The following is an educational article we’re targeting towards other photographers - if you’re a client, check here for past weddings we have photographed, or read on if you’re interested in the nuts and bolts of how a photo business is run. =)
Are you looking for a professional photography proofing and sales solution? We have found that choosing the right proofing and print sales solution is crucial for the success of our business. And wanted to share some advice on what we have learned after trying most of the different print proofing services, including Cloudspot, Instaproofs, Pixieset, and Shootproof.
In this article, we’ll be comparing Cloudspot and Instaproofs, as these are the two we have paid for and actively used for our business.
First, let's start with cloudspot.io. This platform offers a range of features that are designed to make it easy for photographers to manage and sell their work. Some of the key features of cloudspot.io include:
A clean and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to upload, manage, and organize your photos - we really can’t emphasize enough how great their interface is. SO easy to use.
The ability to create individual galleries within a larger gallery folder so you/ your clients can control who sees what.
The ability to easily sell your photos and other products directly from your galleries, with automatic and manual fulfillment options with a large number of partner photo labs.
Integration with popular payment providers, so you can securely process payments from your clients
Advanced file delivery features - and even integration of videos and gifs so you can include a wedding video or super shareable gif!
In contrast, while instaproofs.com also offers file delivery and print sales, we found the platform can be difficult to use, with a cluttered interface that had a steep learning curve and was not intutive. Additionally, instaproofs.com seems designed for photographers of the past, with much less robust file delivery and more manual album creation. We also found their customer service to be generally slower and a bit less helpful - when we mistakenly paid for the wrong service level they were not able to pro-rate our contract, something Cloudspot was more than willing to accommodate.
Overall, we feel cloudspot.io is the superior choice for photographers who are looking for a professional and user-friendly proofing and sales solution. With its clean interface, customizable galleries, and simple client focused file delivery, cloudspot.io is the perfect platform for photographers who want to easily manage and sell their work. Check them out here (we will get a few bucks if you do).