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 05/03/2007 07:56:53 AM · #1
Hi there....OK to all the pros that do weddings, how much do you typically charge for including a CD of the photos of the wedding and do you watermark each photo so that they would get the prints from the photographers? Hopefully I'm finally getting my chance to photograph a small wedding this summer. Any help is appreciated!!!

Peace,

g
 05/03/2007 08:01:09 AM · #2
I don't do proof CD's for weddings at all, only portraits! All my wedding proofs are either prints in an album or a photo book.
 05/03/2007 08:14:13 AM · #3
I've had so many people asking for pictures on CD that I gave in to the requests last year. I know that my price is *really* low, but here's what I do:

I re-size all of the un-edited images down to 4x6 @ 300 dpi (i.e. 1200x1800) and then put ALL of the photos from ALL of the sessions (engagement, bridals, wedding, reception) onto the CD for just $100. I then give them a print permission form that allows them to make prints 'up to 4x6" size' of any of those images.

For anything larger than 4x6, they have to come back to me for prints. I'll edit anything that I print larger than 4x6.

While I feel I'm giving away a lot for a mere $100, it also saves me the headache of having to deal with hundreds of 4x6s. So in that respect, I don't mind.

05/03/2007 08:17:59 AM · #4
Originally posted by dwterry:
I've had so many people asking for pictures on CD that I gave in to the requests last year. I know that my price is *really* low, but here's what I do:

I re-size all of the un-edited images down to 4x6 @ 300 dpi (i.e. 1200x1800) and then put ALL of the photos from ALL of the sessions (engagement, bridals, wedding, reception) onto the CD for just $100. I then give them a print permission form that allows them to make prints 'up to 4x6" size' of any of those images.

For anything larger than 4x6, they have to come back to me for prints. I'll edit anything that I print larger than 4x6.

While I feel I'm giving away a lot for a mere $100, it also saves me the headache of having to deal with hundreds of 4x6s. So in that respect, I don't mind.


Thank you so much for the info. Its at least a starting point for me.
 05/03/2007 09:24:54 AM · #5
Originally posted by dwterry:
I've had so many people asking for pictures on CD that I gave in to the requests last year. I know that my price is *really* low, but here's what I do:

I re-size all of the un-edited images down to 4x6 @ 300 dpi (i.e. 1200x1800) and then put ALL of the photos from ALL of the sessions (engagement, bridals, wedding, reception) onto the CD for just $100. I then give them a print permission form that allows them to make prints 'up to 4x6" size' of any of those images.

For anything larger than 4x6, they have to come back to me for prints. I'll edit anything that I print larger than 4x6.

While I feel I'm giving away a lot for a mere $100, it also saves me the headache of having to deal with hundreds of 4x6s. So in that respect, I don't mind.


That's really a good idea and at $100 I bet they instantly jump at the deal.
05/03/2007 09:47:27 AM · #6
What is your objective?

Until you know what you want, you can't possibly know what to charge.

Proof size images or full res printable images?
In addition to an album or instead of?

What's your business plan call for?

I want to average $2400 a wedding next year. If giving away a high res CD when they spend $2400 works, then that's what I'll do. If on the other hand if a CD is a flat $500 and the photography is $1200 and that's all the bride buys I'm not making my average, and if I don't make my average I don't stay in business - or meet my goals of a new lens, car, trip to hawaii or perhaps just new shoes for the kids.

The way I do it:
Total package prepay is under $1200, then printed proofs (non watermarked) or proof cd (400x600 DPI images) (no editing, just WB/CC and exposure) is $299. Spend 1201-1800 and that's $150. SPend 1801-2400 and it's 75. SPend 2401+ and it's free. Either or, not both.

Hi res? spend 0-1200 and it's 1200. 1201-1800 $600. 1801-2400 300. 2400-3000 150. 3000+ 75.

I NEVER give them a hi-res CD. they have to ask for it, and pay for it. It's work on my part so why do it for free? And they don't get it till the end, with their album. All the images go on there, - web proofs, hi-res proofs, edited images, album pages in hi-res - all of it. and a letter to allow them to print anything.

