online proofing vs. in hand proofs

[carrbowl]

I'm wondering pros and cons of each beyond some of the obvious. I've been leaning towards on line so I don't they don't have to be perfect before they order them. But then I was thinking after my latest issue with a customer, what if their monitor makes the photos look bad? Most of my business is very local..so getting proofs to them won't be too difficult..opinions??

[CaptainTom]

Ongoing discussion topic.

If you can get together with the client and show them the proofs of those shots you have selected, and done at least a little processing, your sales should be very good. Online proofing works ok for out of town clients, or I use it for commercial clients when the subject matter can be all over the place. I.e. I take 10 shots of the same subject from slightly different angles.

[monique_evette]

I do online proofing eventhough my clients are local. They like it because they can go back and look at all the pictures any time they want and share with their friends and family.

At first I would fix every picture before posting, but now I have gotten to where I just do 20 and label them "Photographer's pick" and then put the rest as is. I not only get them up faster, but I also don't limit my orders to only the ones I have chosen. I have found that just because I do not like a picture doesn't mean the client won't.

It has worked really well for me and just seems soo much easier.

[Clint_Smith]

I keep trying online, but about half of my clients either don't own a computer or the tell me they don't know how to use they one they have and request paper proofs.

[HotHolly]

We have been offering both. But, there is no getting around that paper proofs get passed around town to anyone and everyone when you have a proud parent. Hair dresser, rotary club, MOPS, and what ever else they attend. The photos seem to go with them and are used offer bragging rights while they decide which one they like best. So instead of writing PROOF on paper images, we put the studios name on it and more biz cards in the box. Can't get better marketing and I didnt even do anything.

As for digital, you can get simpler and cheaper way to show images. But there is nothing like getting to touch something you want. It seems to drive sales for us. So, short version - bridals and babies currently get paper proofs. Weddings are digital.

[carrbowl]

Holly would you share a photo with your name on it?? I am curious

[bondarnes]

Have you considered not "proofing" at all? Once you print or post your images, you have become an order taker and not a image consultant. We schedule a "Showtime" session at the time we create the images and therefore we are in charge of the preview session. You can do it with your current monitor or purchase an inexpensive digital projector and you will pay for it in the first few preview sessions.

[carrbowl]

I'm very intrigued by this area of the business as I'm trying to figure out what to do. As a mother (before photographer) picking out of the photos and choosing which size and which photo to get for which relative was the hardest part, if I had to go to the studio and preview the session. So before this discussion I was leaning towards on line viewing...but now I'm not sure. Because with online viewing, friends and family can pick which ones they like and order their size. From what I'm hearing from you guys though is that doesn't really happen. I'm hearing people buy more when they first see the photos and are excited about them and can't decide, so they buy more. Am I hearing this correctly??

[HotHolly]

If I could figure out how to get it to work without proofs, I would. I've been trying it both ways, so far it works better (for us) with bridals and babies to offer paper proofs - better in terms of post session print sales being b/t $400-$600.

Below is the boarder we put on the proofs. It helps spread our name around a bit. I suppose the images the people hang in their homes would do that same thing, but then the hairdresser and all those people you wouldn't show a framed print to miss out. And those that talk all day and come into contact with a TON of people are like a free billboard for you. Word of mouth referrals are great. Anyway, that's what's been working for us.

[carrbowl]

thanks holly

[Gateruner]

I am going to do a proof book with all the images in it. Smaller but you can look at them and it is easier to select them in my opinion. I have seen a really popular guy that is a big wig in the forum do the same thing and to me it makes since. Online proofing is good for building additional sales beyond the B & G. Personally, I look at a photo online and cant remember which I liked best, where it was etc. So I like the proof book idea.

[picasso]

There was a dicussion about this last week on another thread. Not sure about the name of it but, what I posted is that I read recently and had proof of it a week ago is that....
If you put the proofs on the web and allow people to look at them you should only do it for a VERY short period of time and let them know that after that time they will be gone. This does a couple of things.

1. It gives them an incentive to purchase. If, they can go out over and over again and show their family and friends photos of little Johnny etc.... you have just provided them with a free web-site that they can go back to anytime they want and see their family pictures. If they know the pictures will be gone two days from now they won't beat around the bush when it comes to picking which ones they want.

2. It saves you time and storage space on your web-site. Pictures take up hard drive space and depending on your hosting arrangement you might be paying for that extra space that you are hosting pictures on you could have gotten rid of a long time ago.

My proof it works is that I do not have a business site yet so, I just post my pictures on my Zenfolio site for my customers to look at. I had taken pictures of my customers daughter and they have been out there for about a month. She said she would get back w/me but she had yet to call me. I know she liked the photos because she emailed me and raved about them. I sent her an email and told her that I was running out of space and needed to make room for new pictures and her daughters pics would be coming off in two days. An hour after sending that email I got an order. So it at least worked in my case. Your mileage may vary but its something to think about.

Paul

[CallMeAl]

For those of you who do online proofing, which service do you use? I use Shutterfly for sports pictures so customers can just order from there (mostly 4x6), but if I want to take it to the next level with higher sales with portraits, I don't want to use Shutterfly.

I would like for extended family to be able to view photos, without giving low res files or anything like that. I have too many people already wanting things for free, or just the digital files so they can have them printed at Wal-Mart. Of course, I won't do that.

Just looking for options.

Craig

[Wes]

Originally Posted by CallMeAl

For those of you who do online proofing, which service do you use? I use Shutterfly for sports pictures so customers can just order from there (mostly 4x6), but if I want to take it to the next level with higher sales with portraits, I don't want to use Shutterfly.

I would like for extended family to be able to view photos, without giving low res files or anything like that. I have too many people already wanting things for free, or just the digital files so they can have them printed at Wal-Mart. Of course, I won't do that.

Just looking for options.

Craig

I use ExposureManager. It's paid for itself several times over.

[Erin Kathleen]

I'm with Holly. I would love to get rid of proofs, but my sales are drastically different when they see the paper proofs (even small proof magazines) to when they just look online. Depending on their computer, their monitor, their internet connection and about 50 other things, those images can look totally different. For bridals and engagements, I highly encourage them to come over to my house/studio (I work out of my house) and order them together. When they see them on my (calibrated and sharp) monitor and can get a good feel for how big (or rather small) an 8x10 really is, it helps. I can also help to guide their choices. For weddings, I tend to give anywhere from 300-600 images depending on the wedding so I go with a 10x13 spiral bound proof book from Millers. The images are fairly small since I'm currently doing 12 per page (but might cut back to 9) but the clients can still see a lot more of the color and such better than online. I also put all the images online for family and friends to order from. I currently use Smugmug, but I've heard good things about Exposure Manager, so I'm debating switching, but right now it's more of a PITA to switch than it's worth, I think. HTH