Hello everyone,
I recently started my own photography business where I sell my prints - typically canvas or metal. Two weeks ago I held my first exhibition and I am about to talk to several interested local establishments about displaying my work.
In order for this to work financially, I need a company that is willing to print at a decent cost. I do not have the budget, nor will my wife give me permission, to buy a large format printer. Besides, my metal prints are becoming more possible - which requires a far more expensive printer. Therefore I like to send everything out. However, my current prices cannot withstand the printing costs of places like MPixPro and Bay Photo - who I am sure do excellent work.
The canvas prints are the easy part. I know of many online solutions and I have friends locally who will print for a low price. The metal prints are more challenging.
Until now I have been working with pictureitoncanvas. They are just starting out as well. Their web site is maddening to work with and needs drastic improvement, but I took the opinion that since I was beginning my business, I would have some patience with them while they started theirs. I used coupons to make my initial prints affordable and they offer a set discount to pro photographers on their site. When I applied for that discount - sending them my business info + resellers certificate, they never responded. Several times I have called customer support and they have told me that 100% I will hear back the next day. This is despite the fact that I have already given them a decent amount of business - ~50 prints so far.
I am now at the point that I need to replace them as a supplier. If they cannot at least look at my file and/or call me back then I cannot rely on them as a business partner.
Would anyone know of a company who prints in metal, has a decent web site for ordering, and provides a discount to pro photographers?
I recently started my own photography business where I sell my prints - typically canvas or metal. Two weeks ago I held my first exhibition and I am about to talk to several interested local establishments about displaying my work.
In order for this to work financially, I need a company that is willing to print at a decent cost. I do not have the budget, nor will my wife give me permission, to buy a large format printer. Besides, my metal prints are becoming more possible - which requires a far more expensive printer. Therefore I like to send everything out. However, my current prices cannot withstand the printing costs of places like MPixPro and Bay Photo - who I am sure do excellent work.
The canvas prints are the easy part. I know of many online solutions and I have friends locally who will print for a low price. The metal prints are more challenging.
Until now I have been working with pictureitoncanvas. They are just starting out as well. Their web site is maddening to work with and needs drastic improvement, but I took the opinion that since I was beginning my business, I would have some patience with them while they started theirs. I used coupons to make my initial prints affordable and they offer a set discount to pro photographers on their site. When I applied for that discount - sending them my business info + resellers certificate, they never responded. Several times I have called customer support and they have told me that 100% I will hear back the next day. This is despite the fact that I have already given them a decent amount of business - ~50 prints so far.
I am now at the point that I need to replace them as a supplier. If they cannot at least look at my file and/or call me back then I cannot rely on them as a business partner.
Would anyone know of a company who prints in metal, has a decent web site for ordering, and provides a discount to pro photographers?