Posted by Don Mullaney on June 29, 2008 at 7:13 PM
How do I create proofs that show my work well but not so well that they use the proofs and not buy the custom prints. I'll be shooting a 50th wedding anniversary affair.
Don, if you get your printing done at one of the vendors that works online, you should be able to use LabPrints or similar software available free from the print lab to allow you to mount an online proof gallery, where you set the prices, and the customer orders with a credit/debit card online directly from that (password protected) gallery. The lab sends the prints to the customer and a check or debit card credit to you.
That's how it works with White House Custom Color, where I do most of my business. That way the customer no longer sees a hard proof, so there's nothing they can do but buy the finished product.
Just one option, of course. But this makes things VERY easy. Anyone with the password can access the gallery and make their orders, so you don't have to go to the expense of printing proofs and the time and hassle of getting them to the client for review.
They of course can still violate copyright and make scans of the prints they buy instead of buying more prints (most don't, some do), but there's nothing you'll be able to do about that, anyway.
If you are making fine art prints, as distinguished from possible print orders from (say) a wedding, you don't have to show a proof of any kind; nor do I think you should. A fine art print is your vision, not that of the potential buyer. Some may argue this, but it seems logical to me.
On the other hand, if you are selling prints from a paid shoot, e.g. a wedding, then the client should be provided the opportuntiy to view proofs. Guy's suggestion is a good one and is very easy to do.
We once relied on paper proofs in our studio, but probably don't do a dozen sets a year now. Everything else is low rez images on a CD- usually no more than 300 pixels on the long axis @ 72 dpi or roughly 1/4 the size of the NPN standard. Even better, we make an appointment with the clients to view the large files on the large monitor in our studio. We're in the final stages of setting up the online system Steve described. Have been for quite a while, but for our diverse business we need more. It will be really handy however for widely dispersed clients, as in a wedding or anniversary celebration such as you're shooting. Through that you can probably garner lots of additional sales from family members that disperse after the event.
Discussion
6 repliesThat's how it works with White House Custom Color, where I do most of my business. That way the customer no longer sees a hard proof, so there's nothing they can do but buy the finished product.
Just one option, of course. But this makes things VERY easy. Anyone with the password can access the gallery and make their orders, so you don't have to go to the expense of printing proofs and the time and hassle of getting them to the client for review.
They of course can still violate copyright and make scans of the prints they buy instead of buying more prints (most don't, some do), but there's nothing you'll be able to do about that, anyway.
Guy
On the other hand, if you are selling prints from a paid shoot, e.g. a wedding, then the client should be provided the opportuntiy to view proofs. Guy's suggestion is a good one and is very easy to do.
-PB
Wim