Selling photo prints: integrated lab or orders handled by your studio?

An integrated lab suits prints you want to sell through your galleries without handling every production job yourself. Studio fulfillment still makes sense for personalized products and personal handover appointments. To choose, consider what the client buys, who makes it and who follows up on the order.

First choose the service you want to offer

A print ordered by a wedding guest and an album designed with the couple do not require the same level of support. In the first case, the client expects a straightforward purchase; in the second, they may expect your advice and several discussions.

Your setup should match that promise. Delegating printing does not remove your judgment from the offer, while handling everything in the studio does not automatically improve the result.

Start with products your clients actually request. Two carefully chosen options are easier to present and manage than a large catalog of finishes you barely know.

An integrated lab simplifies routine orders

In this setup, the store connects to a production process. The photographer’s level of involvement then depends on the chosen service and products.

You have two ways to organize production: let an integrated lab handle printing and shipping, or send orders to your supplier yourself. Choose according to your products and the time you want to spend on each order.

With Pelli, clients order prints directly from the gallery. Available partner labs handle printing and shipping; include payment processing, production and delivery fees when calculating your margin.

The client therefore stays with their images when choosing. They do not need to send you a photo number and wait for another exchange to discover the printing options.

Studio fulfillment leaves room for custom work 🖼️

You may prefer placing orders yourself when a service includes a particular paper, framing or an in-person handover. You can then inspect the product and prepare its presentation.

In return, you handle the intermediate steps: sending the correct files, checking the order, receiving it, packaging it and informing the client. Those tasks need a place in your pricing and schedule.

For example, a framed portrait is handed over during a studio appointment. That meeting is part of the service; it justifies a different arrangement from small prints ordered independently after a family gallery.

Calculate what remains from a complete order

Take a typical basket and add production, shipping, any packaging and payment processing fees. Include time spent checking and following up, without confusing money received with the amount actually available.

Imagine eight monthly orders taking twelve minutes each: that represents 96 minutes of handling. At forty orders, the same arrangement takes eight hours, before any incidents.

These figures are an example, not an industry average. They show why an arrangement that works well at low volume can become cumbersome as sales grow.

Check the details clients see when their order arrives 📦

• The product: size, paper, finish and how your own images look.
• The crop: how the chosen photo matches the print’s proportions.
• Delivery: destinations served, fees and tracking information.
• Packaging: product protection and the presentation the client receives.
• Follow-up: the contact and procedure when an order arrives damaged.

Order a sample using an image representative of your work. A portrait with subtle tones or a dark scene tells you more than a specifications sheet alone.

Also have a clear answer ready for your client: whom to write to, what information to provide and how the request will be handled. Delegated production does not remove the relationship with the photographer.

Make the store a natural continuation of the gallery

Present a few options consistent with the session and your style. A family gallery might highlight prints as gifts, while a wedding report may call for separate support with an album.

In Pelli, build your offer around partner lab products and the destinations they serve. Give clients a clear choice, including the sizes, finishes and delivery terms you offer.

Our guide to selling your photos online complements this choice with advice on presenting your offer.

Frequently asked questions about print sales

Who prints and ships orders placed through Pelli?

Available partner labs print and ship the eligible products. You choose your offer according to the catalog, destinations served and applicable fees.

How do you calculate the margin on a print?

Start with the selling price and subtract production, payment processing, delivery and any packaging costs. Also account for preparation and follow-up time when comparing a studio-managed order with one handled by a lab.