For free everyone wants it.
As a way to save money, everyone wants it.
When it costs something, few want it, but everyone books anyway. I've not lost a booking over not giving a free CD. If they ask 'can I get a CD of my images' I can say yes - a web/email size or a full res - and they understand why the price difference. No one is willing (here anyway) to spend $300 (or more) on it though - so how much REAL value does it have?
 05/03/2007 10:18:54 AM · #7
If I understand you correctly, your wedding package doesn't include album or prints, just a CD... right?

This is what I did for a couple a few weeks ago. If its your first wedding, you need to price it right, don't go too high, but don't go way low either. I did the wedding for $650. It included my time and about 400 originals on CD and 50 edited ready to print on CD. As a favor I resized the 50 as low res and put them on a different CD (thank you ACDSee.)

Another thing I did was offer to walk them through ordering an album and they just pay for cost. This saves them a ton of money and is experience for me. Ive never put an album together so doing it this way takes the expectation and stress off of me and I learn how to do it for the future.

I used this as more of a learning experience than a business venture. The business stuff will come next year after I have 5 or 6 under my belt and I feel ready to step up and put a serious package together. I offered a full day of shooting, why? I want photos for my portfolio and I want the practice. I stayed a while after I could have left at the reception for the same reason.

Sell the crap out of your package, offer long shooting hours, offer to help them with prints, offer more edited photos than normal. All this stuff is like going to a "how to shoot a wedding" class that they pay you for. I wanted to get the full experience so my next client benefits and so on.

My price in the end was fine, I didn't spend anything other than time. My per hour rate of shooting and editing was probably pretty dismal but I got what I needed and the couple got a great deal and wonderful images.

At this stage, offer more than expected and use everything for experience for the future. Remember, the people looking to book a photographer for $650 are not expecting much. They have called and seen the quotes for $2500+ from others. Deliver amazing service and final prints that blow away their expectations of the "cheap" photog they hired and they will remember you forever and tell all their friends.

Have fun and make sure you get dinner.
 05/03/2007 11:16:06 AM · #8
Personally I also will give them a CD but not all of the pics taken and I never promise to give "all photos taken". I proof them on a CD at 72 dpi for monitor proof. After they make all orders then I offer them the CD at 300 dpi at 8x10 or 8x12 depending on editing. My CD is only after payment for wedding and then it costs $150. I really don't want to worry about making prints a year later. Get what I can up front and wish them the best.
 05/10/2007 01:13:17 PM · #9
This thread has been helpful. I was approached to do a wedding next year (word of mouth from the 2'non-professional requirement type', family/friend weddings that I have done). But then I charged between $300-500.

This wedding is not anyone I know, and they are simply looking to get it done cheaply. I was solicited by the 'Aunt', who thinks she is fooling me by telling me that 'I don't even have to get them printed, they just want a CD'.

I'm not sure I want to throw my hat in this ring, but I also am not going to do it for close to nothing, which is what they think I'm sure. The stress alone is worth something.

As they say, you get what you pay for. They can save money by hiring me, but they are not going to get the fantastic shots that you can produce.
 05/10/2007 01:24:18 PM · #10
Originally posted by dassilem:
This thread has been helpful. I was approached to do a wedding next year (word of mouth from the 2'non-professional requirement type', family/friend weddings that I have done). But then I charged between $300-500.

This wedding is not anyone I know, and they are simply looking to get it done cheaply. I was solicited by the 'Aunt', who thinks she is fooling me by telling me that 'I don't even have to get them printed, they just want a CD'.

I'm not sure I want to throw my hat in this ring, but I also am not going to do it for close to nothing, which is what they think I'm sure. The stress alone is worth something.

As they say, you get what you pay for. They can save money by hiring me, but they are not going to get the fantastic shots that you can produce.

I think I'd pass on that one too. Quote them industry standard and either they accept or decline.
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