dilemma: what would you charge?

[perfectpixel]

This is probably not the correct forum, but I am not sure where to post it and would like your opinions/advice on this:
I was at friend's kid's soccer match on Saturday shooting a few action shots for him. While there a nice composition caught my eye of a father and daughter on the adjacent field and I took the shot. I then approached the subject and explained what I'd done (to make sure he was OK with it) and offered to send him the image if he liked it.
The shot turned out well and in my Email to him I sent a low res version and offered the full res shot for free. Also mentioned that if we wanted a print I'd make one for him "at cost".
He liked the shot and wants the print.
Great :)
now here's my problem. What do I charge him? LOL
I am not a pro (though would like to develop this hobby to generate some cash). And I feel really silly taking $1.50 for a 4X6. Especially since the whole thing was unsolicited.
Any advice?
thanks.
cheers!

[Conor]

this is what ive charged in the past.....
for pictures ive done of Auto Events.....


4" x 6" - $6.00

5" x 7" - $9.00

8" x 10" - $14.00

- Buy 3 or more 8x10's and get free shipping

Larger Size Prints are available. Email me for more details


im also by far not a pro. lets hear from others on here :)

[robertwgross]

I try to sell my serious photo prints in 8x10 or 11x14 size. However, I carry around a lot of small 5x7 prints as samples. Once in a while, somebody wants to buy those directly, so I sell those cheaply. Each print has labels on the back that identify me with my email address and website address, so it is a little bit like a business card that people are paying me for.

---Bob Gross---

[justme_dc]

I actually shoot youth sports and connor's price list is a bit cheaper than I charge but it's in the ballpark. (no pun intended).

If you want to do this for money then don't sell yourself short. If you have the skill charge for it. I do.

[mapdealer]

I photographed a homecoming dance (with a 10D) and got some great shots. I made an album of 4x6's and some order forms. I asked $5.00 for a 4x6, $12 for and 8x10 and $20 for a 13x19, and discounts for larger quantities. I do the prints myself on a Canon i9100. My son tells me some of the kids said those prices are high (those cheap little bastards!). The album and order forms are still at the school so I don't know how many sales I made yet but I have pre-printed some of the better photos (especially groups) and and will sell them cheaper right off the bat. I know if I could get the parents to take a look I would make some major sales. Good luck!

[cubfan]

I did a dance a week ago at a high school in Davenport Iowa. I gave them 2- 5x7's and 8 wallets for $15 and this includes 2 folders for the 5x7's. 2 - 8x10's and 8 wallets with folders for both 8x10s are $20. This is pretty standard pricing in my area.

[Webster]

If you charge anything at all you have to charge sales tax (VAT?) and declare the $1.50 (it really cost you $1.50 for a 4x6?) on your income tax. Good grief, man it's one picture! Give it to the guy and ask for a release so you can show it to others. Expense the whole thing as promotion.

[JABACo]

mapdealer wrote:
I photographed a homecoming dance (with a 10D) and got some great shots. I made an album of 4x6's and some order forms. I asked $5.00 for a 4x6, $12 for and 8x10 and $20 for a 13x19, and discounts for larger quantities. I do the prints myself on a Canon i9100. My son tells me some of the kids said those prices are high (those cheap little bastards!). The album and order forms are still at the school so I don't know how many sales I made yet but I have pre-printed some of the better photos (especially groups) and and will sell them cheaper right off the bat. I know if I could get the parents to take a look I would make some major sales. Good luck!

MapDealer,

I think you prices are reasonable with the exception of your 13x19's. I get at least $25.00 up to $35.00 for mine. I do sports action shots.

Bradley

[ThePhantomsGirlfriend]

I did concert photos rom the American Idol tour. I have been charging $2 for 4x6's, $5.99 for 5x7's, and $9.99 for 8x10's. I've also auctioned them off on eBay and gotten up to $50 a photo (8x10's).

Smiles,

Holly

[martcol]

ThePhantomsGirlfriend wrote:
I've also auctioned them off on eBay and gotten up to $50 a photo (8x10's).


Holly, I'd say that promotes you to having something clever to say here! $50 sounds clever to me! :D

Martcol

[martcol]

ThePhantomsGirlfriend wrote:
I've also auctioned them off on eBay and gotten up to $50 a photo (8x10's).


Holly, I'd say that promotes you to having something clever to say here! $50 sounds clever to me! :D

Martcol

[zWWWer]

don't be silly. give man a larger photo for free and ask him if he would sign you a model release so you can use that photo for possible stock usage or anything useful that might occur in near or distant future.

