Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Wed, Jul 07, 2010 @ 04:15 PM
July Featured Photographer - Pat Hitt
Pat Hitt of YouNique Photography in Mukwonago, Wis. is named the featured photographer for July 2010. Please continue to read more on Pat, his photographic experience and view some sample images.
July Special - Free Wallet Prints
Use coupon code JULY10 to receive 8 free wallet photo prints when you order $40 or more. Now is the perfect time for wallet-sized prints because of the busy senior portrait season! *When ordering through ROES please include the coupon code in the instructions area. Photographers can create their own wallet signatures using ROES or LabPrints. If you prefer to create your own signatures in Adobe Photoshop, crop your image to 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and be sure to keep your text 1/4" from all edges. Save at 250 ppi. Download our wallet signature template.
New Changes!
Be sure to check out The Lab Apollo site in the upcoming weeks as we will be implementing some new changes and offering new products! Don't worry all the ordering systems and previous products will still be the same. However, you will see a facelift to the site giving it a fresher look.
Also in the works is you will soon have the ability to order picture frames for photo prints and other mounted photo products! We will be including a HUGE selection of frames so please stay tuned to learn more!
Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Tue, Feb 16, 2010 @ 09:21 AM
Photo Printing
Apollo can produce everything from wallets to continuous-tone, laser-output prints
stretching 30 inches wide and 50 feet long — on time and with the highest quality level possible. Choose from our standard Kodak E-surface, metallic or glossy photo paper printed in color or black and white. Sepia, blue and pink tones are also available for clients who want a different look.
February Photo Prints Special
Don't forget that February is 30% OFF 16"x20" photo prints and larger. Use just the coupon code PRINT1620. If ordering through ROES, use the coupon code in the comments section just before checkout.
Marketing Suggestions
Give your studio a facelift. Showcase your photographic work that will awe your customers as they walk into your studio. By putting up work, your customers can get more ideas about how they want their shoot to go by looking at how other photo shoots went. Looking for a different look? Try prints on our different paper types or color options.
Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Fri, Jan 29, 2010 @ 01:49 PM
Check out the overview of Photo Boutique. Photo Boutique will be available to photographers who are looking to create their own online, fully branded, storefront to host images. Photo Boutique sites will help optimize online photo sales for photographers. With Photo Boutique, photographers will be able to set up custom price groups for any photo occasion and manage which products to offer within those custom price groups. Customers will also have the ability to share their photos and created products with their friends and family via email and their social networking sites.
Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Fri, Jan 15, 2010 @ 11:57 AM
1. The Lab by Apollo is a full-service photo lab. When we say "full-service photo lab" we mean everything we do is in-house. Most photo labs only do photographic prints in house while outsourcing the rest of their products. Here at The Lab, we have our own 
KODAK NEXPRESS S3000 that allows us to do a wide range of press printed photo products.
The ProPrints products and services from The Lab include our digital prints, digital proofs, photographic cards, retouching and artwork, finishing and mounting services. If you look at some recent blog posts you will find more information regarding The Lab's retouching and artwork services as well as our finishing and mounting services.
On top of the ProPrints and press printed products Apollo offers its own line of ProPhoto Creations -- specialty photographic products. Everything from mini photo albums to photo dry erase boards are available.
2. As a full service photo lab, The Lab is in beta testing for Photo Boutique which is our SaaS (software as a service) for photographers. Photo Boutique is still undergoing some revisions and updates, but you should not be discourage and still check out what it has to offer.
Photo Boutique will allow photographers to create their own customizable online photo storefront. The Lab recognizes that still a good number of photographers have not merged into the online environment. This service will allow photographers to take advantage of an opportunity to produce more sales online.
To start building an online photo storefront, you will go through a build process that we have designed to be as user-friendly as possible. Keeping the thought in our minds that most photographers do not have a clue about building a website, Photo Boutique will take you through step-by-step on building out your site first by uploading a logo. You will then be able to choose your color scheme that will give your site personality. If you already have a website, Photo Boutique is structured to seamlessly integrate in to retain your brand identity. After you choose your color scheme, you will be able to choose which photo products you would like to offer and manage the pricing on those products.
Once your site is built you can upload images to an online photo gallery where you can manage photo albums. As you go through photo shoots you can upload each shoot to its own photo album and direct customers to your Photo Boutique site, where they have the ability to choose which images they would like to purchase.
As always, we take the manufacturing and shipping responsibilities on our shoulders and The Lab by Apollo will remain virtually invincible to your customers.
Check out our overview and tutorials of Photo Boutique.
3. Our Photo Book selection is one of the largest of any photo labs. We start out with the everyday photo memory book, and sizes going up to 10"x15". A variety of cover options are also available with soft, hard, and photo cover selections. Photo books include a 100 lb. stock with 4 paper options available: standard glossy, high-gloss, ink-absorbent or protective-coated pages.
Lay-flat books come with hinged pages making it perfect for panoramic images that can span across 2 pages. These books include the same cover options as the memory books, however the paper options include a ticker, 110 lb. cover stock matte paper.
Proof books are great for showing your customers photos taken from the shoot. These books are easy to create with our auto-fill option where a 16-page book can fit 64 images. Same cover options apply and the paper option includes a 100 lb. glossy paper type.
Guest books are perfect for weddings where the couple can show off their engagement photo. The same cover options apply and the pages include a 100 lb. matte paper perfect for writing on. Guest books comes with 3 different lined formats for registry pages.
Saving the best for last, the Artisan Collection Book is the Grand-daddy of them all. Cover options are still the same as the ladder, however the premium leather bound cover is what makes this book stand out from the rest. The pages are composed of a premium deckle-edge paper type that resembles that of watercoloring paper. The smooth finish and sturdy weight of the paper stock give it excellent ink absorbing qualities.
Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Tue, Jan 05, 2010 @ 11:09 AM
The Lab by Apollo understands your clients likes things to be done in a timely fashion that is why we make sure they are completed within a 24 hour time frame. Digital proofs even have the option of color correction in several sizes. We can also add a variety of borders that add an artistic touch at no additional cost.
Digital Proof Sizing
If you are shooting with a 2:3 aspect ratio (35mm) the best sizes are 3 1/2"x5", 4"x6", and 5"x7". 4"x5" and 5"x5" are best fitted for 4:3 aspect ratio cameras. When ordering digital proofs be sure to order the format proof size specified to your camera for the best results. Also, note that all digital proofs are center cropped.
Ordering Digital Proofs
When ordering digital proofs with The Lab, ROES (Remote Order Entry System) allows you to crop any image to proof proportions or order using your own predesigned borders. The Lab also has proof borders available in ROES. Proofing service is available from digital image files only.
Digital Proofs must be saved in sRGB color space and 8-bit. By saving digital proofs in this manner, it will ensure that it matches our internal color profiles. We recommend that when you save your digital images that you save them as the highest quality JPEG (12), and file names should contain numbers and letters only and not exceed the 15 character limit.
If there is any submission errors, we will happily fix your order. Be sure to have your order number that is provided in the confirmation email upon completing your order.
Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Wed, Dec 30, 2009 @ 11:20 AM
Mounting
One of the primary reasons photographers go to professional photo labs is for ready-to-go, mounted prints. The Lab by Apollo has a variety of mounting options that are available.
Cardstock
A lightweight, economical material and when longterm durability is not a concern, cardstock mounting is a perfect alternative. Available in 1/8" thickness.
| 5x7 | 8x10 | 10x10 | 11x14 | 16x20 | 20x24 |
| $4.05 | $4.05 | $4.70 | $5.30 | $7.50 | $11.50 |
Masonite
A heavier option that is a tempered and pressed hard board. Available in 1/8" thickness.
| 5x7 | 8x10 | 10x10 | 11x14 | 16x20 | 20x24 | 20x30 | 24x30 | 30x40 |
| $6.25 | $6.25 | $8.00 | $8.75 | $11.75 | $17.50 | $24.15 | $25.50 | $39.00 |
Sintra
Made of rigid PVC foam in 3mm thickness. Lightweight and very durable.
| 5x7 | 8x10 | 10x10 | 11x14 | 16x20 | 20x24 | 20x30 | 24x30 | 30x40 |
| $6.75 | $6.75 | $6.75 | $10.00 | $13.50 | $19.50 | $24.75 | $28.50 | $44.00 |
Gatorfoam
One of our most popular mounting options. Gatorfoam is lightweight and long-lasting. Available in 3/16" and 1/2" thicknesses.
3/16" Gatorfoam | 5x7 | 8x10 | 10x10 | 11x14 | 16x20 | 20x24 | 20x30 | 24x30 | 30x40 |
| $7.00 | $7.00 | $10.25 | $11.00 | $15.00 | $23.00 | $30.00 | $33.00 | $53.00 |
1/2" Gatorfoam
| 5x7 | 8x10 | 10x10 | 11x14 | 16x20 | 20x24 | 20x30 | 24x30 | 30x40 |
| $11.95 | $11.95 | $14.25 | $6.50 | $21.50 | $27.50 | $34.00 | $38.00 | $64.00 |
2" Box Mount
Same type of mount as our EchoMounts. Box mounts are a stylish, glassless alternative to regular framing. The deep sides make your photo stand out from the wall. Box mount has a brushed-silver frame edge and are constructed by our local cabinet maker.
| 12x12 | 20x20 |
| $70.00 | $95.00 |
Print to Canvas
Artist canvas is used as the mounting surface to give a print the texture of a fine oil painting. High-pressure lamination bonds the print to canvas. Once the print is bonded to canvas, you have the option to mount the canvas on a stretcher frame, Masonite or Gatorfoam. *Keep in mind that we cannot apply a coating to canvas-mounted prints after they have been put on a stretcher frame.
The Lab by Apollo can also mount prints on customer-furnished materials that are subject to approval of the materials upon submission. The Lab cannot guarantee proper adhesion to materials not supplied by us nor accept responsibility for damage to any material supplied to us.
| 8x10 | 10x10 | 11x14 | 16x20 | 20x24 | 20x30 | 24x30 | 30x40 |
| $23.25 | $24.00 | $24.00 | $27.00 | $31.00 | $35.00 | $38.00 | $53.00 |
Posted by TJ Dinsmoor on Tue, Dec 22, 2009 @ 11:32 AM
Have an old photo that just needs some artwork to make it look new
again? Apollo's artists are experts in photo retouching and
restoration. Do not let a blemish or a lens flare destroy a beautiful
photo. Our artists will work with you exclusively to accommodate any
special requests such as:
- Basic and extensive facial retouching
- Removal of facial shine, glare from eyeglasses, light flares and background flaws
- Removal of braces, teeth discoloration, double chins and stray hairs
- Eye enhancement
- Spot coloration
- Background substitution and extension
- Swapping of eyes or heads
- Addition or removal of a person
- Photo restoration
Photo retouching is a cost-effective way to create a nearly perfect
image and is available for all print sizes. As many as 20 retouched or restored photographs can be
burned to a CD for $5 to ensure it will last a lifetime. Retouching and restoration services will generally be completed within four business days unless otherwise indicated. We understand just how important a simple photograph can mean to you, that is why our artists are here to help make your photo look the way you want.
