Starting to sell prints via smug printing

preemiemomxtwo · August 27, 2008

I have never sold prints from normal portrait sittings through smugmug. I just haven't felt that the quality was as nice as what I was getting from whcc or mpix. It was also a big turn off to not be able to offer die cut wallets.

I have, though, sold photos from sporting events through smug printing, and LOVED how easy it was. Eliminating collecting money and the delivery of the prints was soooo nice.

So, is there anyone willing to offer their two cents on this, if you used to print outside smugmug and have now starting printing here? Do you feel the print quality is still good enough? How big of a deal is it to clients to lose the pro look of the die cuts?

I have always been very happy with whcc and mpix, and hate to give them up, but it would be so easy to just unlock the galleries and set prices.... But I don't want unhappy clients.

Phyxius · August 27, 2008

Preemie,
Is your only quality concern with wallets? I've never purchased wallets from smugmug and I've very rarely had customers purchase wallets from me my most popular sizes range from 4x6 to 11x14, but I've been very happy with the quality of prints I've received from smugmug and I've had many repeat customers with lots of great comments regarding print/image quality.

A friend and fellow photographer purchased wallets from me and just received their order today, I'll check with them and see what they think. They're used to processing and printing most photos themselves and only recently started using Smugmug. They ordered numerous prints in various sizes including some that were taken in rather odd lighting (in the woods with scattered sunlight, lots of shadows, etc.) and they're happy with the print quality.

Have you ordered some wallets from yourself as a sort of quality control/test?

Also, just my two cents, but I remember all through school having to cut my wallets to give to friends and family. Maybe I'm finally starting to get old!

preemiemomxtwo · August 28, 2008

Phyxius wrote:

Preemie,
Is your only quality concern with wallets? I've never purchased wallets from smugmug and I've very rarely had customers purchase wallets from me my most popular sizes range from 4x6 to 11x14, but I've been very happy with the quality of prints I've received from smugmug and I've had many repeat customers with lots of great comments regarding print/image quality.

A friend and fellow photographer purchased wallets from me and just received their order today, I'll check with them and see what they think. They're used to processing and printing most photos themselves and only recently started using Smugmug. They ordered numerous prints in various sizes including some that were taken in rather odd lighting (in the woods with scattered sunlight, lots of shadows, etc.) and they're happy with the print quality.

Have you ordered some wallets from yourself as a sort of quality control/test?

Also, just my two cents, but I remember all through school having to cut my wallets to give to friends and family. Maybe I'm finally starting to get old!

Well the wallets are probably the biggest concern, because I do sell quite a few of them. My largest client group is babies - around 3 years old, and those mom like to hand out wallets, apparently! I have ordered other sizes from smug, but not wallets, I just knew they weren't die cut from reading. I will be totally honest and say that the paper quality at SM is not as nice as wcc or mpix, in my opinion. It lacks the weight theirs has.

Phyxius · August 28, 2008

preemiemomxtwo wrote:

Well the wallets are probably the biggest concern, because I do sell quite a few of them. My largest client group is babies - around 3 years old, and those mom like to hand out wallets, apparently! I have ordered other sizes from smug, but not wallets, I just knew they weren't die cut from reading. I will be totally honest and say that the paper quality at SM is not as nice as wcc or mpix, in my opinion. It lacks the weight theirs has.

Gotcha! Again, I'm not sure about the wallets, but I like the lustre finish and it's thicker paper. I have no experience with mpix so I can't compare quality, but the if I compare the lustre prints from smugmug to the prints from the local print shops smugmug quality wins.

A topic search on die cut wallets brings up many other people interested in offering this product so, hopefully it's something that may come in the future.

Starting to sell prints via smug printing

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