Multi-user retail photo product creation system and method of use

A method for order placement, billing, payment, and retrieval of photo products produced with a photo product creation system, comprising:

• a user uploading or transferring digital images to a user input terminal via a user-accessible wireless digital image input device to produce photo products and fulfill photo product orders;
• using the input terminal to facilitate order placement, billing, image editing, making a photo product selection, placing an order for a photo product, photo product creation, payment, and providing a receipt for the photo product order;
• generating the photo product order from the user input terminal by communicating the photo product order to a computer processor via communication link and then further communicated to a user-accessible output array or a specialty output and finishing station via a unit communication link;
• registering the photo product order by the output array or specialty output and finishing station and printing or producing the photo product order;
• verifying payment and identity by the user presenting the photo product order receipt to an output array unit receipt reader or to retail store clerk operating the specialty output and finishing station;
• preventing photo product orders from being removed from an incorrect output array collection bin or when payment was not verified by a warning alarm, indication, or a means to alert an operator;
• using the processor to generate an order status indicator corresponding to the photo product order, including a user's name or order number, an approximate time of completion, and an indication of a location to retrieve the completed photo product order, and graphically presenting the order status indicator on a master display via the communication link;
• and
• wherein the order status indicator is conveyed or augmented using means including, a news ticker or crawler and individual order status indicators include additional indicators, including, highlighting an order indicator with a different color, shape, or by flashing the indicator when that order is available for retrieval.