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03/19/2006 06:54:21 PM · #1 |
OK. I'm trying to get my feet off the ground with a little photo business, but had a bad go my first time around. I wanted to get some input from the pros out there as to how to structure something for the next photo op I get.
I charged a friend $40 to take her engagement photos. I took quite a few over two hours, and then gave her full resolution copies of the 20 best. I didn't want to give out any bad photos because I wanted to get referrals from her, and bad photos wouldn't work too well.
Well, I crashed hard. She complained because I only gave her 20 photos, and she knew I took well more than that. And yet I only charged her $40, which covered the cost of gas to get to where she was at.
So I ask, what is a better way to go at it for the next time around? Do I take less photos? Do I give them copies of all of them? Do I price everything based on how much time we spend, photos taken, or what?
Your input would be much appreciated. |
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03/19/2006 07:09:00 PM · #2 |
I think you've been extremely unlucky. Unfortunate behaviour from a 'friend', also. I have started doing the same sort of thing and have charged a $50 sitting fee and charged per print. I have definitely binned all the ones I wasn't happy with and then the couples/families have viewed the proofs and ordered from there. On average, I have taken about 100 shots but only 30 to 40-ish have been available for proofs. Otherwise, I think dozens and dozens of shots will just confuse and overwhelm people.
Definitely try again! |
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03/19/2006 07:09:35 PM · #3 |
Sorry to hear that Scott. Only info I can give is what I do myself. I do pic everywhere...their house, yard, the park, behind my house up and down the beach, pretty much where they want them. I shoot as many as time will allow (last one I did 127). Once I take them, I have a meeting with them to sit down at the computer, look and go over each one, and let them decide which ones that they want. You can then "file 13" the unwanted ones and work up the other (adjmnts, lighting, cropping or whatever). Then...they get what they want, for what they want to pay, you don't waste time and money on paper and time to fix. I have a Basic fee and usually offer different packages with varied different sizes. I also offer 16x20's that I have to have done for me, but at least it's what THEY have picked out. This works out well for me. Wishing you the best from here on out. You'll find that some people you just can't please. Cindy
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03/19/2006 07:12:15 PM · #4 |
Caveat' i do not take pictures for a living
(though i have made money off it)
that said, from my reading of things-
never give digital files to a client
why? they will go home & zap'm out on thier color inkjet &say they look like crap because of poor(or none) color managment when they press the print key..
give a client paper proofs or proof on a calibrated monitor only
otherwise
suggest strongly where they can get their images made (i.e. you can download icc profiles for costco off the web)
$20hr just aint worth it -- 200$ would have been a beter target
& throw in 20 2$ 8x10's
for a "friend" -do it for free, just so they never complain ...
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03/19/2006 07:28:01 PM · #5 |
My stepmom did the same thing. So I just said screw it and gave her all the originals, and told her straight up why we didn't give her all the orig's in the first place.
We had 14 people, including 6 kids under 6 years old in the group. We had to photochop 4 heads/bodies in, spending like 20 hours of work to do it, and she still whined.
aaaagh!!
Course, we knew she would pull that crap going in, and knew she would try to control things during (which she did).
For close friends and family, just go in for the practice.
For others, give them a clearly stated non-refundable sitting fee at a close "sudio" location ($50 or so), or charge per mile if it's out of the area.
You figure out what it's worth to you for per-photo pricing. NEVER GIVE OUT ORIGINALS! That's where you make your money.
If you just can't deal with the whole ordering process, try something like photoreflect.com or smugmug.com pro account.
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03/19/2006 07:28:35 PM · #6 |
| I guess my biggest mistake was not planning out stuff before hand. Hopefully I can get enough information here to keep me from getting anywhere close to the same mistake twice. Thanks for all the comments so far. |
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03/19/2006 07:35:50 PM · #7 |
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03/19/2006 08:03:43 PM · #8 |
I generally tell people up-front that they only are going to receive selected proofs, and guarantee whatever many prints based on how long they sit.
It's hard to do stuff for friends, and we all have our own story, but definitely keep trying. You didn't do anything wrong, it's a matter of managing expectations in the beginning rather than at the end.
Next time, try outlining what the expectations are prior to the shoot. Good luck! |
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