Pictures ready for mpix

[mivy00]

Hey guys I am getting my sample proof album ready for mpix and was curious what kind of process everyone uses ?

I think I am going to be ordering the 10x13 at 12 per page
(im a little worried about how large these pictures will be .... anyone had complaints about how small they are ?)

Also do you crop each image at 2.5 x 2.5
Or do you leave them at 4x6 and let the image come out at 1.? x 2.5 ?

Also on a typical proof album how many pictures do you usally include after doing an entire wedding/reception ?

[mivy00]

Guess nobody prints proof books from mpix?
Maybe I should have posted in the wedding fourm

[epoh]

Sorry... I've heard great things about mpix, but I've never used them.

[cmalana]

we don't provide proof books and show proofs online. Much easier and they can also order immediately if they so choose.

[mivy00]

Originally Posted by cmalana

we don't provide proof books and show proofs online. Much easier and they can also order immediately if they so choose.

What do you do for customers with no internet acess ?
I wanted to provide a proof book that the couple can show to family members with no internet acess possibly produce more print sales

[cmalana]

Originally Posted by mivy00

What do you do for customers with no internet acess ?
I wanted to provide a proof book that the couple can show to family members with no internet acess possibly produce more print sales

We have consciously decided that people in that situation are not in our target market and we do not adapt for them. Our business model also does not focus on print sales because in the past (when we did try to go after print sales), they have turned out to not be significant. Even with the ability to view and order on the internet, post-event print sales are neglible as a percentage of the total revenue for a given wedding.

In short, we forego that business opportunity and focus on others.

[mivy00]

Interesting ...thanks

Anyone that uses mpix have an answer out threre?
Holly? I read you had used there serives for proof albums in another post

[Holly]

I do use Mpix for some smaller side jobs (not weddings). I print usually 4 or 6 per page, 8 x 10 orientation when it's a typical "portrait" session....50 or so images.

Also do you crop each image at 2.5 x 2.5
Or do you leave them at 4x6 and let the image come out at 1.? x 2.5 ?

mpix won't square crop your images, it keeps them at the original 2:3 ratio you submit (4" x 6" image) it simply has 2.5 being the longest height or width of the image. Leaves black space around it to blend in with the black background of the page, or white space if you chose white background.

We use Millers for wedding proofing, uploads a TON faster and better options.

[mivy00]

Thanks holly !!
do you have any complaints about being able to see a image that is 2.5 in ?

I looked at millers website beofre seemed alot more complicated to use but i may check it out again

Thanks again

[exposedmedia]

12 seems like they would be a bit small. I have done 10x13 at 6 per page and the printing wa s perfect size in my opinion. I was VERY impressed with the color and job they did.

[mivy00]

Ricardo ...thats kinda what I was worried about but printing 6 per page doubles your cost which can be alot depending on how many pictures you decide to proof.

How many do you typically include in a proof binder ?
Ricardo, Holly?

Maybe im not throwing out enough images. I usally take between 600 - 800 at a wedding/reception and i try to cut that down to 100-200

[mivy00]

but the couple typcically orders only the best 10 - 50 so maybe I should cut out more ?
But I thought it would be better to include more because you never know what aunt Bettey is going to want . What are yall's thoughts?

[epoh]

Are you not charging them for the proof book?

I've never heard of getting a whole book of 100+ proofs for free. You may want to consider that a purchasable option in the future - that way the cost won't be an issue for _you_.

[Holly]

I've never had any complaints about image size. They also get online proofing to see them any larger, the proof book simply gives them an idea of what the print quality may be like, and gives them a keepsake of their session. I don't charge our, my pricing structure includes it in the initial cost. And the images are small enough that reproduction via the client scanning is pretty much out of the question.

Millers was a bit more complicated to use at first, but you'll get used to it once you see the amazing upload times! Oh, you have to have a tax ID number to be a customer, and there is an approval process as well.
But hey, if they let me in, standards aren't too high. :) lol

We proof around 450 for weddings, 50-75 for engagement/bridals

[mivy00]

Originally Posted by epoh

Are you not charging them for the proof book?

I've never heard of getting a whole book of 100+ proofs for free. You may want to consider that a purchasable option in the future - that way the cost won't be an issue for _you_.

I am trying to build it into the cost as well