Best online photo fulfillment service? Smugmug, Collages, etc.?

<p>Dear all,<br>

I've searched all forums for information, and the newest post involving Smugmug is from 2008, so I hope you don't mind my posting here. I figured folks in the business forum would have the best point of view. I'm wondering what the best online photo fulfillment service is, and I'll give you some backstory to make my question more clear.<br>

I'm a former amateur who has just opened a vanity business. By that, I mean that I have a legitimate LLC that I don't care if I make money with--I just want access to pro goodies and I'm trying to make beautiful photographs.<br>

I photography mostly children and pets and supplement a few weddings. Most of these shots become gifts for friends and family, and I've been asked to start hiring out.<br>

I previously printed photos with Winkflash.com. Their prices were very reasonable to send out prints to my large Irish Catholic family. However, I think that a professional printer really ought to help take my work to the next level--that and a lot of learning, etc. I've subscribed to Professional Photographer and I checked out what my pro friends and my own wedding photographer use, and I'm considering Smugmug and Collages.net.<br>

I'm interested in an online photo fulfullment service because I am not interested in getting packs of photos and then repackaging them to be sent out to dozens of folks. I'd like the website to take care of that for me. I would also like them to be able to make albums, although I am currently doing about six a year and can deal with those separately if need be. I would like a very wide catalog, and I would like it to not be horrifically expensive, as this is a hobby, but money isn't the number one consideration.<br>

What service do you advise? Thanks much for any help.<br>

~Angela</p>

 

<p>I use Photoshelter and I've been very happy with them. It connects with my PayPal account. I upload full res images and send the gallery link out, clients order prints, pay w/ credit or debit card, money goes straight into my PayPal account, Photoshelter has the prints printed and shipped out directly to the client and Photoshelter charges my PayPal account for the printing and shipping charges. You can also sell JPEG's through the site.<br>

A basic account is $9.99 a month + 10% of sales.<br>

More expensive accounts there allow you to customize your gallery pages, so you can seamlessly integrate it into your existing website.<br>

The only thing they don't offer that I wish they did would be coupon codes. I want to be able to generate one-time-use codes for clients that will cover things like pre-paid prints.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.mpix.com">www.mpix.com</a></p>

<p>I use mpix for all my printing ( gallery warps, books, greeting cards, and so on) there turn around is good and prices are fair. I also created a website throw zenfolio and i am able to use mpix for my printing. here is a link to my site to see the layout that zenfoilio can provide.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.coloradowildphotography.com">www.coloradowildphotography.com </a><br>

Thomas</p>

<p >Angela, no matter where you are located, if you looking for truly pro services, all you name and more, I can recommend this place: <a href="http://www.reedyphoto.com/">http://www.reedyphoto.com/</a></p>

<p >Not that I working there myself, but most pro photo organizations and photo community can back me up. Call me or email me, and we send you all info: <a href="mailto:Rudy@reedyphoto.com">Rudy@reedyphoto.com</a></p>

<p>A lot of professional photographers are starting to use using white house http://www.whcc.com/<br>

I also get good results with Burrell http://www.burrellcolourimaging.com/<br>

And for cost effective good service its hard to beat ACI http://www.acilab.com/<br>

They all offer pretty much the same stuff, its often a good idea to find one that is somewhat close to your studio that way your turn around on prints will only be a day or two. These three are all pretty much located around the center of the country so depending on where you live you should be able find something close. You might try looking for and joining a local chapter of ppa, all the local vendors usually hang out at them.</p>

<p>I use Zenfolio for my online photo fullfillment. They are partnered with mpix as well as a couple other vendors. They offer shipping directly to the customer. You can add custom products to your catalogue that aren't offered by zenfolio directly. http://www.zenfolio.com/ is their main site. You can view my zenfolio site at http://photos.starloft.com/ If you decide to use them, please use my referral code: 38S-DPW-85U to save $5. <br /> </p>

<p>While I may be biased because I work there, you might want to check <a href="http://www.fotomoto.com">Fotomoto</a> for some of your needs. If you're primarily doing weddings at this time, our services may not have everything you need (feedback is always appreciated).</p>