Don't Price Yourself Out of Work

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

04/02/2007 02:14:48 PM · #26

Originally posted by jblaylockrayner:

Cindi I see you have some postcards printed - How is the quality? I am looking to get some really nice hi class postcards printed up - Who did you use?
Cheers and well done with the gig.

Hi Jeff. I used VistaPrint for all of my postcards. They run specials often... whenever they're running 100 postcards for $.01 or something silly like that I order a set. Once you pay $5 for your file upload & shipping it ends up about $10 per 100.

option

Nikon D200

04/02/2007 02:23:50 PM · #27

The only problem I can see here is you are devaluing the work that photographers do. That other guy is probably working off standard pricing listed in fotoquote (or something similar), which is why he wouldn't budge off his rate.

Now, thats not to say that I myself wouldn't jump at the chance to do some actual work at a low rate... but I know ALOT of photogs that would blacklist me for it. Another site I post at would probably ban me if they found out I was knowingly undercutting other photogs (but thats a more business oriented site than DPC)

Sure, exposure is great, but how much exposure do you want when it says "Hi I'm [Cindi], I'll work for 20% of what I'm worth!"

Just a couple thoughts...

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

04/02/2007 02:31:24 PM · #28

Originally posted by option:

I don't think you understand. I did not undercut his price. He was told the event's budget and after agreeing to do the work came back with a much higher rate than what they originally discussed. I agreed to do it for the fee that they had paid for the last 12 years. Its a school function - much different budget than a commercial event, but the exposure is why I choose to do it.

FWIW - my prices for a commercial event are much closer to what the other photographer wanted to charge.

option

Nikon D200

04/02/2007 02:41:43 PM · #29

ahh, sorry, didn't catch that.

jblaylockrayner

Nikon D2Xs

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

04/02/2007 02:50:43 PM · #30

Thanks Cindi,
Will have a look now.
Cheers
Jeff

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/02/2007 03:53:18 PM · #31

Originally posted by jblaylockrayner:

Thanks Cindi,
Will have a look now.
Cheers
Jeff

I just used Vistaprint to get some business cards too (on special, of course) and I'm happy with them.

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

04/02/2007 03:59:06 PM · #32

Cool Cindi. Any idea how many hours you have put in by the time the job is behind you?

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/02/2007 04:04:59 PM · #33

Originally posted by Jacko:

Cool Cindi. Any idea how many hours you have put in by the time the job is behind you?

I shot for 5 hours each of the 2 nights, sorted and processed for another 4 or 5 hours. Then it was about 13 hours for the files to upload, obviously that part wasn't work, just waiting.

So in all I probably have 15 hours of work in the weekend and around 400 finished shots up for ordering.

The galleries are on my website if anyone cares to peek:
Pageant Gallery 1

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

04/02/2007 04:41:28 PM · #34

Originally posted by idnic:

I shot for 5 hours each of the 2 nights, sorted and processed for another 4 or 5 hours.

i don't know if this makes any difference with your situation, but the only images i edit for print before uploading are headshots and teamshots. everything else gets batched processed, previewed, and then uploaded; only when someone commits to an order do i edit for print. with the volumes i shoot, i just don't have time to fine-edit...thank God for smugmug's 'proof delay 7 days'!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/02/2007 04:57:33 PM · #35

Originally posted by Skip:

Originally posted by idnic:
I shot for 5 hours each of the 2 nights, sorted and processed for another 4 or 5 hours.

i don't know if this makes any difference with your situation, but the only images i edit for print before uploading are headshots and teamshots. everything else gets batched processed, previewed, and then uploaded; only when someone commits to an order do i edit for print. with the volumes i shoot, i just don't have time to fine-edit...thank God for smugmug's 'proof delay 7 days'!

I did the same, Skip. I batch processed to add a touch of sharpening and a viginette.... that's all. Anything that needed much processing didn't make it to the final batch. I will do the same with delaying proof orders and editing only those that get ordered. The processing I mentioned earlier was preparing & running batch processes and the sorting itself. Sorting took about 2 hours per night's shooting.

The administrator of the event called today, she's going to be ordering a ton according to her message -- she LOVES my work. That's really satisfying. :)

Message edited by author 2007-04-02 16:58:28.

suemack

Canon EOS-20D

04/06/2007 07:58:42 AM · #36

Cindi, you did a fantastic job.....they're wonderful!!

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

05/03/2007 01:49:40 PM · #37

So do you have an update? Any post event sales to report?

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

05/03/2007 01:54:31 PM · #38

Originally posted by idnic:

The administrator of the event called today, she's going to be ordering a ton according to her message -- she LOVES my work. That's really satisfying. :)

I can see why - the collection looks really, really strong. Very professional - infact a lot more professional than the work I often see passed off by "professionals". Congratulations! Very inspiring!

dahved

Canon EOS-50D

Tamron AF 18-270mm F/3,5-6,3 Di II VC LD Aspherical [IF] macro for Canon

05/03/2007 03:13:34 PM · #39

Cindi,

You do indeed have a nice site, and nice shots there. I have to pick one little nit, (and I think it would make your site a micron more professional), and that is the spelling of "rehearsal."

Cheers,
David

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

05/03/2007 03:25:42 PM · #40

Eug - Sales to date from night of event and online ordering total $648.
I can expect a few more online orders; the gallery will stay active for 6 months.

David - thank you for pointing that out! I swear I need a proofreader following me around 24/7!

Everyone who commented - Thanks for peeking at the galleries, I appreciate your input and opinions. :D

BeeCee

Nikon D40

05/03/2007 03:44:15 PM · #41

Originally posted by idnic:

Eug - Sales to date from night of event and online ordering total $648.
I can expect a few more online orders; the gallery will stay active for 6 months.

Just curious; how do the sales compare with your hopes/expectations?
Or did you have any? :)