What do you charge for photos? - DPChallenge Forums

02/08/2007 06:39:00 PM · #1

Hey everyone,

I was wondering how you come about the price you charge for your photos when you either sell them online or in a show or gallery.

I was hoping to get an idea of pricing for:

5x7 matted and framed
5x7 matted only

8x10 matted and framed
8x10 matted only

11x14 matted and framed
11x14 matted only

16x20 matted and framed
16x20 matted only

or any custom sizes that you do that you care to share. I am trying to come up with an ballpark average, because normally I price to high.

Thanks for the help
Rich

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

02/08/2007 06:45:29 PM · #2

Well my artistic photos are priced differently then my photos I take for weddings. Which are you trying to price?

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/08/2007 06:52:13 PM · #3

Trying to price just normal artistic photos, like a landscape or something like that.

Thanks again,
Rich

nicklevy

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

02/08/2007 07:24:44 PM · #4

Originally posted by Hot_Pixel:

Trying to price just normal artistic photos, like a landscape or something like that.

Thanks again,
Rich

For me it depends a lot on the wow factor of the image as well as technical and artistic merits. I did price this photo rather cheap cause while I like it a lot I know it is not a theme very popular while I did put a lot heavier price tag on this one because though it didn't score so well here on DPC I like it a lot, printed it and framed it myself for hanging in my living room and I don't feel like selling it as a huge deal.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/09/2007 06:59:49 AM · #5

Bump for the morning crowd, hopefully to recieve some help on this topic

Rich

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

02/09/2007 08:52:49 AM · #6

There are so many factors that go into pricing images. The quality of the work, the venue its being sold in, the type of buyers, the demand for the prints, the location and even the reputation of the photographer.... just to name a few. There is no "An image of a light house should be $350" - rule

My suggestion is to google photographers in your area, check out their prices to see what the market will support, then compare your work and price accordingly.

FWIW - For studio work, I charge $100/hour, for prints I charge about $25 per 8X10 unframed; but last week I sold a 20X30 framed for $410. Every situation will be somewhat different, but it IS good to have a baseline - starting point in mind before you talk to your clients.

Edit to mention: An image of something fairly common, like a rose in a vase will always sell for less than an image of something less common - like a rare orchid photographed in the wild.

Message edited by author 2007-02-09 08:56:06.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/09/2007 10:12:45 AM · #7

Originally posted by Hot_Pixel:

I am trying to come up with an ballpark average, because normally I price to high.

Who says you price too high? How much are you charging now?

FWIW, I typically sell framed 12x18's for $250

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

02/09/2007 10:44:58 AM · #8

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

FWIW, I typically sell framed 12x18's for $250

You DO?!? Where do you sell them for that price? And how many have sold? I'm amazed and inspired! :) (that's real, not sarcastic)

And a bit confused, since you've priced your highest-scoring DPC pic at far below that.

Sony Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA

02/09/2007 10:49:12 AM · #9

Well, Here is my pricing from off my website, I normally try to stick to this as my general rule:

Picture Matte Print Matted Matted
size Size only only and framed

5x7* 8x10 $10.00 $25.00 $40.00
8x10* 11 x 14 $35.00 $50.00 $65.00
11x14* 16 x 20 $50.00 $75.00 $125.00
16x20* 22 x 28 $75.00 $125.00 $200.00

What do you think of these prices?

Rich

salmiakki

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

02/09/2007 10:53:05 AM · #10

I think it largely depends where you are selling them.

At the local photography center (has a gallery selling students' prints) 8 x 10 dry mounted prints go for $70, matted $85 and framed $100. Larger sizes are proportionately more expensive. The prints do actually sell at these prices.

Hope this helps a bit.

ralph

Nikon Z9

02/09/2007 10:56:07 AM · #11

the 5 i sold at my show

8x10 (11x14 framed) 120$ x2
8x10 (11x14 framed) 240$ (film/traditional process)
10x16 (14x16 framed) 200$
12x18 (16x20 framed) 275$

numbered prints ..

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/09/2007 10:57:03 AM · #12

So maybe my problem is under priced then and people think not much of a value?

