| Author | Thread |
|
|
01/27/2012 04:41:19 PM · #51 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
I find it interesting how some people give their talent away to feed only their ego, and in doing so neglect 'feeding' their children. |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Well...there are some people who are multi-talented, who don't need the money from all their talents to feed their kids.
And some of us are feeding our hearts and spirits as opposed to our egos with what we give away.
Not everyone's like you, Slippy! LOL!!! |
Originally posted by Spork99:
You shouldn't look at it as "needing" the money. Look at it as giving that money away by not taking it. |
It's not about the money in some cases, that's my point. I don't need to make money from my photography. That doesn't equate to giving money away simply because I don't hold my client up by his/her feet and try to shake out as much as I can from them.
Originally posted by Spork99:
If you undercharge for your work, you might as well hand the customer a wad of cash. |
Undercharge according to whom? Who determines the worth of my image in any particular situation? I'm sorry, but photography just happens to be one of those industries that anyone with a DSLR can try to pass him/herself off as a pro. I don't care if that guy over there thinks that there's "Standard Industry Pricing". there certainly isn't any standard of what passes for acceptable work since it's all in the eye of the beholder/client when it comes to sales. If you don't like the reality of that, then specialize in a field where the competition, or the perceived competition isn't there. I charge what I want to charge based on a number of variables. I have some pieces in a gallery now that are quite pricey......but if I want to give someone a matted & framed picture because I like them, I will.
Originally posted by Spork99:
If you feel that bad about being engaged in commerce, you can sooth your guilt by donating those "extra" profits to the charity of your choice. |
Nobody said anything about feeling bad for engaging in commerce. The nice part about the way I do my sales is that since I'm not generally for hire, I price as I see fit. I don't really much care what someone else does, I'm not him, etc....
Originally posted by Spork99:
That way if you charge too little, you're stealing food from starving babies. |
This just makes no sense..... |
Why should your work be priced less than work by someone who is a pro? It's not about what camera you use, why do you bring that up anyway? It's the image. It's like you're all apologizing for your work by underpricing it. You might as well be saying, "Please hang my crappy photo on your wall, it's only $20."
Message edited by author 2012-01-27 16:46:14. |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 05:14:42 PM · #52 |
Originally posted by hahn23:
I recommend 1/100. I think it really helps to offer a limited edition. And, if you offer a chance at the #1 of the series, you'll create a happy customer. You don't have to print 100 images. I usually print one (or just a few) at a time. Then, when I hit the end of the run, I usually have a better image to sell anyway. |
I've asked for advice on this same topic before and you gave the same advice but I had a question on this myself. You may not have this problem because you sell in volume but what if he sells this and numbers is 1/100. He prints only what he sells (in this case 1) then numbers it 1/100. What happens if he never sells another one or sells only 3-4 more of this image in the future. Then I feel he is falsely advertiseing how many or out in the world and the numbering really means nothing.
Have you honestly ever had a set that you numbered and did not print/sell the entire lot? Did you stay true to your word and print the rest even though they did not sell? Do you feel that the number is more of a promise to the customer that if you get to that point you will stop printing more even if you don't make it to that number?
|
|
|
|
01/27/2012 05:19:58 PM · #53 |
Originally posted by Spork99:
Why should your work be priced less than work by someone who is a pro? It's not about what camera you use, why do you bring that up anyway? It's the image. It's like you're all apologizing for your work by underpricing it. You might as well be saying, "Please hang my crappy photo on your wall, it's only $20." |
A person who does this for a living has the avenues and connections to sell their work for much more because they are devoting 100% of their time to selling their images. An ameture who does this for fun and happens to get sales from some of his/her items cannot (in most cases) sell for higher prices and expect the same revenue stream. |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 05:19:59 PM · #54 |
Originally posted by Spork99:
You might as well be saying, "Please hang my crappy photo on your wall, it's only $20." |
You stole that line from my sales brochure. :( |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 05:26:02 PM · #55 |
I understand and see clearly that there are differencing of opinions with this topic.
@levyj You need to do what feels right to you. Obviously you have gotten many opinions on what you should do. But you need to make the decision that makes you feel comfortable.
@everyone who is bickering back and forth You need to take the drama else where. specifically off this site. You have made your opinions clear so just leave this thread alone. its stupid. |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 05:26:39 PM · #56 |
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
Originally posted by Spork99:
You might as well be saying, "Please hang my crappy photo on your wall, it's only $20." |
You stole that line from my sales brochure. :( |
HAHAHA!! Ken you're so awesome... |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 05:42:48 PM · #57 |
Originally posted by ScooterMcNutty:
@everyone who is bickering back and forth You need to take the drama else where. specifically off this site. You have made your opinions clear so just leave this thread alone. its stupid. |
Yes ma'am |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 05:58:43 PM · #58 |
Originally posted by ScooterMcNutty:
@everyone who is bickering back and forth You need to take the drama else where. specifically off this site. You have made your opinions clear so just leave this thread alone. its stupid. |
There's a better place for photographers to discuss pricing philosophies and strategies than in a thread titled "help me price a print ..."? Nobody's making you read it ... |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 05:59:36 PM · #59 |
Originally posted by SEG:
Originally posted by Spork99:
Why should your work be priced less than work by someone who is a pro? It's not about what camera you use, why do you bring that up anyway? It's the image. It's like you're all apologizing for your work by underpricing it. You might as well be saying, "Please hang my crappy photo on your wall, it's only $20." |
A person who does this for a living has the avenues and connections to sell their work for much more because they are devoting 100% of their time to selling their images. An ameture who does this for fun and happens to get sales from some of his/her items cannot (in most cases) sell for higher prices and expect the same revenue stream. |
So if you spent 12 hours on the sale of a photo, that makes the photo worth more than if you had spent 4 hours selling the exact same photo?
