Help with pricing?

Marianne_Armshaw

Hi. I am a pro shooter, SmugMug newbie and posting here because I see the most members are in this forum. {I am so sorry if that is a faux pas} Can anyone help with pricing? I have NO idea what to charge for the various prints and gift items. Any suggestions? How can I look at what others are charging? This is urgent for me -- I have a client hyper-ventilating to order photos. I want as many shekels as I can get, naturally, but don't want to drive away the custom. Thanks for fastest response. BTW, I refer to prints from events and portraits -- I am very good but these are not fine art category. Neither are they family snaps taken by Uncle Fred. And I am so ignorant because I have been a photojournalist and rarely had to deal with prints -- or earn any $$$ from them!
many thanks. So nice to have a community.

gus

Welcome to d/grin marianne...i have moved your post to Smugmug pro sales support to assist you getting a better response.

Marianne_Armshaw

thanks for reply
Hi. Thanks for moving it to Pro. I was not sure where to post. I had written in Pro but then thought prolly fewer pro shooters are member than the community as a whole, so I tried for a place where folks are in the forum. This is new territory for me! Appreciate the help. Do you have any suggestions re pricing?

gus

Marianne_Armshaw wrote:

Do you have any suggestions re pricing?

Your welcome. Me ? Not on your life...i dont sell my photos because...because...well i dont do it. I tried it a few times at local races (mountain bike & motorbike) & just could not put up with the crap people expect.

I rode my bike for 300 klms on a winters morning...sat all day in the dust & sun...spend a few days processing & had 2 buyers so i assume they dont want it. One racing family offered me equiv to $15 USD for 10 photos & originals so as he could give the originals to his sponsor He didnt like my rather blunt reply.

Hey which im cool with too, if i had to rely on photography for putting food on the table... i would starve.

With my other stuff in my link in my signature...i just dont care if no-one buys them. I dont care if no-one likes them. I just get such a buzz doing my own thing. We dont have the buying power here like the US does (corp sales i mean) so i dont show most of my gallerys.

If someone wants one i quote $500 AUD (about $430USD) for a huge print. needless to say i dont get any sales. I think..whats the point if i cant get a sale to buy me half a lens. I dont like talking to people about money..here it is & this is the price...take it or leave it.

But thats just me. im sure there are people in here that will be able to help you.

caroline

Marianne_Armshaw wrote:

Hi. I am a pro shooter, SmugMug newbie and posting here because I see the most members are in this forum. {I am so sorry if that is a faux pas} Can anyone help with pricing? I have NO idea what to charge for the various prints and gift items. Any suggestions? How can I look at what others are charging? This is urgent for me -- I have a client hyper-ventilating to order photos. I want as many shekels as I can get, naturally, but don't want to drive away the custom. Thanks for fastest response. BTW, I refer to prints from events and portraits -- I am very good but these are not fine art category. Neither are they family snaps taken by Uncle Fred. And I am so ignorant because I have been a photojournalist and rarely had to deal with prints -- or earn any $$$ from them!
many thanks. So nice to have a community.

Hi Marianne,
Greetings from the UK - but I think my comments will still be relevant - check out what your competitiors are charging in your local area, chooses 2 or 3 that produce similar work to yourself and pitch in at comparable prices. Have a firm idea of what sizes and types of print you are going to offer and price up accordingly, if you think the client may want to do a deal on quantity etc then know in your mind what you will offer/accept beforehand and stick to it. As Gus says, be prepared for the crap, I don't do portrait or events but my experience of selling prints for several years is that more and more, they want it NOW and CHEAP or FREE and you should be VERY PLEASED - I don't mean to shout -, afterall it only took you a split second to press that shutter didn't it?

Good luck, be tough,
Caroline

ian408

Pricing depends on many factors. If you are shooting for stock or a wedding
or magazine work, the price is different.

You might want to have a look at this or something like it.
For a look at another point of view, www.danheller.com.

Best of luck to you.