stephanie_blankenship

I, like Mark, went through Costco for my procesing. I paid $179 for the software and I pay either $20 a month or like 2%.

My sales really increased once I started accepting credit cards. I would say that my average sale ahs increased by at least 25% and maybe 30%.

I have never had a problem with my custimers charging me back. I had to establish a policy for refunds with the processor at the start and as far as I know that is what they go by when a claim is filed against you. To see if your policy has been followed. Like I said I have never had a problem but that is what they told me when I had to give them a refund policy statement.

Steph

I use General Products software for their Digital Vision Collection. The great thing is that I can offer GP's album or print the 10x10 s at my local lab and use the I-Mount system from Art Leather for a less expensive version of the album. Check it out. The software IS a little pricey - $250. They apply $50 toward your first album order. I really like the software - it is all PS layers and everything is customizable. There are over 300 templates. I use it for senior albums and for baby books as well if I have taken the babie's newborn, 3, 6 9 and12 months portraits. Parents and Brides LOVE this tyoe of thing and it is really easy to do.

Steph

I am very sorry for the apparent double post as I meant to post this

here and posted a very similar question in the Weddings Forum.

I have found a 40X 2GB Compactflash Card made by PQI for $139.00.

This seems like a great deal, but I want to make sure that this is a

decent brand and will not give me any problems. I shoot a 20D with

a 10D for backup.

Thanks in advance for your responses!

Steph

Jennifer,

I too am a wedding photographer and a full time mom to a 21 month old. I have the same challenges with maintaining an effective workflow and being a full time mommy. Here is how I do it - not that it is ANY better but it is working for me and it is something different.

I (of coarse) leave my son with his grandma the day of the wedding. He stays overnight and I pick him up late afternoon of the following day. This way I have a jump on the proofing that needs done. If this is not enough time I work for a couple more days during nap times and after bed time.

I send my proofs to printroom.com for online proofing. All the wedding guests can order from there and see all proofs. I do give the couple a proof album or a proof CD slideshow - their choice. I get their order from them that was included in the original package that they bought from me. The bride/groom are the only ones (generaly) that I take print orders from as they have already paid for them. Everyone else I refer to printroom.com with a business card that is handed out at the reception. Saves me 200 trips to the printers, shipping... all the reasons you use pictage.com.

For the album, I use General Products. Their Digital Vision Collection software is really good and make album design quick and actually enjoyable. I print the 10x10 pages for the album at my local lab and send prints into GP for binding. This is a much cheaper option than having GP print them.

This works well for me. I still have more than enough time for my son and I do not feel overwhelmed with my workflow. I have also found that the new StudiomasterPRO software is helping me to work much more effeciently. I have just started with it and REALLY like it.

Steph

I saw a 2GB compactflash card made by PQI (?) for $139.00. Before I

consider buying this I wanted to know if anyone here has had any

experience with this brand and if it is accfeptable to use. I have

a 20D and a 10D for backup. It is 40X speed.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Steph

I have both the 10D w/ grip and the 20D w/grip. I was very disappointed in the quality of the 20D grip. I have not had any problems yet though.

I do want to ask those of you that have the 20D grip - does the battery door "click" on yours? It is almost like it does not shut tightly enough. But it is functioning OK. Is this just mine or is this standard?

I expected better quality from Canon after how great the 10D grip was...

I asked this question about 2 weeks ago... here is a link to the thred.

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00AbgS

An update -

I went in to my lab for a demo today. I LOVE my lab! Anyway - The owner's son sat down with me for two hours showing me every aspect of the software. I took home the 30 day trial and so far I really LOVE IT. At my lab it is $250 one time fee for the software and there is no annual fee. I DO get reduced rates on enlargements with it as well. It literally will cut my lab fees almost in HALF so I will make up the $250 fairly quickly.

Also - and this was a really big thing to me - With Studiomaster you can print 10x10 sheets for albums. Digital or traditional - for $2.50 each. This works for your traditional mats as studiomaster has templates for them, or the new digital albums being offered by most major album manufacturers. I am sold.