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/09/2007 11:00:47 AM · #13

Mine usually start around $400 for a framed print, (16x20).

Stock stuff I license for more.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

02/09/2007 01:25:39 PM · #14

Originally posted by levyj413:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
FWIW, I typically sell framed 12x18's for $250

You DO?!? Where do you sell them for that price? And how many have sold? I'm amazed and inspired! :) (that's real, not sarcastic)

And a bit confused, since you've priced your highest-scoring DPC pic at far below that.

That's basically what I get for them in shops that display them, most take a commission of 30%. Which means I get $175 for that $250 sale. once you add up the cost of the materials that go into it, I'm really not making that much. A typical frame and mat for a 12x18 print run about $60, add another $15 for the glass, another $20 for the print itself that leaves just $80 profit for the time and effort I put into making the photo, Photoshop time, not to mention the time to mount, frame and deliver the piece. Works out to about minimum wage, maybe slightly less.

I wasn't even aware that I still had prints available through DPC prints, I thought I'd deleted them. oops. Anyway, as you can see, a significant portion of that $250 is commission and materials.

ralph

Nikon Z9

02/09/2007 01:48:25 PM · #15

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Works out to about minimum wage, maybe slightly less.

i'll agree with this, sure not doing it to make a living .. .

been finding ways to cut my costs & get new toys at the same time
taking a framing course, getting tools for framing

should drop my frame costs down to 20$ or less (instead of the 40-60mark)
and I can charge more for the hand crafted frame ;)

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

02/09/2007 02:07:11 PM · #16

For you folks charging hundreds of dollars ... how many have you sold? And how frequently?

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/09/2007 02:08:43 PM · #17

Originally posted by levyj413:

For you folks charging hundreds of dollars ... how many have you sold? And how frequently?

Wish I could charge hundreds of dollars. :-P

Jeffery just replied to your PM.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/09/2007 02:12:32 PM · #18

Originally posted by levyj413:

For you folks charging hundreds of dollars ... how many have you sold? And how frequently?

I rarely sell framed prints to my portrait clients -- they always think they can get the framing done cheaper somewhere else -- they always find out they can't. If I do the framing I give them close to my cost on the prints and charge a small mark-up on the framing. If they order prints only, they pay full-price for the prints. Profit margin is about the same either way.

02/09/2007 02:14:16 PM · #19

Last year, For prints sold, I managed 40 prints. Only off of my website and averaged $100 per shot. Thats without any publicity or any shows.

Rich

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/09/2007 02:21:23 PM · #20

Originally posted by levyj413:

For you folks charging hundreds of dollars ... how many have you sold? And how frequently?

Enough that I don't pay for camera gear, it pays for itself. That was all I ever aimed for though, I suppose if I tried to sell it or made it more available/visible I might do better. I can't find the motivation to really go after stock sales though. It very quickly just starts feeling like work and takes the fun out of it.

Most/many of my images I give away to friends/ family, which is more rewarding usually.

Message edited by author 2007-02-09 14:23:55.

ralph

Nikon Z9

02/09/2007 02:22:53 PM · #21

Originally posted by levyj413:

For you folks charging hundreds of dollars ... how many have you sold? And how frequently?

last year 0
this year 5 (so far ;)

just getting started .. mine are all "fine art", no portraits, no weddings, some of what you see in my portfolio here ..

website sales are something i have to look into / but lots of time ;)

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

02/09/2007 02:24:13 PM · #22

Originally posted by Hot_Pixel:

Last year, For prints sold, I managed 40 prints. Only off of my website and averaged $100 per shot. Thats without any publicity or any shows.

Rich

WOW! That's the best real-world contrast to DPC scores and long-term averages I've seen yet. I mean, for you to do that and still have as a goal to earn a 6 here really says something.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

02/09/2007 02:26:05 PM · #23

Originally posted by Gordon:

Most/many of my images I give away to friends/ family, which is more rewarding usually.

Yep, I understand that. I've managed to sell 3 prints on DPCPrints, and one of those was to someone I don't even know. Considering I'd pay someone to be willing to put my shots somewhere they can see them, I'm thrilled. :)