[IndyJeff]

Unstuck your best bet would be to give him a call and say I have your print done. Give it to him and tell him that you want to give it to him outright and ask if he knows of anyone playing soccer that would like a shot of their kid playing you would appreciate him giving out your name. Hand him a business card and figure it as advertising expense. You may never hear from or see the guy again but, he may show the pic to some people and try and drum you up some business. Besides, you did a nice thing for a father and his daughter that may become something that little girl will cherish in years to come. Make sure your contact info is on the back LOL
Good luck

[perfectpixel]

zWWWer wrote:
don't be silly. give man a larger photo ......

IndyJeff wrote:
Give it to him and tell him that you want to give it to him outright and ask if he knows of anyone playing soccer that would like a shot of their kid playing ....

Thanks for the advice.
I already decided to do exactly that! Hope it works out. Just didn't feel right asking for $ when the shot was unsolicited, and giving it at "cost" was a ridiculous notion!
Glad I didn't make a fool of myslef (again).
If you're interested, I'll update on how it turns out.
cheers!

[JABACo]

unstuck wrote:
zWWWer wrote:
don't be silly. give man a larger photo ......

IndyJeff wrote:
Give it to him and tell him that you want to give it to him outright and ask if he knows of anyone playing soccer that would like a shot of their kid playing ....

Thanks for the advice.
I already decided to do exactly that! Hope it works out. Just didn't feel right asking for $ when the shot was unsolicited, and giving it at "cost" was a ridiculous notion!
Glad I didn't make a fool of myslef (again).
If you're interested, I'll update on how it turns out.
cheers!

My wife hates the idea of me approaching and possibly making money on our friends. So I did the next best thing. I took a picture of a boy on my sons baseball team this summer and enlarged it. Then I GAVE it to them at the game with everyone watching. After that I didn't have to approach anyone. They came to me.

Bradley

[jimsloy]

I once took a picture of a blue jay in my back yard, I approached the bird to give him the print and the damn thing flew away!!

[defordphoto]

4x6: $5.00
5x7: $10.00
8x10: $17.50
8x12: $20.00
11x14: $45.00

[levine2]

I shoot mostly news pics and really don't like making prints. If a person really wants a print I charge $10 for 5 x 7. $20.00 for 8 x 10. Sometimes people will pay it and sometimes they don't. If they buy great, if not no big issue for me. Just don't ever give away your pics.

[robertwgross]

jimsloy wrote:
I once took a picture of a blue jay in my back yard, I approached the bird to give him the print and the damn thing flew away!!


Did you get the jay's clear signature on the model release, or does it just look like a bunch of chicken scratches?

---Bob Gross---

[JABACo]

RFMSports wrote:
4x6: $5.00
5x7: $10.00
8x10: $17.50
8x12: $20.00
11x14: $45.00

RFMSports,

Everyone has their market place. But dddddddddaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmm. I could never get those prices here in Welfareana. I mean Louisiana. You get more for an 11x14 than I get for a 13x19. You go boy!!!!!!!!

Bradley

[IndyJeff]

Several years ago when my nephew was playing baseball I went to a game and took my camera. The next game I went back with a 8x10 of him making a diving catch. Gave it to my sister in the stands and immediately about 6 people told me if you can get a shot of my son I would be happy to pay you for an 8x10. "What do you charge?" Well, when I said and 8x10 was running about $17, print alone, some said that was fine others said I was ripping them off. When I told one guy I would be happy to shoot a roll of film for him of his kid and just give him the film to develop and get enlarged himself he wanted to know how much. I charged him $25. Took one inning in the field and one time at bat. Got a "ball on the bat shot" but it took up about 16 frames to get it.
Three weeks later I went back and he came up and told me that $17 for an 8x10 was more than reasonable. He took the film to a pro lab and had them develop and enlarge 2 prints. His cost was around $25. His reasoning, it cost him $50 for 2 8x10's that he could have paid me $34 for, not had to spend time or gas money traveling to the lab and back home twice. It helped that I gave him the name of a very good but pricey lab here in town.
I must have sold about $300-$400 worth of prints then a guy from the league banned me from bringing my camera. Not even an offer of money for the league would get him to agree to let me shoot. The parents were furious so I never went back to a game.

My advice, if you are shooting kids sports, contact the league prior to shooting and work out an agreemnet so the league can make a buck or two off each print.

[IndyJeff]

Something else I thought of.......

several years ago a guy comes into turn 3 at Indy and asks if anyone had a shot of a crash that happened early in turn 4. He had been a crew member on that team. Nobody seemed to know if anyone had a shot since it really happened more into turn 4. I told him to contact Associated Press they would have it. He said he did and they wanted $85 for an 8x10. If you or a family member appear in the image they discount it down to $50.