Good Printing Services + Framing and Matte Prices

[Glycerol Sound]

I've had some people ask for prints of my photographs, for wall art I guess. I'm pretty jazzed about it. Anyway, I need to figure out some good companies to do prints on. I don't want to print with any kind of "family portrait" shop because I feel my work is worth more than that (I'm not trying to be cocky, just saying that cheap paper typically denotes cheap photography and I want to be a professional and avoid that), but then again money IS an object here and although I'm being paid, the people paying me are young people with little money. So if you guys have any names I could go to to send digital files to get printed at, thats what I need.
I'm probably doing 11x7s or so, so what's a "correct" price for a decent quality print at that size, just so I know what I'm looking at.

I also need frames and mattes cause I'm not letting anyone put my work in bad-looking frames, and I'm not ready to invest in a matte cutter yet. So where can I get that and how much should I expect to pay. Someone asked me how much I would charge and I said around $30, which should be plenty for overhead (I hope) and maybe a little for myself. Does that sound about right?

Thanks a lot guys!

 

[CCericola]

11 x 7 would be a custom sized print. Are you selling panaramic photos? I wouldn't worry about the frame. Frankly, if what you choose doesn't match their drapes, they WILL replace the frame. Some of the online printers have art paper and canvas options you might like. Millers offers art paper. A Glicee print on 310 gsm matte paper with a slight texture, acid-free with optical brighteners. For an 11 x 7 they would charge you for an 11x17 cut down which is around $40 your cost. This does not include matting or framing. Even a cheap 16x20 frame at Walmart is another $12-$15 so a nicer custom frame will be much more.

 

[Terry Leach]

I generally use Miller's for all my printing.

 

[KmH]

FWIW, it's mat, not matte. Matte is a photo finish.

You can buy standard or custom cut mats from www.Documounts.com. Documounts offers 3 grades of mount and mat board as well as metal and wood frames.

You don't show your general location in your profile, so I can't refer you to a good supplier that may be closer to where you are.

I markup mat and frame materials 300%, plus my time. The print is a separate charge.