Follow Up Posts on PhotoBarn

There are numerous businesses on Etsy that offer pictures transferred onto wood.

In the past, I published a few posts about a company called PhotoBarn.  As this blog is called The Honest Shopper, I feel compelled to follow up on those posts with some brutal honesty.
Yes, the pictures printed on wood look cool, and are a great idea.  They were not PhotoBarn's idea; there are actually loads of other companies that do the same thing, and PhotoBarn owners got the idea from a friend who showed them a tutorial on YouTube.

The reality of ordering from PhotoBarn is that most orders are delivered extremely late, some people never received their orders at all, mistakes are common, and the products often don't live up to expectations.  There is absolutely no concern for the environment.  Heaps of wood (not sustainably sourced, just chosen for the low price tag) get piled up and wasted, and there's not even a company recycling policy, so paper and cans just get tossed out with the normal trash.  The company itself is fraught with problems.  This isn't an expose, so I'm not going to get into all of the details here, but it is a company that I will not have any more association with.

Disclaimer: I have not had any dealings with PhotoBarn in several months.  I find it hard to believe that they have drastically improved since then, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt and admit that it is possible.

Please help: I would LOVE to hear from any of you that have placed orders with PhotoBarn.  It is easy to find PhotoBarn created reviews and promotions on the internet, but there aren't many objective customer reviews available.  I would really appreciate it if you would help post your experiences here so that future shoppers can get an honest look at what to expect before ordering.

Options: If you love the idea of having your pictures on wood, you can actually do it yourself for a lot less money.  It is a little time consuming, but it's also not difficult.  There are also some other, far better companies out there that offer basically the same products.  Woodsnap, for example, is a far more ethical company that only uses sustainable wood and inks.

Follow Up on Facebook

In my last post, I mentioned the company PhotoBarn.  I just wanted to follow up to let you all know that PhotoBarn has a contest going on right this very second.  I LOVE contests and entering to win free stuff on the internet, so I wanted to share.  Participating is fun even if you don't enter, and if you submit your summery pictures you could get them printed on a PhotoBoard for free.

Happy Summer Everybody!

Unique Photo Displays From PhotoBarn

These 10x10 PhotoBoards were printed with Instagram pictures from Heather Cox Photography. 

I have professional photographer friends, and I'm a little embarrassed around them when I pull out my camera.  I have only minimal photoshop knowledge and although my camera has multiple lenses, I always use the same one.  Having admitted all this, I love photography.  I love taking and editing pictures, and I love looking at pictures (both mine and--even better--great photos).

If you're looking for a great way to view photographs, then check out the company PhotoBarn.  Their specialty is printing unique photo keepsakes on wood.  That's right: the pictures are printed directly on wood.  You can choose from one of their art prints, or have them print your pictures for you.  There's a whole range of sizes from 2x2 PhotoBlocks to poster sizes.  My favorites are the mid-size PhotoBoards like the 10x10s and 12x12s.  They pictures are printed and sealed on specially treated pine wood, and they look fantastic.  I really like the way that no two prints are alike because of the characteristics of the natural wood used to print.

If you're looking for a unique gift or a way to show off your photos without adding another canvas or frame to your wall, PhotoBarn offers a unique way to turn your pictures into works of art for your home.  If you are interested in PhotoBarn, they have given me permission to give my readers an exclusive 10% off discount!  Just enter the code BLOGTHANKS in the coupon box at checkout at www.photobarn.co and it will take off 10% of your total.  (This code is valid until June 13, 2013 and can't be combined with other coupons.)