PhotoReflect

ShepsMom

Anyone using them?
https://www.photoreflect.com/

What your experience, fees, etc. I really like that you can set package/coupons/discounts, etc.

Angelo

no fulfillment on their end? no thanks, no way.

Sam

Angelo wrote:

no fulfillment on their end? no thanks, no way.

Angelo,

Just for grins I took a gander at their site, and they do offer fulfillment. Depending on your point of view you might even see their way an advantage. You can choose between a list of labs, and personally I like the ability for self fulfillment.

That said I will when the stars align, be getting a Smugmug account.

Smugmug is one of those rare companies that when you get a peak behind the curtain it becomes even more impressive.

(I know self fulfillment is only a short time away )

Sam

rwells

I used them some of the year.

No complaints whatsoever

I know a LOT of photogs that use Photoreflect.

I was doing "self-fullfillment" though. Never used any of the labs, but, the list of independent labs is lengthy.

I now use a pro lab in Oklahoma for fullfillment, so I don't use Photoreflect at this time. (Their not on PhotoReflect's list of labs)

JDub

I used them in the past, and still have them as a backup. They have a good system.

~Jan~

I only explored this a little, but how is it something you'd need if you already have SM?

ShepsMom

Jen, SM doesn't offer package deals, that was my biggest interest in PhotoReflect.

~Jan~

ShepsMom wrote:

Jen, SM doesn't offer package deals, that was my biggest interest in PhotoReflect.

Gotcha.

jcdill

ShepsMom wrote:

Anyone using them?
https://www.photoreflect.com/

What your experience, fees, etc. I really like that you can set package/coupons/discounts, etc.

From the customer end, I hate that you can't link directly to a photo. I have friends who will ask for opinions on their horse show photos. If they link to a photoreflect site, it's a long and tortious path to get to their photos. If they link to some other site (like Smugmug, or ExposureManager which are sites I use myself) then they can link directly to their photos.

I'm much less likely to go thru the bother of finding my friend's photos when they are on photoreflect. This barrier to easiy locating the photos has to impact photo sales.

Here is one of my horse show galleries on ExposureManger

One of the featuers on EM that I really love is that you can upload proofs in folders (via FTP) and have all the folders processed into a gallery, each folder becomes a sub-gallery. Also, you can upload proofs and when a photo order comes in then upload the print-ready image. SmugMug offers something similar *except* that if you don't upload the print-ready image within 7 days they will send the order to the printer using your proof image! They say they do this for the customer's convenience but I've had times when it's taken a few days more than 7 days for me to process a large batch of orders and that would have been a disaster with Smugmug but was no problem with ExposureManager. This is the primary reason why my event photos are all on EM instead of SM.

If you want to sign-up with EM let me know and I'll get you a coupon code. They have a free trial - it's either 7 or 15 days I forget which, but you have to use the coupon when you create the account to get the coupon credit.

EM also offers coupons and vouchers for customers, self fulfilment, digital file downloads to customers, and they recently rolled out a new pricesheet system for pricing, making it easier to have different price sheets for different types of photos - e.g. one pricesheet for weddings, another price sheet for kids sports. It is the best system for event phtotographers that I've seen.

jc

ShepsMom

Thanks JC, i signed up with them few weeks ago, there is no fee for signing up and i uploaded few shots. I'm debating wheather to continue with them or not . I can't figure out their pricing system, what do they get out of sale? 3%? That's what i thought.
Another thing, from what i understand, you have to chose your own lab and you have to sign up for the lab? Is it correct?
I like the convenience of SM in that department, but no package deals. I'm working on creating my own at this point.

~Jan~

ShepsMom wrote:

Thanks JC, i signed up with them few weeks ago, there is no fee for signing up and i uploaded few shots. I'm debating wheather to continue with them or not . I can't figure out their pricing system, what do they get out of sale? 3%? That's what i thought.
Another thing, from what i understand, you have to chose your own lab and you have to sign up for the lab? Is it correct?
I like the convenience of SM in that department, but no package deals. I'm working on creating my own at this point.

Just do what I do and order the SM prints yourself, repackage, and have the client pick them up from you. I feel that client/photographer connection when receiving the prints is important!

ShepsMom

I agree Jen, that's what my plan is for 2008

natephoto

I did a lot of research on photo gallery hosting/printing sites before getting a smugmug pro account. Some came close, and a found a lot of good hosting sites including shutterfly, photoreflect, backprint, webshots, snapfish, flickr, picasa, and fotki. (I know I'm still missing a few and one big one like photoreflect which I can't remember... Smugmug seems to be much more reliable and responsible when it comes to printing and drop-shipping my photos. I like the smugmug interface better for customers to use. I think that it is easier and simpler to use, leading to better sales results.

Also, when I was looking, photoreflect had limited mac compatibility. I'm not sure if this is still the case. I would have needed virtual pc just to control galleries and orders. Smugmug integrates almost perfectly with the mac.

Advantage = Smugmug.com !

Nate
SuperSnapshots.com

ShepsMom

Thanks Nate for reply, i don't think i'm going to use them. I just hope that SM planning some packages deals for 2008!!