Pricing Help! by Nicole Goggins

Nicole you are welcome to use my system if that’s any use to you? My packages include the disk as well as prints, but if I’m selling the prints separately, I wouldn’t start any less than $7 per 4×6, $12 per 5×7, $20 per 8×10. (you could certainly charge more though!). Don’t undersell yourself…always charge full price unless its for perhaps your best friend or family!!
Good luck!

i assume this is for ur client’s personal use only… 30%-50% mark-up on the prints. same for the framing. plus expenses for travel, shipping and packing [if appropriate].

You can mark-up based on cost….but seeing your work – it is good, and that must be factored in. You are in AU me in US, but I would dare say two 8 × 10 of quality $50 (us) and $15 there after?….I wouldn"t bother with the framing, but rather suggest where to get them. Usually packages (pricing per shots bought included) are tied to a sit in, but you say you have already been compensated for that…my advice is don’t go short on your talent. Otherwise they can go to a mall and get the “fluffy” stuff – good luck and I look forward to reading more answers…

I also like Jan’s approach……(god, her work is also a wow!)

I’d use your normal mark up. Since it was a gift from her friend, she should pay for the remainder, you shouldnt have to compensate.

What company are you using for printing?

I use WHCC which has a pretty cheap printing fee, free shipping to my home, and very good quality. I’ve had excellent results from them!

I personally checked a bunch of websites of people in my area and then saw how they marked all theirs prints. I had a major issue with how expensive every thing was because as a six person family, we would never be able to pay for stuff like that. So it was a personal decision of mine to price my stuff less than all others, but to still make a profit. Here’s what I pay and how much I charge:
4×6-pay $.70, charge $2
5×7-pay 1.10, charge $5
8×10-pay 2.10, charge $10
8 cut wallets-pay 2.10, charge $12
11×14-pay 4.20, charge $20

I know that seems like a major leap from 8×10 to 11×14 but all the other companies around here charge about $15-$25 for 8×10 and then upwards of $50 for 11×14, so I kinda went with how they increased.

I also charge for collaging, $10 for 5×7, $15 for 8×10, $25 for 11×14...thats just them paying for my time to put them together for them. Along with that, any extra editing, like removing acne or taking writing off of shirts or stuff like that, is $10 per photo.

Hope that helps yah out a little. Remember, I purposefully set myself alot lower than others because I wanted to be affordable to the average to less average family. And I am basing mine off of the other companies in this area. Do your research! ;-)

Nicole it depends on how much editing you’re done. If they’re pretty much straight out of the camera then Jan’s prices above sound right. If they have asked for zits to be removed etc then you have to charge a little more for your time. Taylor Sawyer is right on the money also.

I’m just about to open my Studio which is very exciting : ) …. So I’m in a similar situation. I have spoken to a number of professional photographers and the main advice they give is don’t undercharge. Think about all of the money you have outlaid on your equipment and the time you have spent learning your art. Charge accordingly…

oh wow Nicole your work is just superb really superb !! so whatever you charge make sure it’s not under as you’ll have too many people wanting cheap also and you’ll end up nutty and extremely ill from working 20 hours a day .[ like I used to and end up really nuts [learned from experience!] [not photos] see answer is all over the place !!!

Gini

You should charge more for your digital art images too…I generally start at $30-40 per image (depending on how much time I’ve spent on something), and include a 6 × 8 print, plus a high res copy on disk.
It’s not a lot compared to what some photogs charge, but at least I’m getting something extra for my time (and talent of course!)

Hi Nicole. This may not be too much help as it’s in GBP but this is what I charge for family & friends:

1. For a siting up to one hour I charge £100
2. This covers my time, processing and includes putting all the images on a disc or on a secure password protected page on my website for them to view
3. Included in this price is one mounted print at 16×12″
4. All other prints are then charged at varying prices depending on the size. An 8×6″ mounted print is £15 and anything bigger is between £20 & £30

Even although it’s for family & friends, I take into account my overheads like electricity, petrol, procesing time, paper, ink, mounts – these things don’t come for free.

From experience if you do a homer cheap for the family and someone else see the photos and ask what the cost was etc then they expect the same, ie. for free or very cheap which then undermines your work – I was caught out at the beginning when I did 3 portrait sittings for cousins etc and ended up losing money as they expected the sitting for free. So from now on I have a pricelist for family & friends and another for everyone else.

Hope this is of some help.
Andy

Nicole,
I don’t agree with supplying the pics on disk, unless you provide them in very low res format – just so they can use them as “proof prints”. When everyone shot film, the photographer retained the negatives – hence you should retain your work/files. Your profits are made on the prints. Perhaps they wish for them to be printed in various formats… you can have prints done straight onto some fantastic textured papers which are then bound into books/albums…so many variations.
You mention that you have done post processing – which does help protect your reputation for quality…removing blemishes, removing colour casts etc – and you need to recoup that time and expertise above the costs and mark-ups for the prints.
I am a firm believer that if you price quite low…then people do not necessarily value your work and expertise. If you don’t post process then your quality may drop – then other believe they can do “happy snaps” too… and not see the value of your work.
People love to look great and want their kids to look great… for that there is a cost.

hi nicole,

I charge for shoot these days, and issue images on a disk, I know traditional shooters disagree, and ive given much thought,but these days of easiness of print,and so many options of media,i just make sure i charge a reasonable rate,after all,I dont want the photos of someone else in 3 months time anyway.

I do still charge a print price on my site for events,thats a little different.but portraits and especially friends,a hourly shoot rate for me.

I have a family shoot(friends also) thursday night,I will charge a flat rate for the hour, and issue a dvd with images prepared.I charge $120 per hour,regardless of whom.