What equipments (tools) do I need to start a digital photo lab?

Question

Hi everybody, I just need your help. Does anyone know what kind of printers, ink and paper should I get for making my own digital photo lab? I'm a freelance photographer and i want to print and sell photos at the same time. I would like to open a small section of studio so again i need my own printer for developing the photos. Also, I wanted to make calendars and postcards, which i have no idea about kinds of papers i should use. Maybe these printers are expensive, but i dont mind that. If anybody has an advice plz dont hesitate in replying me. Thanx a lot. Bye :)

Answer 1

It will probably depend on the size of the prints and what type of quality you wish to offer.

A lot of professionals who print as a small business consider the larger Epson Stylus printers. Epson inks are known for the archival longevity but are very expensive. With Epson, you also have a nice selection of either Epson or 3rd-party papers. An Epson Stylus Pro 3800 can print anywhere from 4x6 to 17x22. If you expect heavy volumes of print, you might also want to consider a Continuous Ink Supply (CIS), which basically replaces the ink cartridge with a feed from a bottle. In the long run, this will end up to be much more economical. The downside of CIS is the need to clean it if not in use, otherwise it will clog. But if you are continuously printing, it is less of an issue. Be sure to check if your printer can accept a CIS option if you go that route.

My guess is that most of your customers will not need large prints and there may be no need to buy such a large printer, in which case, consider any of the smaller Epsons (or Canons). If you do get a request for an unusually large print, you can outsource it to a local digital lab...they have really nice lightjet printers there that most individuals cannot afford alone. See link below for sample.

If your customers don't expect the quality as mentioned above (i.e., they just want the equivalent of a Costco or Walmart print), you might want to consider outsourcing the printing to someone else and just focus on the Photography and touchup. Shutterfly has a service for professionals where pro photographers will upload their clients photos (already processed via Photoshop) and Shutterfly will make and deliver the prints. As the photographer, you get to set the prices, while Shutterfly will charge a fee to you for their service. I think it will be a large step up in quality from Walmart/Costco...especially if you are providing the touch-up service.

If you are just starting out and don't know what your volumes are, I would suggest starting small and work up as you get a better feel for your volumes and customer needs/expectations. Before even reaching that, you should research which customer you want to go after (mass-market low-end, or high-quality niche). The last thing you want is to invest in expensive equipment that won't be fully utilized, or if you end up with customers that don't appreciate the quality and cost you are putting into it.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

I personally like to print at home. Yet there are pros and cons either way. Just when you print at home...you can control the quality. Plus you can do it when you want to like immediately or in the wee hours of the morning... Yet if you do not want to spend the money on a printer, sending them out to a service or taking your memory card to the nearest processing store is a viable option. If you are interested in getting a printer, take your card to any store that has them on display and see if you can print some pictures. You can get some photos for free and also see what the printers can really do. Have fun... Good Luck...