I am not so sure I would have been as thrilled if it would cost me that much per year, but I am very happy with it now and how much it will streamline my workflow and increase my profit margin! :)

Steph

Thank you all for your input and help with this. I've decided to get one more 550EX and order a 580 for on camera. I will use the 2 550s for off camera.

Thanks again!

Steph

My lab - Gigantic Color in Dallas, TX - is offering Fuji's new

StudiomasterPRO 3.0 for $200. I am quite interested in it as it

slashes my lab costs and it has the new feature for a CD

presentation of proofs with music and custom backgrounds. That

alone may pay for itself.

I am curious as to whether anyone has any experience with this

software and what your opinions are of it.

Thanks!

Steph

I have been using hot lights for about 2 years during my learning

curve. I have used them for wedding formals in the past. I am

ready for strobes. I have one 550EX already and am thinking that I

could use 2 additional on stands via slave for formals. My question

is this - quite obviously the pair of 550EX flash units would be

more expensive, but there would be no power packs or AC issues and

MUCH lighter - are these adequate for group wedding formals? Or

would a set of strobes fill the need better? I am finding that

hotlights with 24" softboxes are not really fitting the bill. I am

shooting a 20D with a 10D for backup.

OR can anyone suggest a better way to use my existing equipment for

better results with a backlit (floor to ceiling windows)situation?

Thanks to everyone in advance for helping with my questions and new

learning curve.

Steph

I have had really good luck with my aftermarket batteries. I have a 10D and Santa just brought me a 20D. I have 6 of the BP-511 aftermarket batteries. I bought them on ebay for around $5 each. I have not had any problems at all and I have been using them for about 18 months. Some say that they do have battery life issues but I have been lucky.

I did go the cheap route and bought a Sigma flash last year. I used it for about 2 months and then I shelled out for the 550EX that I should have bought in the first place. I never could get a consistant exposure with the Sigma flash.

As for the cold - I live in Texas and it never really gets cold enough to have tested the cold battery time theroy here, so I can't really help you with that one.

Good Luck!

Steph

I have searched and searched for an answer to this question to no

avail.

WHY is there no infared remote shutter release available for the 10D

or 20D? In my opinion if Canon can make these for the Elan II and

Elan 7 seires of film SLRs then it should be relitively simple to do

this for the digital SLRs as well. Am I wrong?

So when - if ever - can we expect this accessory from Canon?

Thanks!

Steph

Greg,

I am in Dallas and I must use a different pro lab than you. My lab rates are great as is the quality and service. I use Photo Pros at Gigantic Color at 1201 Oak Lawn in Dallas. It is a bit of a drive for me from Terrell twice a week but it is really worth it. I must say that I get my proofs printed elsewhere, but ALL of my customer's orders and finished products are printed there.

Steph

email me if you want any more info / pricing from GC! :)

I just wanted to add that I do business with Warehouse Photographic (the above link) as they are the only Tap dealer that I can find in the Dallas area. I know from going there that thye ship out a LOT of Tap stuff. I am pretty happy with them. The only negative is that they sell SO much Tap that they are constantly low on things. This is not a propblem if you order from the catalog as they ship your stuff to you as soon as it gets to them (approx 2 weeks).

I use the tri fold type senoir folios frequently and they are really nice for not too much $$. And my clients LOVE them. I even sell these with family portraits and childrens portraits.

Steph

Thank you all! I got the Pro T yesterday and it just so happens that the camera store got a used one in the same day and I got it for $40!

Maureen - In vertival orientation the flash on mine still seems a bit to the side of the lens. How do I change it so it is centered in both orientations?

Thanks to everyone for all the advise and help! You all are GREAT!

Steph

I have a Canon 10D with the battery grip. I will be shooting my

first wedding in a little over a month and I will be buying my flash

bracket this week. I think I like the idea of the camera flipping

insetad of the flash, but I am not sure. The pro RL seems heavy and

expensive, but if that is what I need I will get it. Also, the Pro

T and Press T seem to be options, but I am a little clueless to be

honest as to what will work best for me and I need some help.

Thank you all in advance for y our assistance.

Steph