This is what we are up against.....

[JohnEBongo]

This is from an e-mail sent to the company I have been shooting for. This is the kind of attitude that Pros are up against and it seems like it is becoming more prevelant. Anyone else have this kind of experience??

"Is there a way to purchase regular sized prints of photos taken from games for $.12 a sheet? Perhaps you could partner with Snapfish and have customers order prints through that service as well? Just a thought. I like the photos from the games, but would go broke trying to buy all the great shots at $10+ a pop. It would be great if I could purchase prints from you at a comparable price as one of these online photography websites. Hopefully that is an option. I'd love to order a few from you. Thanks"

[Box Brownie]

It makes you wonder if whoever wrote the email has any concept that there is a significant difference between them getting family snaps printed by an online lab and the fact that sports events images are taken by someone who requires paying for their time i.e. it is their living.

In my local pub they have a sign "Free Beer tomorrow", that about sums up the answer to such requests.

[Tomi Hawk]

In my local pub they have a sign "Free Beer tomorrow", that about sums up the answer to such requests.
hahaa ! Great one! Too bad I don't drink .. wait .. what? http://www.fansinblack.com/x/images/smilies/lol2.gif

And he said, "I'd love to order a few from you. Thanks" ..
Howz he gonna go broke by ordering just a few? lol !!!
People are funny .. I'd have to take my time, and write a reply email to him in a humorous
and funny sorta way, like Brownie's "Free Beer Tomorrow" quote .. hahaa .. oiii! :rolleyes:

[liza]

This attitude is becoming more and more prevalent. This thread really puts things into perspective:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=61210

No wonder it's a sticky. :)

[taygull]

I would simply explain to them the difference between stock photography and what you offer. Let them know the reason some images can be sold so cheap is there is the potential that thousands of those images will be sold and you don't have to deal with any of the process.

[pagnamenta]

The trouble is that the customer doesn't realize that they're paying, in part, for a service. Yes, an image might cost $0.12 to print, but it's usually because they're the photographer. Part of the cost of the photo is your work. You had to shoot the image and maybe post process.

This might be a bad comparison, but I look at it as going out to a restaurant. If you're at home, you do the work yourself, it's cheaper. Go out to eat and you pay more, plus you leave a tip. You don't just pay the bare minimum for the food and drink, you pay for service.

[JDB]

Too many people seem to think that all they're buying when they purchase a print is the paper it's printed on, rather than the image itself, and it seems like any explanation as to the process behind it (time, equipment, knowledge, skill) often falls on deaf ears. I have a feeling that trying to get this person to understand what you're really selling probably won't work... I'd be tempted to tell him that he'll get $.12 prints when he manages to take these "great shots" himself, but until he puts in the time to ammass the expensive equipment, extensive knowledge, and substantial ability himself, he'll have to pay for it.; after all, the pictures on the prints don't just come from nowhere. Or you could tell him something along the lines of "I'd be happy to sell you photo paper for $.12 a sheet, but if you want the image to with it, it'll be extra." I dunno.... just try to explain that the print and the photo on the print are two different things. Granted, I'd probably take a less arrogant approach at first :p

[Mayfly]

We get those every now and then. The last one I got someone was complaining about the shipping costs.............what do they expect me to do, nobody likes to pay for shipping but it is what it is. Most of the folks though really appreciate the shots we get and are happy to pay the cost. Just chalk it up as the cost of doing business. You can't please everyone.

[MJPhotos24]

That's one reason I never added 4x6's to my online gallery because they see 4x6's at the professional price and they automatically think of the local stores .12-19 cent prints. They have no idea about what it takes to get that professional image, you wouldn't believe how many times I get asked "how can I make my photo look like (insert explanation of DOF, frozen action, so close, colors, etc. here)". Well, put down the ten dollar throw away camera would be a start. I just recently added 3x5/4x6's and guess what I hear the next day...so and so sells them for this much! They have no problem paying x-amount for an 8x10, but a smaller print that isn't .12cents - no way!

You just cant please everyone as stated, some do understand though...I was shooting a game the other day and a parent came running up who had bought from me before and asked if I could take some of his son again, the next line out of his mouth was how much he loved that lens (300 IS 2.8) because of the quality of prints. Loves them, most parents don't mind the prices and know the deal...it's the ones who don't that just wear on you to the point you want to yell, but you can't...until they find the right button :)

[Francis Farmer]

I would write them back and tell them I would go broke selling them for .12 each. Another reason I don't want to do sports or any mass photo shoot.

[Moppie]

Just send them a blank sheet of paper for $0.12.

Then let them know you can supply an image on the paper for an extra $10.

[S.Horton]

Yep, got something similar -- People couldn't understand why prices were higher than Creative Memories (.12 for members, 4x6).

The only pro work we take is private, paid shoots now, $.hour + exp.

[michael88]

Just send them a blank sheet of paper for $0.12.

Then let them know you can supply an image on the paper for an extra $10.


I love this idea.

[sfaust]

Hmmm. Seems that they need one of these letter.. :) :)

Dear xxxx,

Absolutely, there is a way to accommodate your needs. You can go directly to Snapfish and order the $.12 sheet prints now, even without my help. All you would need to do is upload any images you want printed directly to Snapfish, and they will deliver the prints on a sheet for $.12. There isn't any reason to involve me at all, and you'll save $9.88 on each image. For further savings, you can pick them up in person at Snapfish and save on shipping as well.

But if by chance you would rather have me take the pictures for you, I'm sure we can negotiate some fair compensation for my time at the game, to help defray the cost of the equipment, travel time, and any other expenses incurred. I can then just give those images to you on a CD, and you can upload those to Snapfish for ordering at the $.12 price.

I'm more than happy to help you out in any way I can, and I'm sure we can find a suitable fee for my time, skills, equipment, and expenses so that you can then just order the prints for cost.

Please call me when it convenient if you wish to work this out.

Regards,

yyyyyyy

[Col_M]

This reminds me of the old story of the engineer brought in to fault find a piece of machinery.
He looked over the machine and diagrams for a few days then left a chalk X on a piece of the machine with a note explaining what to do to rectify the problem. The managers asked him how much he was going to charge and he said $1000, the managers thought this was a bit much (was a long time ago) so they asked for an invoice. The invoice read,

1. Marking chalk 'X' on side of machine $1
2. Knowing where to mark chalk 'X' $999

Always makes me smile that one :D The similarity between that and photography is striking ;)

[bubbawillums]

I've had this a few times now and people dont realise that they are paying for whats on the paper... I was told that it costs 10p to print a 6x4 so why do i charge £5?? I said go ahead and take ur own photos then and walked off!

[Ray Marrero]

They have to separate the ink and paper, from the image. Ink and paper might cost $0.12, but the image I create using my equipment, time, energy, effort, knowledge, skill, and a very tiny, little talent costs more.