You've confused working hard with having a quality product. Unless you're a famous photographer or related to the customer, the customer doesn't care if you are an amateur or a pro. They care about the picture going on the wall. |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 06:14:34 PM · #60 |
Originally posted by Spork99:
Why should your work be priced less than work by someone who is a pro? It's not about what camera you use, why do you bring that up anyway? It's the image. It's like you're all apologizing for your work by underpricing it. You might as well be saying, "Please hang my crappy photo on your wall, it's only $20." |
I honestly cannot fathom how you come to some of the conclusions you do.
There are some of us who simply don't feel the need to charge a lot of money for our work. I would assume that except for the occasional gift or work for a relative that most of us are still charging enough to cover costs, and make some money over that; it's just that we don't feel the need to factor in a lot of the type of overhead item variables that a pro must in order to support their business.
|
|
|
|
01/27/2012 06:22:28 PM · #61 |
Originally posted by SEG:
Originally posted by hahn23:
I recommend 1/100. I think it really helps to offer a limited edition. And, if you offer a chance at the #1 of the series, you'll create a happy customer. You don't have to print 100 images. I usually print one (or just a few) at a time. Then, when I hit the end of the run, I usually have a better image to sell anyway. |
I've asked for advice on this same topic before and you gave the same advice but I had a question on this myself. You may not have this problem because you sell in volume but what if he sells this and numbers is 1/100. He prints only what he sells (in this case 1) then numbers it 1/100. What happens if he never sells another one or sells only 3-4 more of this image in the future. Then I feel he is falsely advertiseing how many or out in the world and the numbering really means nothing.
Have you honestly ever had a set that you numbered and did not print/sell the entire lot? Did you stay true to your word and print the rest even though they did not sell? Do you feel that the number is more of a promise to the customer that if you get to that point you will stop printing more even if you don't make it to that number? |
I am actively selling all the limited edition print series I've ever numbered, except for the series which have sold out. |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 06:28:19 PM · #62 |
| Hahn - I guess my real question is would you still recommend that he number it 1/100 knowing that in all likely hood he will never sell 100 of these? |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 06:30:58 PM · #63 |
Originally posted by SEG:
Hahn - I guess my real question is would you still recommend that he number it 1/100 knowing that in all likely hood he will never sell 100 of these? |
Yes. |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 07:22:43 PM · #64 |
Don't have time to catch up on the conversation - I'll do that later tonight.
Just wanted to report that he accepted my $215 canvas print suggestion!
WOOHOO! |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 07:30:32 PM · #65 |
Originally posted by levyj413:
Don't have time to catch up on the conversation - I'll do that later tonight.
Just wanted to report that he accepted my $215 canvas print suggestion!
WOOHOO! |
Awesome!!! Congrats!!!! |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 07:42:54 PM · #66 |
Originally posted by levyj413:
Just wanted to report that he accepted my $215 canvas print suggestion! |
Congrats! You got a fair price, and doing it this way he probably saved a couple of hundred in framing ... :-) |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 08:22:37 PM · #67 |
Originally posted by levyj413:
Don't have time to catch up on the conversation - I'll do that later tonight.
Just wanted to report that he accepted my $215 canvas print suggestion!
WOOHOO! |
Hurrah! Now procure at a Pro wholesale price, if you have a Pro account.
eta: I think you priced at FMV. Thanks for not undervaluing your good photography.
eta2: Okay, for CanvasOD Pro, with 10% discount, premium dust cover and free shipping, you would procure at about $93.00. So, your markup ratio is about 2.31 which will help offset fixed costs in your business. Congratulations. (This was a good thread.) My experience has been that a markup of 2.31 is adequate, but not excessive, for pricing a photography print. It's very volume dependent., but I wouldn't price below this markup level in this economy (if you want to survive).
Message edited by author 2012-01-27 20:55:16. |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 11:15:53 PM · #68 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Originally posted by Spork99:
Why should your work be priced less than work by someone who is a pro? It's not about what camera you use, why do you bring that up anyway? It's the image. It's like you're all apologizing for your work by underpricing it. You might as well be saying, "Please hang my crappy photo on your wall, it's only $20." |
I honestly cannot fathom how you come to some of the conclusions you do.
