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05/05/2006 01:48:58 PM · #1 |
So I'm going to do portraits- only outdoors. Nothing HUGE, just something for fun and a little extra money. I'm catering towards people who want nice portraits but don't have the money to pay for what a regular private studio would cost.
I've gone over all the details such as paperwork, contracts, ect with a friend who has a private studio but I need help with pricing now. And it seems to be such a huge curve in pricing around here so I'm having a hard time figuring this side of things out. I'll be ordering prints from Mpix when I do order and I've already printed out their price list. Proofs I'll be ordering from somewhere cheap.
I'm wanting to know what an affordable cost for proofs on cd would be- but still enough for me to make a little something.
plus pricing for differents sizes of prints.
I've already gone over cost of my time and gas to wherever the shooting would take place and our friend is willing to help me out.
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05/05/2006 03:35:33 PM · #2 |
Hey!!! Quit stealing my ideas!!
Anyway, I've decided that what I'm doing is charging a $15 sitting fee, but for that sitting fee they get to keep the proofs. Then, my standard first package (1 8x10, 2 5x7's, a sheet of wallets) is $25. With the possible exception of Wal-Mart NO PLACE is cheaper than that, and no place, not even Wal-Mart, will let you just have your proofs.
I'll let you know how it goes. I've got some prom pictures, senior portraits for home schooled kids, and a couple of pageant pictures lined up. |
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05/05/2006 03:52:02 PM · #3 |
You'll sell more prints without proofs. All the big boys proof 9a week after the shoot) with one of thse digital projectors - show them a 30x40 first, then 16x20 - by the time you get to 8x10 the look like wallets LOL.
If you give them proofs then everyone has time to think and negotiate the prints they like vs the cost. 'This one or that one?' - when you they only the the same 1/2 hour to view and choose that they had for the sitting, they don't quibble, they buy both. You also sell larger prints. and frames.
Next best choice is the web - many options, some free some cheap. I am using breezeborwser pro and the free webspace i get with my internet service (175mb of it) //www.viewandchoose.com - just set that up yesterday BTW. Prices and such to follow for selling prints from events. Online proofing is free too, once it's set up. I've tried printed proofs - you get NO sales. Or the bare minimum. Web proofing so far has DOUBLED my print sales. IN person projector style would be better yet, but that takes money and space...
Print prices:
Around here I am in the middle - $12 for an 8x10 - of the home-based type photographers. The guy that shoots the little leage baseball stuff is $10, the guy that did the preschool photos is $14. My website has my prices if you are curious. I don't do 4x6 - I'm a pro, and pros print big (and wallets LOL). Well, that's my opinion on 4x6s. BTW, there are MUCH better deals than MPix out there. My lab does 8x10s for $1 and no shipping costs (min $10 order though) //www.profilmet.com Better packaging (no bent pics), same or better quality, kodak paper, etc and LOTS more things too.
I want $30 to 40 for every hour i work. So if the session is 30 minutes plus soem BS time, and 30 minutes in PS then i want $40-50. Some of that can come from print sales, but i prefer to get it UP FRONT in the sitting fee. See my HS senior pricing.
I find that offering a $30 sitting fee with a $15 credit toward prints works pretty well - they get something for the sitting fee money and so do you.
Walmart works, or target. You cannot compete on price so give it up - Tarkgets package here is less than my cost of the prints alone! You are offering a custom service - SERVICE - so charge like you're worth something.
Message edited by author 2006-05-05 15:52:53.
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05/05/2006 08:03:36 PM · #4 |
Well this is a pro in the area and I'm not looking to go pro. I'd forwarded my link to a few people I know and have since received 8 more phonecalls for portraits.
This is a website for a local pro
//vabeachweb.com/pricing/index.asp#senior
and those are the average prices I've found for the private studio that are not a chain like PicturePeople.
I'm not looking at this to make a ton of money, that's not my goal here. I'm doing this as a service for families and kids who want better portraits then Walmart, but can't afford the professional price- like me when I was a senior.
Raggamuffin- I've had this idea for a while lol. Just finally popped something in our church newsletter last week and bam, I've had quite a few calls. I asked for a couple teens to model for me so I could practice and am offering a free sheet of wallets and proofs. I'm only taking 2 kids for that offer and everything after that will be a paying job. I'm onto something here because there a lot of kids on our side of the bridge who do not have money for nice portraits and don't want to go to Walmart. So we'll see how it goes. Good luck with your venture! |
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05/05/2006 09:06:14 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by missinseattle:
Well this is a pro in the area and I'm not looking to go pro. I'd forwarded my link to a few people I know and have since received 8 more phonecalls for portraits.
This is a website for a local pro
//vabeachweb.com/pricing/index.asp#senior
and those are the average prices I've found for the private studio that are not a chain like PicturePeople.
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OK, I looked at his site -
What's a Large Wallet?
$50 for
# 1 ΓΆ€“ 8 x 10
# 2 ΓΆ€“ 5 x 7
# 4 ΓΆ€“ 4 x 6
# 16 ΓΆ€“ Large Wallets
plus the $100 up front for sitting fee.
I'm cheaper than that and you want to be cheaper yet.
Depends on your business plan - some places give away the sitting fee and take as many shots as possible - more clothes, more poses mean more photos sold - there is a reason for doing that way.
Around here the average senior spends $400. I know a studio that averages $1100 per senior. If the kids spend too much, just tell them next time you'll take ugly pictures LOL.
It's not your fault if they like your work and spend a fortune.
Big studios that make big money on Seniors:
//www.redfordphotography.com/ - the guy that averages $1100
//www.romaguera.com/ - the guy i spend a week studying with that's been doing this for 40 years and has 3 studios (4 before katrina). Does over $2 million in sales, 95% seniors and school sports.
You don't want to go pro, but you want to charge money - that's the clinical and legal definition of a pro. So if you're gonna charge money, then you (legally) need to declare that as income to the IRS - BUT you also get to deduct expenses. I bet (from my experience) you can claim $4000 or more in expenses, so you should find a way to earn that in sales.
You may choose to do it 'under the table' - but you may piss off a pro photog and he'll turn you in (to the local folks, the IRS, whomever) - it's an easy way for him to eliminate a competitor. I have been warned about a local photog that does this here...one may do it there. Not everyone is PC and warm and fuzzy like us at DPC.
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05/06/2006 06:10:31 AM · #6 |
Oh I'll be claiming it on taxes. I won't be doing anything under the table. But I won't be making it an official business till it actually does something. Here in VA you don't need a business license till you've grossed over 1000.
Right now I just want to get my feet wet and see what becomes of it. A little extra money is always a good thing and since everything I'll be doing is strictly outdoors that's going to be tricky too. I can't do a lot right now anyways because my husband works and we have a 5yo daughter that is home with me- no babysitters and I refuse to pay for daycare again lol.
Thank you for all the help and advice. Nothing is officially planned yet, but there are people interested. |
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