this.
Rest assured my research into finding a new site to carry my business is well on it's way.

Andy

Robpendragon wrote: »

Don't take this the wrong way Andy but I see a few Pro sizes & lots of useless garbage.
I pay for for Pro services & get no pro sizes...
My models need prints not mouse pads & coasters.
Maybe they can group up the novelty stuff into one section for people who need ....well, junk & the professional prints (in pro sizes) into a section that professional photographers have been paying for. I really see no reason for the delay...I also wrote to Bay Photos to get on the ball about this discrepancy with the handling of this matter.
This has no reason to continue like this.
Rest assured my research into finding a new site to carry my business is well on it's way.

OK Rob, so specifically what additional sizes do you want?

Robpendragon

Andy wrote: »

OK Rob, so specifically what additional sizes do you want?

The size we have been talking about in this thread is 9x12

Andy

Robpendragon wrote: »

The size we have been talking about in this thread is 9x12

That is being added It just takes us some time (I know, too long).

Robpendragon

Andy wrote: »

That is being added It just takes us some time (I know, too long).

thanks Andy for putting up with us. It saves a lot of work & headaches. I'm just surprised it's been so long. It's an industry standard, models can't walk into a clients office without that size print (NY & CA anyway).
Models portfolio 9x12 photo size came from the European fashion magazine layout & has been the standard for awhile.
It will be a huge help if a model can order a print right through my SM site.
Thanks

Hinson

Robpendragon wrote: »

Don't take this the wrong way Andy but I see a few Pro sizes & lots of useless garbage.
I pay for for Pro services & get no pro sizes...

Rob; I think you're being a bit unfair here. I shot professionally for over 40 years before my retirement and never once sold a 9x12, nor was I asked for one. You are addressing a need for a specific niche market.

Yes, as I mention above, it would be nice if SM offered the full Bay or EZP catalog of sizes but I'm sure there are financial reasons for not doing so and after all, they are a 'for-profit' business. However, they do offer almost every pro size (and consumer size) in use today with the exception of the 9x12.

As for the mousepads, mugs, etc., they may be 'useless garbage' to you but they are an additional sale for many of us.

Hinson

WinsomeWorks

Hinson wrote: »

Rob; I think you're being a bit unfair here. I shot professionally for over 40 years before my retirement and never once sold a 9x12, nor was I asked for one. You are addressing a need for a specific niche market.

Yes, as I mention above, it would be nice if SM offered the full Bay or EZP catalog of sizes but I'm sure there are financial reasons for not doing so and after all, they are a 'for-profit' business. However, they do offer almost every pro size (and consumer size) in use today with the exception of the 9x12.

As for the mousepads, mugs, etc., they may be 'useless garbage' to you but they are an additional sale for many of us.

Hinson

The 9X12 is not a niche market at all! And it really is a pain that it's offered through one service but not the other. I always have to remember this when deciding which service to place a gallery with. The problem is, 9x12 is full-frame for the 3:4 format, and there's not much else that IS full-frame. So this is a highly important size if selling prints from a camera w/ 3:4. If you look at stock agencies, it's a common size for that reason. I had a hard time believing we offered it through EZ but not Bay...seems rather upside-down, and yet that is indeed the case. I'd be SOOo thrilled if they would add it-- I could change a bunch of my galleries to Bay then... ones that should actually be with Bay for other reasons.

WinsomeWorks

Andy wrote: »

That is being added It just takes us some time (I know, too long).

Yipppeeee! I will be so thrilled when this size is added to Bay Photo orders here. Important size for me too.

Model Maker

I have been with Smugmug for 2 years and have really enjoyed much of the service, -especially direct communication with you Andy. I still cannot offer 9x12's from Bay Photo directly from this site. In my market area, this is the only size models need. Bay Photo offers 9x12's, another year has passed and they are still not available. The one and only feature I and many others need from Smugmug. It's a deal breaker. In 3 weeks, I think it is time for me to leave.

Robpendragon

Hinson wrote: »

Rob; I think you're being a bit unfair here. I shot professionally for over 40 years before my retirement and never once sold a 9x12, nor was I asked for one. You are addressing a need for a specific niche market.

Yes, as I mention above, it would be nice if SM offered the full Bay or EZP catalog of sizes but I'm sure there are financial reasons for not doing so and after all, they are a 'for-profit' business. However, they do offer almost every pro size (and consumer size) in use today with the exception of the 9x12.

As for the mousepads, mugs, etc., they may be 'useless garbage' to you but they are an additional sale for many of us.

Hinson

Really don't think I'm being "unfair" especially for a service I pay for.
The size is an industry standard for model portfolios as well as commercial fashion print magazines...not a "niche market".
I work with models almost everyday of the week & correspond with agencies in New York and L.A just to name a few.
Things also change in a span of forty years especially the ever changing world commercial photography (or photography in general) including fashion shooting trends & model requirements for portfolios.
"Keep up or get out of the way" is a common quote in this market
Maybe I was a bit harsh on the mugs & mousepads, god knows you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a company that prints those.

SamirD

Robpendragon wrote: »

...you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a company that prints those.

Model Maker

I have to offer what my clients want or go out of business. Good quality prints from only Bay Photo, in mostly 9x12's. It's has been over a year since I posted my first concern of this and i just can't justify staying on. I am on the search for another provider who can deliver pro 9x12 prints on my behalf. I'd love to stay but it looks like I will be gone by year's end.

Andy

Model Maker wrote: »

I'd love to stay but it looks like I will be gone by year's end.

you won't have to go. We've been working on this. I'm sorry that somethings look to you to take eons and with no indication on our side that something's actually happening. But there are many things that happen: adding the items to the catalog, placing test orders, verifying that all works well at the lab, making sure that we can add the items to the live catalog and pricing structure (at $0 for all pros, so they don't show up for sale unless you specifically price them). It's not trivial. But the good news for you (and all who want this) is that we're nearly done!

Model Maker

Thanks, andy. I know it's not trivial. What's the ETA (roughly) on 9x12's from Bay Photo? I just may stay if it's real soon and I know lot's of other customers that photograph models will be happier, too.

Andy

Model Maker wrote: »

Thanks, andy. I know it's not trivial. What's the ETA (roughly) on 9x12's from Bay Photo? I just may stay if it's real soon and I know lot's of other customers that photograph models will be happier, too.

Too many things can happen in our world, so we don't give ETAs. I'm just telling you we've done everything we need to do to add them and we're at the final stages. Thanks.