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06/13/2009 04:09:39 PM · #1 |
hello all, I'm a photographer who is doing photography part-time until i can get a decent amount of clients. I want to start this little business underway but i really have no idea what to charge people for my time and my pictures. I don't really plan on doing prints for people as i don't have a printer and print services are hard to find around here.. so i'm planning on charging by the hour then just burning the full sized, fully edited images to a DVD and possibly doing a little photo slideshow for clients who are interested. Any advice or idea's on how much i should be charging?
I mainly do weddings and Engagements.. but i will take on other work like family portraits, pregnancy photos, press kits.. whatever.. |
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06/13/2009 04:32:06 PM · #2 |
| Charge whatever you can get away with +10%. |
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06/14/2009 12:04:20 AM · #3 |
Dude, you're clueless.
part time or full time it matters not, you need to know how to run a business - license, insurance, taxes, accounting, etc. You need to learn how to price stuff to make a profit - or you won't be in business very long.
Since you asked about pricing, spend a few hours and find every photographer you can in your area. Get their prices - might be on the web or call and act like a customer. This is what your potential customers will be doing - you should know more about your business (photography) then them - and that means knowing your competition.
You don't ahve to invent the wheel to use it, and the same is true for this line of work - what are they selling and at what price? You're new so go 10% cheaper or so - if you can't produce work as good as them then perhaps you should not be charging at all until you can. Once you charge you are a professional and people expect professional results. Deliver less and wom will kill you, regardless of price.
You can burn CDs if you want to, but the profit is in giving the client prints and albums. Do half the job (files only) and get half the money. Since it costs you the same work to get each client in the door you need to maximize each sale. McDonalds made a fortune just by asking 'Do you want fries with that? How about an Apple Pie?'. If you make your clients get their own prints you're making them do a lot more work that your competition - people are busy and will pay for convenience. Think Super Walmart - one stop shopping - bakery, deli, food, tires, banking, hair cut, photos and eye glasses too. Convenience sells.
As to 'there's no place to get anything printed'- that's just ignorance talking. Google a bit. I know tons (literally HUNDREDS) of pro labs in the US. I would suspect canada has at least a few hundred. You use the internet to upload files and they UPS or FedEx the prints to you. Google some and you'll find them. Her, let me help you //www.google.com/search?q=pro+photo+lab+ontario+canada&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Good luck. Get a few books on running /staring a business and photography business in particular. You have a lot to learn.
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06/14/2009 02:12:55 AM · #4 |
take the second paragraph- that's useful.
It is a good idea to get a feel for the competition by asking them for quotes on weddings, portrait sessions and whatever else. If your work is good enough then charge the going rate, or maybe slightly less to get into the market.
As for printers: I know of one place that does everything, but it's in UK which won't help you too much. And if there's a place in UK there has to be a place in USA somewhere that can do you prints, books, canvas, hardcover, calendars... whatever you like.
Photography is all about perceived value and i've seen complete craphouse photographers charging $5k a wedding with a straight face and likewise i've seen great ones charging $250 just so they can get a gig. Kinda like a Catch 22- you have to have shot a wedding to shoot a wedding.
but good luck with everything man. It'd be easy to sit here and say how clueles you are, but what's the point? You asked for help...
Be careful what you do with other people's money and get a backup camera in case your main one dies. You dont want to be standing around unable to do anything with $2000 in your back pocket.
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