e-commerce or no e-commerce

[lputman]

I like the thought of having a proof review/order session with the client for all except event/sports photographs. Typically, these need to have minimal, if any, processing and should be uploaded very quickly. I don't sell the photos that I take at our peewee football games but I guarantee you they expect to see the photos that I do take on the website that evening of game day and no later than the next morning.

I'm still up in the air about what I would do when I really start to do photography as a business. I feel that now a days, with the internet being such an intrical part of our daily lives, e-commerce is just about a must. I guess I would offer both and have the client make the decision as to which they would prefer.

[imagesbyjk]

Originally Posted by naeno

However, there are many like me who do not have a storefront, so, my two options are 1)have people view their proofs on a website 2) order a proof book and have clients order from the proof book.

I don't have a storefront either. I use my home theatre to project images and do the sales there. You will never sell as much putting them online and especially giving them a proof book. Bottom line: put the effort in to setting up a place in your home where you can view the images and do your sales.

Originally Posted by naeno

Also, I looked at Innovative Gateway Systems. They are a very impressive system. However, you have to be set up with a merchant account at your bank before you can use them. Again, something that I don't have yet (I'm just starting out and very very small time right now). I personally will be using paypal. It acts as the merchant account for me and saves me having to set one up right now. Paypal will send clients invoices (whether they have a paypal account or not) and clients can chose to pay with cc online or give me a check/cash/money order. They could also have the option of giving me the cc number and I could run it through paypal.

Paypal can work. I always feel like its a bit unprofessional but its probably more accepted today. BTW, you don't need to set up a merchant account at your bank. I didn't. IGS is your merchant account. All you have to do is give IGS access to your business account so they can deposit the fund into it.

Originally Posted by naeno

Anyway, private, I finally decided to allow clients to view proofs from a website I create (I already have a web hosting account and domain name anyway), but clients will have to place orders through me via e-mail or phone. I'm going to fulfill the order through Mpix, and have the pics sent to me so I can make sure the order was fulfilled correctly and all pics look good. Then, package the pics nicely (packaging is very important) and let the clients come pick them up. Yes, it's a couple extra steps, but I think it will work well and allows me the ability to have quality control. Good luck!

My philosophy is that I need to make doing business with me as effortless and pleasant as possible. So I put my effort in to doing that rather than focussing on making MY life easier.

My packaging varies based on the client. I use nice boxes and tissue for fine art portrait clients. For seniors I deliver the prints in a pizza box.

[naeno]

Originally Posted by imagesbyjk

My philosophy is that I need to make doing business with me as effortless and pleasant as possible. So I put my effort in to doing that rather than focusing on making MY life easier.

I agree. That's why I think it's easier for clients to view their proofs on a website. However, to each his own. Also, to be entirely honest, I'm not trying to make much money on prints. I'm more interested in taking the pictures.

Originally Posted by imagesbyjk

For seniors I deliver the prints in a pizza box.

What a fun idea!

[imagesbyjk]

Originally Posted by naeno

I agree. That's why I think it's easier for clients to view their proofs on a website. However, to each his own.

Ahhh, but then you sacrifice sales. AND I make the viewing fun. We have popcorn and a slideshow set to music. Much more enjoyable for the client than sitting in front of a cold computer screen without the ability to ask questions. As I said, I make it easier for them to DO BUSINESS with me.

[naeno]

Originally Posted by imagesbyjk

Ahhh, but then you sacrifice sales. AND I make the viewing fun. We have popcorn and a slideshow set to music. Much more enjoyable for the client than sitting in front of a cold computer screen without the ability to ask questions. As I said, I make it easier for them to DO BUSINESS with me.

Oooo, now I am definitely learning at the master's knee! That sounds like fun, and it's a great idea!

[private]

Originally Posted by lputman

I like the thought of having a proof review/order session with the client for all except event/sports photographs. Typically, these need to have minimal, if any, processing and should be uploaded very quickly. I don't sell the photos that I take at our peewee football games but I guarantee you they expect to see the photos that I do take on the website that evening of game day and no later than the next morning.

I'm still up in the air about what I would do when I really start to do photography as a business. I feel that now a days, with the internet being such an intrical part of our daily lives, e-commerce is just about a must. I guess I would offer both and have the client make the decision as to which they would prefer.

Lori, I agree with you. That you really should have an ecommerce site. Now all of that being sd, do you think the integrity of the photos will be compromised if you fulfill through Mpix (for example) for on-line orders
and Ritz camers (for example) if you do the fulfillment?

I may start another thread about this...

[lputman]

Originally Posted by private

Lori, I agree with you. That you really should have an ecommerce site. Now all of that being sd, do you think the integrity of the photos will be compromised if you fulfill through Mpix (for example) for on-line orders
and Ritz camers (for example) if you do the fulfillment?

Why would you not use the same place (mpix.com) if you do the fulfillment yourself? However, do a test, send the exact same photo to each place for printing using comparible paper types and finishing and see how they compare to each other.

[private]

The test is a great idea! I wuold make more money if I did some though a store that I could go to...