A Fair Print Price...? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/16/2002 09:43:28 PM · #1

Hi all,

I am wanting to purchase a print (or the right to make a print from an original) from a dpc member. The member is willing to allow it and I am willing to buy it.

The problem: He's never sold a print before, and I've never bought one.
Neither of us has a clue as to where to price a print. He'll probably e-mail me the original so I can print myself as to the right size and so forth...

Ideas?
Thanks,
Dawn

Zeissman

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

09/16/2002 09:50:15 PM · #2

This is a touchy one. What do you mean make a print from an original?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

09/16/2002 10:00:21 PM · #3

Originally posted by Zeissman:
This is a touchy one. What do you mean make a print from an original?

He emails me his image; I take care of the printing.
Though it had occured to me that I would lose his post-processing, so it may be better to have him send the largest copy of the original AFTER post-processing.

Any clearer?
Dawn

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

09/16/2002 10:17:26 PM · #4

Originally posted by just-married:
Originally posted by Zeissman:
[i]This is a touchy one. What do you mean make a print from an original?

He emails me his image; I take care of the printing.
Though it had occured to me that I would lose his post-processing, so it may be better to have him send the largest copy of the original AFTER post-processing.

Any clearer?
Dawn[/i]

Depending on how you plan on printing it, the best way might be
for them to do all the post processing and upload the image to one
of the many online printing sites, and then you buy the print from
them and get it delivered directly to you - various ones allow
the person to charge you whatever price you agree upon for the
print too.

paganini

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

09/17/2002 12:11:04 AM · #5

If you like it, then you can set a price on it :)

In general, photographers don't usually give out original image files, as we're in the days of internet and piracy is rampant.

A friend of mine recently bought a $500 print (actually she bought a couple) from an auction in a photography club in Austin. personally i don't think I'll pay that much for nature photography but if you like it, you pay for what you want. I don't think I'd pay $500 for from that photographer, but if I were to buy a unlimited print (i.e. the photographer sells for as much as he wants, as opposed to limited prints) from Galen Rowell's Gallery, then i'd be willing to pay $300 for a 11x14 or 8x10. It depends on the size of the image too.

Originally posted by just-married:
Hi all,

I am wanting to purchase a print (or the right to make a print from an original) from a dpc member. The member is willing to allow it and I am willing to buy it.

The problem: He's never sold a print before, and I've never bought one.
Neither of us has a clue as to where to price a print. He'll probably e-mail me the original so I can print myself as to the right size and so forth...

Ideas?
Thanks,
Dawn

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

09/17/2002 10:19:52 AM · #6

Originally posted by paganini:

A friend of mine recently bought a $500 print (actually she bought a
couple) from an auction in a photography club in Austin.

Off topic I know, but which photography club in Austin ? I looked a
bit at the start of the year and couldn't find any.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/20/2002 01:10:30 AM · #7

Bumping this back up to current 'cause I still need more feedback.

Guess the more direct question is this:

If someone contacted your about one of your submissions on DPC and wanted to purchase a print, what would you charge? Size: 8x10

The person has already offered to send me the original for free and let me print my own, but that doesn't seem fair to me.

Help,
Dawn

* This message has been edited by the author on 9/20/2002 1:10:59 AM.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

09/20/2002 01:58:19 AM · #8

Well, maybe I have a bad attitude about this, but I have a couple of 8x10s posted at DA Prints which are under $4. I'd like to get some photos in circulation, so I've tried to make it ultra-affordable for folks to get something they like. I'm not going to make a LOT this way anyhow...but with the cost of printing an 8x10 around $3, normal "retail" pricing would put it about $10. But if it's "high art" (especially a limited edition) then maybe hundreds is appropriate; I don't think any middle pricing (e.g. $40) would work -- it's too expensive for "just a photograph" and too cheap for fine art.

