I am starting my own business in Photography. Anyone know of a good printing co. for pictures, packages, etc?

Question

I have looked at a couple like Kodak, Snapfish, but i am looking for cheaper and good quality since it's for a business.

Answer 1

I use Garden State Color in New Jersey, and United Promotions in Charlotte NC. Both are great labs for studio work.
Garden State -
8x10 - $2.10
5x7 - 1.05
4x5, 4x6, 3x5 - .30
8 wallets - 2.10
11x14 - 3.85

UP-
depends on what type of photography you are doing. Weddings, senior, sports, volume are different prices, but lower than Garden State.

Personally I use Garden State for all of my studio work and UP for all of my sports.

Hope this helped.

As for Ginger's answer, you need to look at the long term costs of owning your own equipment. While you might be able to afford to get a printer for your prints, is the ink costs worth it? I have an Epson Stylus, and while I love it, it's just not cost effective. The ink for it is around $60 plus paper, and it just doesn't last as long as I need it too. The only thing I use it for now is for printing my printable DVD and CDRs.

Answer 2

I suggest you get the equipment and do the printing yourself.
If you are using a digital system for taking the pictures you can use photo shop and then print out on a high quality pigmented printer (Epsom). you can find these at auction if you check your local city. I have found that people buy these things and cant figure out how to use them or a they keep upgrading and many great printers which started out for several thousands of dollars can now be bought with a little searching for under $1000. also look for a company in your area that prints gicless for artists as they probably print photos also.
I like Que imaging in Houston, but they are not inexpensive. I own my own printer and can tell you it is the only economical way to go.
However just last week in Houston I saw the city auction off a large format printer and about three thousand dollars worth of ink for under $600.
also check out www.viovio.com

Answer 3

"Cheap" and "good quality" are mutually exclusive terms. They do not belong in the same sentence. If you use cheap printing your work will look cheap. Your clients will know its cheap and you will have no referrals.

IMO you are putting the cart before the horse. It seems to me that you'd already have experience with a quality printer before starting your photography business.

Read the question "How do I start my own photography business?" posted by sportman16977 here in Photography and my answer to him..