IMPORTANT! Check for orders!

One of the most common complaints we get in Support is about orders that have gone unattended for days and, sometimes, weeks.  These complaints often come from customers who have expected an order and not received it. It is imperative that you fill customer orders promptly!  It just makes for good customer relations.  This would include:

• "Display-Only" work flows:  where you are uploading optimized files so the lab can print your order
• Self-fulfillment: where the you, the photographer, is fulfilling some or all of the order

Do not depend solely on your email notifications to alert you when you have orders that need to be fulfilled!  We strongly suggest you make it a regular practice to log into your administrative interface and check the status of your account.  This would INCLUDE checking to readily see any pending orders that may need your attention.

At a minimum, at least once per week is suggested.  More often is recommended.  Daily is optimal.   

Summary of suggestions for filling orders:

• Be prompt.  The competitive nature of of the photo fulfillment business means customers are looking for rapid turnaround times. 
• For "Display-Only" work flows:  Upload your optimized files immediately.  Remember, the customer only sees the date they placed the order, and they rarely understand that the lab is waiting for the photographer to upload the optimized file.
• For self-fulfillment work flows: Order and ship the customer's product quickly.
• Keep customers informed - send them an email or call them to let them know if you are going to be delayed in fulfilling the order for any reason.  If you are out on an extended assignment and cannot fulfill orders, post something on your gallery site.
• Make your contact information available! It is just good business sense to have ALL your contact information on your gallery site.  Use the "Contact Photographer" link/interface that we offer as a regular feature.  Make it easy for the customer AND us to contact you!

Remember, your gallery is your "storefront."  As a store owner, you wouldn't think about leaving your store unattended!  Happy shooting!

Photographer Email Notifications

Normally, our sales system gives you, the photographer, the following email notifications:

• Initial order
• Need to upload photos (if using display only work flow)
• Order printing
• Order shipped

All email notifications are sent to the email address you have on file in your administrative area.  It is the responsibility of the photographer to maintain the email address and keep it current.  (See administrative duties)

Receipt of Email Notifications

Be aware!  Occaisionally,  a user/photographer reports that they have not gotten an email order notification.  It is important to adjust your email settings and allow all Support emails to pass through any SPAM filtering associated with your Email service.  Also, in rare circumstances, we find that a user's email service has received and accepted an email for an order notification, but that internally, their email provider simply simply does not ever get it to the intended recipient.

The customers receive the following Email notifications:

• Initial order
• Order shipped