CostCo it is!

[HillPhotos2009]

After a long, tedious chore of shopping for a quality print studio to print my 50-100 calendars I've decided to go with CostCo. Yes, CostCo. Recommended to me by a photographer I met at a horse show last weekend. He's been photographing horses since before my parents were alive and he said he thinks CostCo has the best quality for the price. The ordering program is super easy, takes about 5 minutes to throw one together, already has holidays on the dates, and you can even drop photos into the little day square things. I'm down with easy - but I'm not going to say that's my middle name... 'cause according to my husband it would be something like "difficult to deal with on a regular basis."

This is all in case you guys were wondering.

[David Whatley]

So how much were they? Be sure to turn off auto color correction when you upload.

[Rson]

Actually I just had some printed for my fam(yeah they don't care). Costco has the specific printers color profile that you can embed in the photo's and they printed absolutly perfect!!! I was blown away. The screen was a 100% the same as the print.

Here is the link to get the color profiles for CostCo
Digital photo lab profiles

Use photoshop to replace the Profile and save as JPG.

[HillPhotos2009]

Thanks for the advice - I wouldn't have thought of that.

They'll cost about $10.00 per calendar. I was hoping to spend around $5.00 or $6.00 but I can only find that rate if I order 250 with other printers otherwise they're about $16.00 per calendar. The calendars are going to have their ranch logo on them and so I wouldn't be able to sell the 200 extra calendars to make back what I spent on printing.

By ordering them through CostCo, all I have to do is shoot and edit like I normally would, have them pick their faves for the months, I'll add the extra photos in the date area, and spend an entire 10-15 minutes throwing it together. I'll charge them for my time and travel, the product cost, plus a little extra.

I would have much rather designed the entire thing myself, but I can't find a reasonable print rate with anycompany that will allow me to do that so I'm settling.

[HillPhotos2009]

Originally Posted by Rson

Here is the link to get the color profiles for CostCo
Digital photo lab profiles

Use photoshop to replace the Profile and save as JPG.

THANK YOU! That's awesome. I want them to be purdy.

[venchka]

My daughter makes two calendars annually. One for Mother's Day & one for Father's Day. Does all of the "art work" herself. Sends the finished file to Walmart. The calendars appear at my local Walmart in less than a week. Price? About $12/ea.
Grin on my face when I see my grandbabies everyday: Priceless!
Point: even Wally World does an ok job for next to nothing.

[texkam]

Be sure to turn off auto color correction when you upload.

+1
Walgreens is capable of producing decent prints too if the photo specialist follows company procedure, uses and properly maintains the equipment as instructed. A big "if" at many locations. : (

[StevenGWebb]

Stephanie,
Let me know how your experience plays out. I'm happy for you that you've found a source. I may have to give them a try as well. The one on US 75 is nearest to me.
Stevn

[HillPhotos2009]

Thanks Steven! And for all your help too.

Your Beemer analogy kind of help me decide which printer to go with. I was obsessively trying to find the most for my buck so I could charge them the smallest amount possible... but like you said... they ain't gettin' three Beemers if they buy two. They approached me to shoot a calendar. I am shooting it. They asked me for a cost. I will tell them a cost. I will not walmart myself. I will not walmart myself.

I found a good deal on some quality calendars and my photos will make them exceptional. Therefore, I am okay. I will not melt if I hand them a bill. Right?

I did, however, want to ask you about the itemized bill. I had in the beginning thought that I should submit one to them. You know, fam call fee + hours of shooting + product cost and that's it. Is that too itemized?

[Saltwater Servitude]

Did you look at this company? They usually run them at $7.99 despite the price up top on the page which changes with their promotions...

http://www.vistaprint.com/photo-cale...Calendars#here

[StevenGWebb]

How you itemize your invoice is a matter of your personal choice, your book keeper and your accounting method. I'd keep it simple as possible. Itemization can get stupid. You have to know why you are making a specific line item. If you charge $200 for a session plus $1 per mile travel plus $25 for every subject exceeding 3 AND you travel 75 miles to the shoot and there are 7 subjects you'd want to itemize one line for the session, one for the miles, and one for the 4 additional subjects.

You want your paperwork to serve a purpose and be clear not just complete.

Steve

[venchka]

Make sure you do a dress rehersal with Costco before orderning 50-100 calendars. Document EVERYTHING that you do so that you can accurately reproduce your order when you do order 50-100 items.

[RKEnnis]

Originally Posted by Rson

Actually I just had some printed for my fam(yeah they don't care). Costco has the specific printers color profile that you can embed in the photo's and they printed absolutly perfect!!! I was blown away. The screen was a 100% the same as the print.

Here is the link to get the color profiles for CostCo
Digital photo lab profiles

Use photoshop to replace the Profile and save as JPG.

+1 for using the color profiles for your specific location, and turning off auto correction. The prints I have done using the above method almost always match what I see on screen perfectly.