There are some of us who simply don't feel the need to charge a lot of money for our work. I would assume that except for the occasional gift or work for a relative that most of us are still charging enough to cover costs, and make some money over that; it's just that we don't feel the need to factor in a lot of the type of overhead item variables that a pro must in order to support their business. |
It's not about what you need monetarily. It IS about what low pricing says about the value of your work to you. When I see a picture priced so low, my first impression is, "What's wrong with it? What is the defect?" I don't see a bargain.
I wouldn't care if the people I see pricing their work so low were churning out crap, but they're doing quality work and should get a quality price because the image is valuable on its own merit. The picture is what it is. Your costs, gear and expenses just aren't important to the customer. None of that matters. The only thing that matters is the image they see and how they feel about it.
Message edited by author 2012-01-27 23:17:11. |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 11:16:01 PM · #69 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by levyj413:
Just wanted to report that he accepted my $215 canvas print suggestion! |
Congrats! You got a fair price, and doing it this way he probably saved a couple of hundred in framing ... :-) |
How do you figure, Paul? I'm sure he's going to go frame it.
Oh - you mean that I would've marked up the frame if I'd done it. True, true. I also saved myself the hassle. :) |
|
|
|
01/27/2012 11:23:06 PM · #70 |
Originally posted by hahn23:
Now procure at a Pro wholesale price, if you have a Pro account.
...
It's very volume dependent., but I wouldn't price below this markup level in this economy (if you want to survive). |
Hey, thanks! The one canvas print I've ever done happened to be at Canvas on Demand, using a pro account, because someone here years ago pointed out a massive discount they were giving for new pro accounts.
I get your point about numbering it 1/100. I think that's roughly 99 more than I'll probably ever print, so I'm safe there. :)
But as I mentioned, there's no survival at stake here. I don't do this for the sales.
SEG: I think the point of the number isn't to guarantee that that number gets printed, but rather to guarantee that there'll never be more than X in existence. The numbering is intended to guarantee rarity, making it more valuable, not as a claim that the print is wildly popular. So no problem with printing fewer than the number, only with printing more. Here's a page that explains it better.
Skip: I really like your idea of printing up 4x6s as postcards. He might like that idea, too, and it would fit well with the concept of putting several of my shots in various hotel rooms. Thanks!
Message edited by author 2012-01-27 23:58:17. |
|
|
|
01/28/2012 09:34:12 AM · #71 |
Originally posted by levyj413:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by levyj413:
Just wanted to report that he accepted my $215 canvas print suggestion! |
Congrats! You got a fair price, and doing it this way he probably saved a couple of hundred in framing ... :-) |
How do you figure, Paul? I'm sure he's going to go frame it.
Oh - you mean that I would've marked up the frame if I'd done it. True, true. I also saved myself the hassle. :) |
A thick wrap (no frame) would take on a three dimensional look. That would look great with your image. If it is going to be framed, you'd want to order a thin wrap. Sometimes, customers have a preconceived notion that photos need to be "framed". Some customers insist on this. So, we do offer framed canvas prints as an option in our gallery. CanvasOD offers floating frames and regular frames. The issue with using another party to frame your image after you have had it produced and signed is you lose some control of the final presentation. For example, you wouldn't want the canvas print matted and placed behind glass.
Possibly, Paul was suggesting the canvas print would be produced as a ready to hang image, without frame. (Also was my assumption.)
Message edited by author 2012-01-28 09:35:16. |
|
|
|
01/28/2012 10:39:45 AM · #72 |
i haven't not done this yet, but i have a friend who swears by mounted-then-framed canvas prints. it cost a lot less than wrapped canvases, it maintains that "on-canvas" look, and it gives the customer complete control over framing options. just something to consider. COD offers that as an option.
btw, congrats! cheers to many more!! |
|
|
|
01/28/2012 10:47:54 AM · #73 |
Originally posted by hahn23:
Possibly, Paul was suggesting the canvas print would be produced as a ready to hang image, without frame. (Also was my assumption.) |
Aye, most of the canvas prints I've seen lately are wrapped on a "stretcher" frame of some kind, and are marketed as read-to-hang without additional framing. |
|
|
|
01/28/2012 02:14:09 PM · #74 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by hahn23:
Possibly, Paul was suggesting the canvas print would be produced as a ready to hang image, without frame. (Also was my assumption.) |
Aye, most of the canvas prints I've seen lately are wrapped on a "stretcher" frame of some kind, and are marketed as read-to-hang without additional framing. |
Ah, good points! Funny that I didn't think of that, since it's how I have my one canvas print hanging on my wall. *smacks forehead*
I'll suggest just that, naturally adding a bit to the price but explaining he'll save loads on framing.
The tricky thing is to show him online examples without him seeing the price list! This whole thing is happening via email, since his hotel's a good drive from here (I'll be asking for PayPal payment before I order the print). |
|
|
|
01/28/2012 02:18:03 PM · #75 |
BTW, this is what I have hanging on my bedroom wall, printed 16x20 on canvas:
 |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/13/2025 12:49:17 PM EDT.
