Printing lab recs: HELP!

[Daryl Everett]

I am going to be selling some prints from a recent portrait session and I am trying to decide between labs. Costco seems to have good quality and they are cheap, I have no idea about Ritz. I am considering nationsphotolab.com as well but their shipping is $8 until you spend $50. I saw recs on here for adoramapix.com, and meridianpro.com. I am trying to find a lab that I can use and base my prices on, but I'm only going to do part-time shoots as I don't have the education or equipment to go full-time. Make sense?

[lputman]

Costco and Sams are both good as well as mpix.com. You could even look for local printers in your area.

[BigFuzzy]

Part of me wants to say stay away from any of those "mass print" sites or locations and go with a known printer to best show your prints.

On the other hand, i've come to realize that most clients will sadly not know the difference between a professional lab and costco.

Having said that, I still recommend a professional lab which will guarantee you the best possible results over any "send them all in, we'll print 'em" sites. IF your budget allows for it. My prices include lab fees.

[Photologyst]

Adorama produces excellent quality.

Just do some test prints with each and give them a choice.

[Daryl Everett]

I would love to just do test prints and pick but I don't have the money to cover the shipping right now. I did the shoot for free to add another person to my portfolio because no one would pay me for a shoot. So she is going to pay me for. Whatever prints she decides on but I am trying to decide where to Print them so I know what to charge per print and also can give cousin a quote for a shoot. I will probably do a test print at Costco. I'll check for a local printer. But I don't think we have one any more; the only one o knew of shut down a few years ago. Thanks guys for the help any more is appreciated too.

[Jim Poor]

Many / Most of the labs will do a free order of test prints.

Costco, believe it or not, uses the same printers as most of the professional labs out there. Get thier ICC profile and give it a shot. I had trouble with the way my local costco handled my prints after printing so I use a pro lab now.

I can no longer recommend WHCC because of their poor packaging of Print Fulfillment orders.

MPIX gets good press, but other than some test prints, I haven't used them.

Starmark Imaging is my current lab and they do a good job of printing and packaging. Yes, shipping is $8.00, but for the way they pack, your prints are protected. Actually $7-$8 is pretty normal for most labs unless it's one of the free shipping with minimum order types. That said, those folks mark up the prints so much that they make up for the cost.

[zona5101]

i know a couple of pros around here that use Costco becasue the price is low enough for them to repackage, add markup and not be overpriced plus they can get their stuff in a day. The downside to costco is the limited product offerings and limited paper selection that you would find in a custom house. I use colorinc out of MI as turn around is not a concern and I like to use papers and finishes you won't find at costco (or walmart or walgreens etc)

[dakwegmo]

I love WHCC for prints. They print quality is better than anywhere else I've seen. I've not had any issues with their packaging as Jim has, but I always have the prints sent to me first.

I would skip MPIX entirely. I gave them a shot because of endorsements by some big names in the industry and have been disappointed with everything I've received from them. Their colors vary radically from image to image, even within the same order, and are almost always too dark.

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by dakwegmo

I love WHCC for prints. They print quality is better than anywhere else I've seen. I've not had any issues with their packaging as Jim has, but I always have the prints sent to me first.

I would skip MPIX entirely. I gave them a shot because of endorsements by some big names in the industry and have been disappointed with everything I've received from them. Their colors vary radically from image to image, even within the same order, and are almost always too dark.

So do I, that's how I know about their packaging. I'm referring specifically to their print fulfillment option which comes in and envelope rather than a box like their standard ROES orders.

[dakwegmo]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

So do I, that's how I know about their packaging. I'm referring specifically to their print fulfillment option which comes in and envelope rather than a box like their standard ROES orders.

Everything I've ever ordered from them has come in a box. I've never used the print fulfillment option, because the way it's listed on their site it is for direct-to-client shipping.