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more by trisch84

Photo Prints: Need Advice!

posted 3 years ago in Photography
poll: Honestly, if I had my digital negatives on CD, I would...
Still order through ALL my prints through my photographer : (1 votes)

20 %

Order almost all of my prints through my photographer-recommended professional photo lab : (2 votes)

40 %

Order some of my prints through pro lab and others at Wal-Mart : (1 votes)

20 %

Order almost all of my non-heirloom prints through Wal-Mart : (1 votes)

20 %

5 votes

Member

48 posts

Newbee

trisch84 10-10-2009 Columbus, OH

My friend is starting to do wedding photography and needs advice about what we brides want for photo printing options. I am only one person, so I need some help from you guys!

Would you rather have a small portrait print package with a of your digital negatives OR would you rather order through your photographer?

If your photographer gave you a CD with your digital negatives and offered photo printing at wholesale cost from a professional lab that is preloaded with your proofs for you after you purchasing your digital files - would you utilize the professional lab to make sure you achieved maximum quality or would you go to Wal-Mart?

A note about quality: The color and calibration of her proofs are calibrated to the pro lab, but the Wal-Mart lab does not match her calibration and is not as high of quality.

A note about cost: The cost of prints at the pro lab is 40 cents for a 4x6 and 70 cents for die-cut wallets in sets of 4. So, the pro option is not super-expensive.

What would you bees do?

3 years ago

Bee

852 posts

Busy bee

balletflat May 23, 2009

I would get some pro prints. These are your wedding pictures, after all, and you can definitely notice a difference between, say, Wal-Mart and websites like mpix.com. :)

3 years ago

Member

48 posts

Newbee

trisch84 10-10-2009 Columbus, OH

I definitely agree.

3 years ago

Member

48 posts

Newbee

trisch84 10-10-2009 Columbus, OH

Hey guys, I added the poll so you can get your vote on! Thanks again!

3 years ago

Member

1,296 posts

Bumble bee

fizicsGirl 8/1/2009 Michigan

I voted, but I'm not sure that any category exactly matched my preference.

To me, getting a package that included high res, PS-ed digital versions of all the prints was a big priority. I emphasize PS-ed (not just automated colorbalancing). I paid a substantial extra for that, and I think it's worth it. My photographer won't touch up every single image, but those that he does I would like to keep the touched up version.

For myself, I probably wouldn't ever print them at Wal-Mart or similar drugstore quality, but possibly another lab that I trust which may be cheaper than the photographer's recommendation. I will also still order some of the nicer prints (esp. enlargements) that I want from the photographer's lab/studio, since esp. for the enlargements I would expect them to take care to make sure the printing comes out exactly right.

BTW, I'm also ordering a pro-album, so I will probably want fewer prints overall than someone who doesn't get one.

3 years ago