My personal approach to this is only really different in one respect - I charge a lot more for the sitting. Usually a half-day rate. I charge more per print than you, but that much more ($15 per 8x10). But to do the actual shoot I would charge anywhere from $125 per hour to $250 for a half day depending on the client (whether an individual or organization, the number of people being shot, location shoot or in studio, etc.) IMHO I would say charging $30 for 30-40 shots and $10 per 8x is very cheap overall. But one must always keep in my mind that markets vary greatly especially from a large city (where I am) to a small-mid size locale where portrait studios are working. And BTW, no portrait studio worth its salt would recommend to a client to have a copy neg made of their 8x10. It kills their re-order profit and violates their own copyright (hence the general use of an imprint on the print surface).
HTH,
Norman
Russell Baker wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "Russell Baker" <rebphoto@pronetisp.net>
To: <photoforum@listserver.isc.rit.edu>
Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2003 10:24 AM
Subject: Pricing
Hi Gang.....................
Every one here has told me that I am charging too little for my work.
I agree on that................
Here is the situation..................
I am doing Theatrical Portraits.................
You know Head Shots.
Usually I get $30.00 for a sitting. I shoot about 30-40 shots and then give the customer a low res. CD of the shoot.
(I am shooting digital now, I used to give them proof sheets of the 6x7 negs)
I charge $10.00 for the first 8x10
and then $5.00 for each copy from that same pose.
I just went round and round with a customer
who felt that if they were ordering in a large quantity they should get a lower price.
They had just placed an order for 5 prints each of two different poses.
So the math is $10.00 for the first one $5.00 for the copies of that
So the total was $60.00 for the package of 10 shots.
These shots were taken on digital,
converted to grey scale and touched
up in Photo Shop by me and then taken to Sam's Club where I was charged
$2.00 ea.
So I am making $40.00 on the package...........
Where the problem lies is that this customer had some shots
done by a large studio that did get some good bucks for a sitting
and some finished prints, and then directed her to a lab that would make her an 8x10 copy neg. from one of the finished prints
(and she could keep the neg) and then run off 8x10's at a buck a piece when she needed photos. (I do think she had to order 25 at time)
I do understand that there are labs I can deal with that will print my files when I order a quantity cheaper than Sam's Club
$2.00 a print.
But what here is what my real question is..................
I was under the idea I was not charging enough for my work.
(and I have called around to the local Studios and I am more than competitive in my pricing)
I hate to ask this, but are any of you folks doing this sort of work and could I ask a "ballpark figure as to what you are charging?
(please don't direct me to a bunch of books to look up
rates and stuff, I just am looking for a basic idea of what the average pro/semi pro is getting for this in the real world)
Thanks........
Russ R.E. Baker Photography rebphoto@pronetisp.net
-- Norman Jackson Ford - / PhD (ABD)/ Dept. of Comparative Literature (and Cultural Studies), _University of Hong Kong_
/Visiting Lecturer,/ HD in Multimedia the Art School, HK Arts Centre
mail: 2/F 47 High Street Sai Ying Pun Hong Kong
(852) 2914-2923
