Consumers printing digital photos are driving growth in the retail digital photofinishing market, according to a study by InfoTrends. More consumers are using photo kiosk print stations with dedicated printers and online photo printing services. The analysts expect greater adoption of retail digital print services as innovations are added, such as net-to-retail and one-hour processing options.

According to the InfoTrends study of U.S. photo kiosk and retail digital photofinishing consumers, the percentage of respondents who had used photo kiosk print stations with dedicated printers experienced a substantial jump in 2007, with 49% having used such a kiosk. Respondents reported using photo kiosk print stations an average of more than four times per year, and photo kiosk print station awareness is at 80% among digital camera owners who print photos. It appears as though marketing efforts are finally paying off and these kiosks are becoming more mainstream.

Another area of photo printing that is experiencing significant growth is online photo printing. During the three months prior to the survey, digital camera owners who printed photos ordered an average of 49 prints online for delivery by mail -- this was significantly more than any retail printing method. Figures related to awareness of online printing methods as well as the use of those methods have risen in recent years. While the number of consumers engaging in online photo printing has grown considerably, it is likely that this market will grow even more as vendors continue to educate consumers about the online options that are available to them.

More consumers will also be likely to engage in Web-based photo printing as a result of improvements that are being made to those services. According to Alan Bullock, an Associate Director at InfoTrends, “An increasing number of retailers are now offering net-to-retail services, many with one-hour processing times. This is certainly an attempt to deliver convenience to consumers, and this is something that our survey respondents considered to be important.”

About this study

InfoTrends’ report entitled, “2007 U.S. Photo Kiosk and Retail Digital Photofinishing End-User Study Analysis” (December 2007) examines how consumers are approaching the different photo printing options and how their printing behaviors are affected as a result. This study reveals who is printing at retail, how they are printing, and what kinds of printing they are doing (including the sizes of pictures and print orders). The report also considers why some digital camera owners are not printing at retail and whether the printing methods they use are likely to change with increased retail offerings and lower print prices.

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