Ease of Use - Ordering Process:  

Shutterfly uses a slightly different upload system and application than most of the digital photo services in this review. However, Shutterfly’s step-by-step upload and ordering process is still very to easy use and understand. Even the most inexperienced users can feel confident using this service.

Shutterfly provides multiple upload options. They include the typical one-by-one method; used by all similar services, the Power Uploader; enables bulk upload without any additional downloads, or you can download the Shutterfly Studio; an external photo organizer and management application.

However, we would like to see Shutterfly suggest or at least offer the ability to avoid cropping by printing to the 4 x 5.3 paper size, a ratio more suited to pictures taken with digital cameras.

Quality of Prints:  

To test for quality, we sent the same digital photos to all of the online photo developers we reviewed. However, we did not feel that one company got all three photos right. With regard to Shutterfly specifically, our overall impression of their prints are good, but we could still find some flaws.

• Sunset: This picture was dark comparatively. With many of the top services, you are able to see the sun-kissed cheeks of our models, but Shutterfly’s print was a little dark. The sunset in the background looked good but we felt that there was just a little too much red in the exposure and it cast a shadow on the models. Click here to see a comparison.

• Black and White: On its own, Shutterfly’s black and white image looked good and seemed to avoid the usual pitfall of too much yellow, but as soon as we started to compare it to the prints from other companies, there was a distinct red tone to the picture. The picture isn’t bad, but compared to some others, it seems to have too much red. Click here to see a comparison.

• Aerial: We felt that Shutterfly’s aerial photo was its best. They managed to take a cloudy skyline and clean it up to really “pop.” However, to do this, they needed to use a significant amount of yellow. Although we like how the photo turned out, the processing made damp and dreary London look like a sunny day in California. Click here to see a comparison.

Note: To check quality, we took each set of prints received from the online photo developer and laid them down side-by-side for comparison.

Pricing:  

Shutterfly has never been known to have the best prices in the market. We found the per print price to be average at best. However, since Shutterfly has one of the most recognized names in the industry, they can afford to be just a bit more expensive. Shutterfly’s prices are on par with the other popular and well-known printing services like Kodak.

With regard to other print options, Shutterfly’s prices remain competitive. Additionally, they have pre-paid plans and offer bulk discounts. Signing up for a 600 print pre-paid can knock your average print cost to $.10 a print.

We did like that instead of a photo CD, Shutterfly offers a photo DVD that starts at $9.99 for up to 100 pictures, however, we could not find an option to purchase a cheaper Index CD or DVD of your order.

Service and Site Features:  

More than any other digital printing service we reviewed, Shutterfly has really embraced the community aspect of photo sharing. With Shutterfly you can create your own digital photo book (or scrapbook) for the community to look at, comment on, place on a personal webpage and even purchase. Many community members have shared their wedding books, family vacations and more.

With Shutterfly, you can also create your personal photo share website. You get a personalized URL and a wide selection of templates to host your photos and blog. Friends can also leave comments. Your website will support pictures and albums, projects like your digital photo book, journal entries, video, calendars, forums, polls, RSS feeds, widgets and much more.  And the interface is very easy to use.

Your friends and family can view your pictures on your Shutterfly website or you can share your photos through email, however, they will have to have their own Shutterfly account to order photos.

Shutterfly also has the Shutterfly Studio, a free software download program that helps you manage, organize and edit your photos. You can upload your photos from your hard drive or directly from your digital camera into the Studio offline, then when you are ready, you can order prints or easily import them into your Shutterfly account.

You can choose to have your prints mailed to your home or print to your local Target. However, prints sent to Target are more expensive than those sent to your home.

Shutterfly’s photo gift store is probably one of the most impressive photo stores on the Internet. Many of their ideas are unique, fun and useful. They include the basics like keychains, mugs and t-shirts and calendars broken down by product or subject. Our favorite gift ideas are the Children’s books that allow you to send in a photograph of your child and Shutterfly will digitally impose your child’s picture into a story book with Dora, Sesame Street, Thomas the Tank Engine and more.

Shutterfly has unlimited photo storage space and regardless of how often you purchase, your photos will never be deleted.

We were disappointed to discover that although Shutterfly is a leader in its industry, you cannot upload photographs from your camera phone directly to their website. We would also like to see them integrate group rooms into their community.

Shipping Costs/ Turnaround Time:  

Shutterfly's charges to ship us four 4 x 6 inch prints was $1.79, the actual postage for USPS First Class was $1.14, leaving $.65 for packaging and handling. This total shipping cost was a little more expensive than most of the services we reviewed, but not unreasonable. Shutterfly’s initial shipping price is for 1-10 prints. Shipping does get more expensive with the number of prints you order.

Our prints came in a lightweight cardboard sleeve inside a similarly lightweight cardboard envelope.

Shutterfly had our photos developed and delivered in 4 days, well within their estimated delivery time.

There is a reason Shutterfly is one of the most popular digital printing services online. Their easy to use interface, unique features and great reputation make up for their more expensive prints, though we’d still like to see Shutterfly lower their prices, at least a little. Please see our top 3 products: Snapfish, York Photo and Clark Color.