Price basics

Truthworks

What do ya'll charge for 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, and wallets on your sites? I'm very new at this and am not sure what to charge. I'll be photographing the military, while they are training...they'll be directed to the website and buy pics there. I want to be fair and don't want to over or under charge...is there a rule of thumb? Can you share what you charge with me? Thank you

Angelo

Hi and welcome to dGrin

I see this was your first post so you probably haven't done much poking about yet.

Back at the top of the MYOB forum you'll see a stickie titled "Photog's Resources" In there you'll find links to the subject of pricing.

Get familiar with our search feature and you'll find most anything you want.

Sam

Truthworks wrote:

What do ya'll charge for 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, and wallets on your sites? I'm very new at this and am not sure what to charge. I'll be photographing the military, while they are training...they'll be directed to the website and buy pics there. I want to be fair and don't want to over or under charge...is there a rule of thumb? Can you share what you charge with me? Thank you

First I would like to know how, and where you are going to be photographing military training.

Second, these men and woman are putting thier lives on the line for us. I wouldn't worry about charging too little, I would worry about charging too much, or more then they could afford.

I would be willing to do this type of photography for gas, and burgers.

Sam

geospatial_junkie

Ahhh.... gas and burgers... every photographers dream in this age of outrageuous fuel prices and terrific fast-food.

Seriously though, I agree with Sam. Public perception is an important thing, especially in this case. Personally, I would charge$10 (no more than $15) for an 8x10. Maybe have a buy 3 get one free thing going as well. Usually people can afford $20 to get a couple of 8x10's of themselves.

My charging less, you'll:

1) Look good in supporting the role these men and women play

2) Potentially make more money by selling more prints then if you charged too much.

3) Probably get asked back because they'll remember you as being reasonable and giving them a bit of a discount.

Another option is to charge on flat rate. Say, $200-$300 (I think it's reasonable if you are shooting most of the day in this particular case, otherwise I would significantly up this number) for all the photos you take of them (this does not include releasing your copyright though). Leave the private gallery up and let them download at will.

A cool thing I did for an event at the International Centre in Toronto, was to include a "Right of First Refusal" in my contract. I gave them a significant discount the first time around for personal reasons. However, I included this clause in my contract saying if they were pleased by the job, they would sign a letter of satisfaction, after the work. This letter would then give me the right of first refusal next year for the same contract. This means that if it wasn't worth your while (you didn't sell a lot of prints), then you can say no, but if it was... its yours!:D

I've found that events actually like this sort of contract because they don't have to look around for a photographer every year to photograph their event at a reasonable cost. Don't know if it would apply in this case unless it was a yearly/monthly event.

Vycor

Well here are my prices from my site, so far I get orders and no complaints. I don't make a lot, not looking to though.

4x4 Wallets: $1.99
4x6: $1.99
5x7: $4.99
8x10: $7.99
11x14: $14.99
12x18: $18.99
16x20: $24.99
20x30: $29.99
24x36: $34.99