4 Ways to Get Your Digital Photos to Print
As a commercial photographer, getting prints can sometimes be expensive. It’s very likely you’ve tried those home inkjets; possibly you’ve even forked out the money for a more expensive home or business model. The problem is that home inkjets were never intended for commercial photography use.
Sure they print a decent photo. But, there are problems with using a regular inkjet for photos (even a high-end one). There are better ways to supply your customers with prints, and in the long run these solutions will work out better for you.
The Problem with Inkjets for Commercial Photography
That $500 you spent on the top of the line printer for home ends up being wasted when a year later the printer breaks. Of course it always tends to happen 30 days past the warranty date.
When you factor in the cost of ink, and the cost of photo paper, that $500 inkjet actually may have cost you $2000 or more over the course of that year. On top of that, that ink isn’t meant to last forever, so the photographs you printed for your clients may fade with time.
Commercial Photography Sample
Commercial Photography Prints – The Easy Way
Luckily there is a couple of easy ways to go about it when you need prints. In the long run these methods will cost you less, and the prints you provide to your clients will last longer.
1. Commercial Photo Printer – Of course the easiest way to get prints is to take your SD memory card to your local camera shop. With the move to digital cameras in the last decade, all of these shops should have the ability to print digital photos with a commercial photo printer.
2. Your Camera Manufacturer – Most manufacturers, of digital cameras, allow you to order prints for your photos from their websites. These services are relatively inexpensive, and fairly fast.
3. Online Print Shops – Along with the manufacturers there are many other online services that will print digital photos. Services like Shutterfly even allow for making scrapbooks and other memorabilia online. What you want to ensure when using an online service, is that they do actually use a commercial printer, and not an inkjet. With most of the larger services you don’t need to worry about this.
4. Buy a Commercial Printer – When your business is big enough, you may want to consider buying your own commercial photography printer. These units start at about $2500 and are made with digital prints in mind. The printers themselves last longer, the ink is made for photographs, and they are a better solution than even the best home-use inkjet.
When it comes to supplying your customers with prints, let’s face it, quality matters. By choosing a good commercial print service, or even buying your own printer, you will ensure your customers are getting what they paid for. In the long run this will save you money, and your customers will keep coming back to your for their photography needs!
