Good online printing service? (And general printing questions! :))

[SpottySocks]

Think I posted somewhere else a couple of days ago I'm looking to dip my toe into Portrait photography. I have everything ready to go just wondering now about the printing part of it! I have a some friends and family lined up who are willing to help me get my portfolio up and running and have agreed to be my models for a photoshoot.

Do you recommend any good online printing companies that I could use to process the images?

Profit-wise, when I start selling prints, are there any online companies I could use to print the images and put a bit extra on top of charges so I could make a profit too? Or do you recommend I scrap this idea and buy my own printer? But then, what printer would produce good quality photos? I've been looking at the Canon PIXMA IX6550 Printer, understand ink can be expensive and wondering if it is worth it or something else?

Back to the online companies, anyone know what Snapfish is like?

ANY advice regarding printing I would highly appreciate. :) :)

[paulmag]

http://www.photography-forum.org/vB.Sponsors/link.php?f=61

http://www.peak-imaging.com/

[balami]

I have used PhotoBox for years, and they are reliable and competitive. You need to make sure that you set the cropping before ordering as the default isn't always what you'd want.

[Max 1]

Yes, I can vouch for Photobox. I think they produced some of the most impressive prints so far. They only accept JPG files at the moment and as they're an 'off the shelf' service, unlike Professional printers, there isn't a guy sat at the end to talk to or any calibration options, besides their defaults which you could request if you really wanted to know. I would be looking at a more professional service if you are a professional though. Photobox are good quality, but a lot of their marketing, if not all, applies to consumers and "SPECIAL OFFERS" etc.

Spottysocks,
I would definitely conduct research and plenty of it. Never take a leap or jump the gun with something like this.

Advantages to self printings
Convenience - Instant
Fast - you don't have to wait
Control - you have full control over the printing process

If you are less technically minded and just wanted to concentrate on the photography side of it, then leaving the job to a professional printers would be good.

If you are running a regular service, then self printing is good, but if you were only looking to print occasionally, an external printing service would be better.