Hi,
 
I am interested in setting up an online photo store which will allow
visitors to order prints of images on my site. Ideally, I will have a
discrete "oder image"-link under my pictures, which pops up a new
window. Then the user can choose the image size (4x6" to 20x30"),
perhaps also add a frame, type in her credit card info and mailing
address and has the picture delivered to her doorstep a few days later
(and of course also includes a "continue shopping" option).
 
The main issue is that I wouldn't want to use a full-fledged online
store such as http://www.ofoto.com where I can upload my pictures and
have others  order prints. I like my gallery just the way it is.
 
That said, I like the idea of using a third-party provider; i.e. I'd
upload my high-resolution images to some other site which then
professionally prints ordered images and ships them for me.
Additionally, it would be great to have a store that either ships
worldwide or perhaps even have a global provider that is stationed
both in the U.S. and in Europe. Depending on the level of service
provided, I would be willing to pay up to $100 to set something like
that up and then of course also have the provider get a percentage of
the sales generated.
 
Please only answer this question if you can give me the URL of a site
that provides such a service described above. If you, for instance,
have URLs of other photographers that have such online stores set up,
please post them as clarification requests. If my contacting them
directly results in some worthwhile leads, I'll ask you to post your
reply as an answer.
 
Many thanks,
gwagner-gar

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Request for Question Clarification by leep-ga on 15 Dec 2002 23:44 PST

Greetings gwagner!

It sounds like you are looking for a service such as Ez Prints:
http://ezprints.mye-pix.com/

They offer a backend print service that you can use on your site. 
Photographica.org is one site that uses their service:
http://photographica.org/store

If you want to read about a little bit about how it was introduced
into photographica.org, read this thread:
http://www.photographica.org/story/2002/10/19/213441/82

If you feel that this information would be a suitable for an answer,
let me know.  Or if you were looking for a different type of service,
let us know that as well.  Thanks!

leep-ga

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Clarification of Question by gwagner-ga on 15 Dec 2002 23:51 PST

Hi Leep,
 
that'd be one possibility. Yeah, thanks! Have you had any personal
experience with them? I'd be great if you could research perhaps one
more such service, but yes, please go ahead and post it as an answer.
 
gwagner

Greetings again gwagner!

Per your clarification comments, I am posting my above comments (along
with some additional information) as an answer.

As previously stated, one such service is Ez Prints:
http://ezprints.mye-pix.com/

They offer a backend print service that you can use on your site. 
Photographica.org is one site that uses their service:
http://photographica.org/store

Although I am a member of the photographica.org community, I have not
sold any prints through there yet (mainly because I don't have a
high-res camera that would produce good sized prints).  However, that
service has been in place there for a few months now and seems to be
doing fine.  You could even email the guy who runs the site to see how
well it works:
"Photographica Contact Information"
http://www.photographica.org/?op=special;page=contact_info

Another such service is Shutterfly.com.  They too have a program where
people can order prints via your own gallery:
"Click for Prints (C4P)":
http://www.Shutterfly.com/business/c4p.jsp

Shutterfly is the print service used by Gallery, an open-source
PHP-based image gallery interface that has a feature where visitors
can order prints.  For more information on Gallery:
http://gallery.menalto.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index

To view some sample sites using Gallery:
http://gallery.menalto.com/modules.php?set_albumName=samples&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php&page=1

Note though that not all people using Gallery use the Shutterfly
feature.  For example, I have turned off that feature in my own
Gallery since, as stated above, I don't think my low-res images would
make for great prints.

And here's a list of some general photo sharing sites.  The page
mentions EZ Prints and Shutterfly.  It also mentions some other
places, but most of them don't offer the features you are looking for.
 Still, it might be worth a view:
"e-Photo Sharing WebSites & Related Online Services":
http://www.convivial.com/pages/ephoto_sharing_sites.html

Also, since it's somewhat related, I'd like to point out Noah Grey's
site:
"Noah Grey Print Store":
http://www.noahgrey.com/prints/

He doesn't use a third-party print service - he actually does the
printing himself.  I guess I just find it interesting to see how he
set things up (and some of his photos are also worth a view).

I hope this information is helpful.  If you would like for me to
clarify any part of my answer or further research your question,
please let me know before issuing a rating.  Thanks!


leep-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by gwagner-ga on 16 Dec 2002 07:57 PST

Hi Leep,
 
thanks for your answer! I particularly like the Ez Prints and
Shutterfly C4P features. If you are up for it, it'd be great if you
could also research services that print in Europe, in particular
Austria or Germany (for another $5 in tip).
 
Many thanks,
gwagner

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Clarification of Answer by leep-ga on 16 Dec 2002 13:36 PST

Hm, I haven't yet located a place that offers such a print solution
from Europe, but I'll keep poking around.

Here are a few UK-based sites (and one Dutch site) that offer the
standard print services from photos you upload to their site (just
like ofoto).  From what I can tell, none of them currently offer a
service where people to your own separate site/gallery can print an
image via their service, but possibly they will offer this feature in
the future.  So perhaps you may want to check with them a little later
down the line.

Photobox:
http://www.photobox.co.uk/

Fotango:
http://www.fotango.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi

Your Printz Colourcare:
http://www.yourprintz.com/colourcare/

Digitallfoto:
http://www.digitaalfoto.nl/


leep-ga

Fantastic response time. Great links!