Corporate events held at the stunning Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in Nassau, Bahamas are understandably quite the memorable occasion. Joshua Yentis of Blue Wave Imaging, preferred vendor at the resort, knows all too well that you have one chance to capture the memories and get them in print.
With a background in commercial photography including gala events, weddings and cruise ship photography, Yentis understands the intricacies involved in capturing the moment. Atlantis Paradise Island Resort regularly hosts large corporate incentive travel groups such as Sun Trust Bank, Coca Cola and FedEx. Not just specializing in corporations, the property has also hosted the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament last year, where VIP guests received a special amenity photograph with Jordan and other celebrities.
With a client base such as that, it is quite common for Blue Wave Imaging to be required to deal with immediate turnaround times for prints. Yentis explains that same night photo delivery requests are not uncommon. One client recently requested the delivery of hundreds of prints in just three hours.
With that kind of turnaround time, the output side of the equation at Blue Wave is key to the business’ success. For Yentis that issue is solved by a pair of Mitsubishi printers, the CP-9550DW and CP-9000DW.
“The Mitsubishi printers are ideal for my work at Atlantis,” said Yentis. “Quality output prints are my calling card and the CP-9550DW and CP-9000DW reliably deliver that necessary quality in a timely matter. Performance and speed are crucial elements and we are very pleased with the results we achieve in both areas with our Mitsubishi digital photo printers.”
After extensive comparison research and countless photographer references, Yentis chose the CP-9550DW for its speed and expanded driver capability. “I’ve used Mitsubishi printers in the past and have always been able to rely on the performance and speed of these machines. The cost of the media is also quite competitive, so from a business standpoint, it is a smart investment.”
The unit’s five different output sizes (3.5×5, 4×6, 5×7, 6×8 and 6×9) and edge-to-edge printing are all a big part of what Yentis is relying on as well as the fact the CP-9550DW is equipped with two 32MB memory frames so images can be stored in memory while printing.
Capture Counts Too
On the capture side of the fence Yentis relies on Nikon’s DSLRs and lenses, because, as he puts it, “It’s all about image quality.” His arsenal includes a few of Nikon’s faster lenses as well as their impressive dedicated flash units. “I use Nikon digital cameras and lenses, currently Nikon D2H and D-200 bodies with a variety of professional lenses and accessories,” he explained. “I prefer my faster lenses (20-35mm F2.8, 50mm F1.8, and 80-200mm F2.8) for the higher image quality.
Yentis also pays particular attention to service details as well, a practice his client base demands. “I take a professional approach to resort photography,” he explains. “Most of my clients are large corporations and I service them accordingly. Cost, quality, service, and high quality photos are paramount. I solve problems so my clients don’t have to. I’ll do anything to insure the customer’s resort experience is positive.”
Digital’s Many Advantages
As a digital imaging convert, Yentis explains what the switch over from traditional methods has meant to him as a pro photographer. He is quick to tell you that digital imaging technology has allowed him to work more efficiently and expand his business.
“Editing, cataloging, and reselling images has become much easier now that I can browse image catalogs on-screen. My shoot-to-delivery turnaround is also faster and more profitable,” he said. “Small jobs used to be a headache, requiring as much time as the large ones—a trip to the lab and a pickup was a minimum of 3 hours. Now I can look for the one image I need, print it in 30 seconds, burn a CD in a few minutes, and deliver it or e-mail in a fraction of the time. Knowing how to use digital photography technology allows me to price my services at a cost base that is profitable. Competitors who do not keep pace become dinosaurs, leaving me with a clear competitive advantage.”
Yentis uses both PC and Mac platforms and tells us he is, “constantly improving my digital skills and knowledge base.” He feels strongly that the more he knows about digital imaging, the more he can offer his Blue Wave Imaging customers. “They get improved quality and product mix—as I improve my bottom line,” he added.
In today’s ever evolving marketplace, the advantages of digital technology are clear – quick turnaround, flexibility in product offerings, and a variety of new marketing options – and the end result of all these advantages is a more profitable business model. Selecting the right product mix, like the ones Yentis is currently using from companies like Mitsubishi, Nikon and the like, certainly has its advantages as well. yy
