Customer web site?

[england1965]

Are there any plans to offer a web service for photographers to upload images so that clients can order directly from Ashton?

I currently use the Photobox pro-gallery system. So that wedding guests can order reprints directly without bothering me (pesky clients ;) )

Just curious

Cheers

Mark

[lostmysnorkel]

I prefer to handle it myself.

Two resons:

1: I get to see every print before it's sent to the client

2: It's the only time I'd see my work printed up otherwise.

3: MY products are delivered in MY packaging, not someone else's.

Ok, that's three reasons, but then 'Nobody expectsthe Spanish Inquisition!'

[Stemmy]

No its not something we will be offering in the near future.

I think it would be hugeley complicated.

[Chris Hawkins]

Ok, that's three reasons, but then 'Nobody expectsthe Spanish Inquisition!'

LOL

[england1965]

Ok, that's three reasons, but then 'Nobody expectsthe Spanish Inquisition!'

3 good reasons - and mainly the reasons I was thinking of bringing it "in house" in the future. But of course ...'He's not the Messiah ..he's a very naughty boy'.

[BarryM]

Hi Mark, i subscribed to that but then on thinking and playing around, what stops the customer when ordering prints from photobox via ur gallery, navigating a couple of pages away and seeing the true cost price your paying. That was what put me off especially in this day and age where people thing the photographer only takes a pic and prints it like any fool could do.

[england1965]

That was the thing that put me off. Coming back to the "percieved" value of what we produce. It does get tiresome having to explain why I don't charge 15p for a 7x5.

I like the idea of more control - just dislike the idea of having to manually process all the orders.

Cheers

Mark

[tibet]

The Photobox quality is also not of a professional standard IMHO. Often prints are badly cut and the colours aren't faithfull to the original. I use them for my family piccies but no chance I would give prints from Photobox to my customers!
If you create a gallery in your website for your clients to choose from, then they send you the list of the prints they want and you can have them printed by a professional lab. It's nothing to do really and it ensures a much better quality.

[lostmysnorkel]

That's pretty much what I do Pascal, but TBHJ, I could see very, very little between Photobox quality and Loxley quality and Colorworl etc, but for a fourth the price!

Once a week, I send the order to the lab, then once a week once it's delivered, I spend around an hour sorting into piles, putting in poly bags and packing in board-backed envelopes. 10 minutes at the franking machine and next time I go out - they in the postbox!

I tell the clients to expect their prints in 10-14 days - much quicker than a lot of local ';togs, and usually they're receiving them 7-10 days after ordering, which boosts my rep!

[BarryM]

Id say that too, photobox were superb, colourmatching was spot on, had nothing at all wrong with quality, used for weddings and portraits with no greiff what so ever.

My only greiff was being an account number rather than a person, which is why ive changed over.

[Deus]

I love MPIX.com but have yet to find an equivalent service in the UK/Europe in terms of quality.

But I print at home anyways..

[england1965]

Having moved from Photobox to my own (jalbum) galleries I have received comments from clients who have seen both - who say that thought that Photobox was painfully slow to use. They prefer the new system - even though it's a bit of a manual cludge for me.

Cheers

Mark

[fishes]

I use a Clikpic site where I can set up clients galleries and let them order prints from my website. I then get an email to my paypal account saying what they have ordered - I then place the order at the printers/canvas suppliers, get it delivered to me and can then remove invoices and packaging with suppliers name on, mount prints etc before delivery.

I also like to see clients faces when they receive the prints, if there's a hint of unhappiness I get the opportunity to fix it immediately - makes for good customer service.

All this for from £35 per year (this one only gives you space for 60 pics though) my only problem is that the clients gallery is not password protected.

I was thinking of moving to bludomain where the galleries are password protected but need to look at a few more first

Photobox put me off also because clients can see the "actual" price of the print.

Also this way I can offer things photobox cannot - prints on foamex /acrylic etc.

Oh and I also sell gift vouchers and wedding gift list vouchers this way

hope this helps!

[Sjwh]

As I am just really getting into having my photographs developed, instead of using a photo printer. I am currently using Tesco.com they have currently halfed all their developing prices, delivery is £1.50 for any size order and free to pick up in store. I know that some of the "pros" on the site may find this unsuitable for the work they produce and make a living from it, I find it suits my needs at the moment. All the photographs are individually packed seperate by size and come in a high gauge cardboard backed envelope. Have a look and see.

Stevie

[Jan]

Just jumping in here - Fishes, I use Clikpic and if you upgrade to the pro user you can password the galleries for your clients. I've got around 20 on there at the moment.

Jan
www.janwrightphotography.co.uk