BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN PRINT

In the conventional photo film era, photo printing and general commercial printing were two separate water-tight compartments. Printing technology was different, the substrates on which printing was done were different and the final products created were different.

For a photo lab, it was nothing beyond printing a photograph. The general commercial printers had nothing to offer to photographers except photo books where the required run length was more than a hundred plus copies to bring the unit cost down

Digital photography and digital printing changed the entire scenario. The sharp divide between commercial printers and photo lab owners became blurred. With investment in top-of-the-line digital production press, any establishment can now cater to a photographer or address the requirements in the general commercial printing space. Of course, subject to certain conditions.

Just to give an example, suppose a photographer takes up an assignment to photograph food at a restaurant. The same photographer now has the ability to use these same images to create, apart from photo prints, menu cards, publicity posters, fine-art prints, tent cards, postcards, placemats, coasters or several other products from the same printer. Photographers can design the artwork themselves or get it outsourced.

All that is required is for the photographer, be it a professional or an amateur, is to get connected to a print service provider and understand the plethora of products that can be created using photographs taken either by a camera or a smartphone. These can either be for self-consumption or marketed to others.

For example, if a photographer has some powerful visuals, these can either be converted to postcards, calendars or fine art prints on paper or canvas and sold. The opportunity for any individual to start their own brand with a wide variety of printed products, without investing in a digital press, is much easier now than it was earlier.

Apart from photo books and prints, here are a few select applications.

Happy Printing!!