There's a couple other DPC members with accounts at DA Prints -- maybe you should do a price survey. I myself would send a high-res photo file to someone I knew and trusted to not run off illegal copies (for sale).

lionelm

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/20/2002 03:59:56 AM · #9

I have never thought about that but I think that, for example, I would like in a case like that, for example somebody likes one of my pictures for a personal use, like print for home. I would have a tendency to say like 'you like it, do it for free'. BUT at the same time, not for the money by itself, I think it's 'fun' and it's like some sort of 'achievment' to think that somebody actually 'paid' for the picture. So not for the money but for the fact of having a transaction .. I think I would do something like 5$.
Just my idea and did not thought about it that much. But I would be happy if somebody would put some efforts to 'buy' a picture from me.
Might sound a little ... how do yo usay ... corny / childish but ... those kind of things make like more fun right.
I was so happy when someone I do not know choose my childhood picture as a favorite (the other person is a friend so .. it kinda count less) ... the first time somebody will send me 5$ for a print ... I will open a 30$ champagne bottle ;-)
Lionel

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/20/2002 08:19:37 AM · #10

Lionel, I know just what you mean. That's the whole reason I feel I can't just take it for free. If I take it for free, seems like he won't be able to say: "I've sold a print!" BTW, I laughed out loud at your champagne comment.

GeneralE, good idea regarding surveying DA Print. I agree with your assessment, which is why it's hard to reach a decision. I'm not ready to spend hundreds of dollars, but I also think saying here's $5 seems cheap/insulting.

LOL, maybe I should send $5 and the $30 bottle of champagne! giggle

Dawn

PS> Lio, I checked your profile to see your childhood pic, did you notice that someone has also selected you as a favorite photographer. I thought you'd get a kick out of it if you hadn't already noticed. :-)

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

09/20/2002 08:45:51 AM · #11

At the Art Festivals/Fairs that I participate in, I normally see 8x10 photograpy "prints" run between $15.00 and $35.00 with most running about $25.00. I have bought quite a few photos from artists at these shows, and that seems to be the current range.

Hope this helps ya' just-married !

Linda

goodtimecharlee

Olympus E-10

09/20/2002 09:41:25 AM · #12

I would think if you are providing the print to the person that anything under $20 is not enough. Now if you are going to provide the file and let them print it, i don't think this is a good idea, then I would think $15 would be fair. $4 and $5 for an 8 x 10 just seems crazy to me. when it comes to fine art it is all dependant on how limited an edition is and what kind of paper and type of print it is. i dont think you will ever get hundreds of dollars for a print off of an inkjet printer.

bobtburg

Canon EOS-D60

09/20/2002 09:42:28 AM · #13

Originally posted by just-married:
Bumping this back up to current 'cause I still need more feedback.

Guess the more direct question is this:

If someone contacted your about one of your submissions on DPC and wanted to purchase a print, what would you charge? Size: 8x10

The person has already offered to send me the original for free and let me print my own, but that doesn't seem fair to me.

Help,
Daw

Dawn,
Think about this: How much would you pay for an oil painting? You would have to consider, of course, Who painted it? How much skill was involved? What is the subject matter? And, ultimately, how much do you like it?
In my opinion, all prints are not created equal. If I traveled around the world, and captured a fabulous image of a snow covered Yak in the Himalayas, I would probably value it more than the pretty picture of the rose that I took in my backyard.
The photographer has to decide what kind of value he or she wants to put on the print. Personally, I consider not only the cost of making the print, but the skill level and difficulty of capturing the image. That being said, I price MOST of my prints at around $50 for an 8 x 10 print with a 11 x 14 Mat. You can always find a cheaper print somewhere. It just comes down to how much you like the image.
Good luck,
Bob

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

09/20/2002 10:08:42 AM · #14

For what it's worth, I sell prints for the following prices:

$3.00 4x6
$7.00 8x10 / 8x12
$10.00 9x12 / 10x15
$18.00 16x20 / 16x24
$23.00 20x24 / 20x30

This is cheap. I hope to sell for more one day. These prices are for prints only. If i was selling them matted or matted and framed, it would be no less than double that...

lionelm