How to Choose the Right Online Photo Service for You
Mar 20 '01
The Bottom Line Are you using a digital camera or a conventional camera? Do you want to download images or receive prints in the mail? Online photo sites offer a range of services.
Figuring out which online photo service is appropriate for your particular needs is important. Online photo sites offer a lot of great services, and there is still a lot of variety in what is offered from one site to the next. While I was originally tempted to take advantage of sign-up offers from a number of different services, I realized that to make good use of the medium, I didn’t want my photos scattered among sites. If you plan to use online scrapbook features, this is a consideration for you, too.
While all online photo reprint services accept and produce images in some form, they range greatly in features offered. Depending on your objectives, some will be more suited to your needs than others. I’ve outlined the major features that differ between services and explained for whom they are most advantageous.
How do you want to receive your images?
Do you have a digital camera but want to produce prints on photo paper without purchasing the necessary equipment and materials? Some sites, such as Ofoto, offer printing of digital images on photo paper. Or do you have a traditional camera and want to produce digital image files for email or web pages without a scanner? Other sites offer digital image files for download or on CD-ROM. Are you going to primarily use the service to create cards and gifts? Some sites have larger selections of photo frames, calendars, cards, and mugs than others.
How do you want to submit your images?
Some sites develop camera film, others accept your uploaded digital images, and some do both. Check which sites accept the type of image you want to submit. If you plan to submit camera film, check to make sure that the particular type is acceptable. Black and white and APS film are often not accepted, although this may change in the near future.
Length and amount of on-site storage
Do you intend to store images on the site indefinitely? Check the site’s policy on this, on some sites your photos expire after a given amount of time. The same goes for storage space. If you intend to amass photo albums indefinitely on the site, make sure there is not a storage limit, or that the limit is reasonable for your purposes.
Amount of processing
Some sites limit the number of rolls you can submit per year. Make sure that this will not cramp your style.
Online editing tools?
Different sites offer varying degrees of online editing controls. Editing controls will be more important for someone maintaining an online photo album and less important for someone who’s photos are already headed for more sophisticated manipulation with Photoshop.
Photosharing and privacy
Check how accessible your photos will be to other people. Most sites, but not all, require an invitation by you for anyone else to be able to see your photos.
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Once you’ve identified the subset of sites that offer the combination of services you need, you’ll need to weigh customer service reliability and cost. Check customer service ratings and overall ratings. Then examine the pricing of the services offered at sites with good ratings.
Cost
There are several costs to consider
cost of film (Photoworks, for example, provides free film)
cost of mailing (services typically offer postage-paid mailers)
cost of developing (a per roll cost)
cost of prints (a per print cost, varies with print size)
cost of shipping
Take into account especially the cost of developing and printing: if you’re going to be requesting volumes of prints, look for a site with low printing costs, and if you’ll be primarily using the online scrapbook or digital downloads, you may care more about the price for developing.
Note on referral deals
Referral deals from certain sites may be attractive initially. However, if you’re going to stick with a single service, in the long run you’re better off selecting a site with lower cost processing, development, and shipping.
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