Should I stop being so pashionate about my photography?

[grphx]

First off I do photography for the art, and enjoyment I get for taking photos. I've been pretty into photography since I could remember, loving all t he little snapshots I took with my 110 camera.

Now I have a camera a little better than a 110 camera, and my skills are a tad bit better, and I get people wanting to buy my photos. I've been told by professional photographers who make a grand just coming out to shoot and that dont include a CD or prints, that I charge not near enough. I explain that I don't think my equipment and skills are high enough to charge a fortune, and they tell me that most people at my skill level and equipment are charging double of what I do.

So I go and price a photo to be printed for someone, then add on a little bit extra for what I think it's worth my time to go get it printed, and the gas it took to go take the photo. I don't even add in the amount I think my skill is worth, and then they get upset because it's so much.

What do you do when you have someone want to buy a print you made, sometimes not even for them, and they act like you're charging an arm and a leg for it?

[SuzyView]

Tell them you'll throw in a little something, maybe a small version of that print for free. That way they think you are generous. :)

Seriously, it's their problem. If you charge a reasonable price, stick with it. But if you never intended to charge at all, maybe just tell them you'll have it printed at some place like Mpix and ship it directly to them and save yourself gas, etc.

[grphx]

For example, a guy saw this photo I posted on a local sport bike forum. Keep in mind the photo has nothign to do with sport bikes, but it's a local forum so a skylight photo of our city at night is pretty cool. Then I exclaim how nice it looks since i just got it back last night. I told him I'd charge him $150 for the 75x20, or $90 for a 36x9

here is the photo: http://jarco-photography.com/pics/misc/pano/test02/citybig-2000.jpg

[zacker]

look, its easy for one tog to tell another one theyre not charging enough..you do what you want to.. anything else is BS.. unless you know for sure what they are actually making.

[SuzyView]

That's cheap! Good grief! You get what you pay for. In this case $150 for the large print like that is reasonable.

[symes]

That's cheap! Good grief! You get what you pay for. In this case $150 for the large print like that is reasonable.\

umm yes VERY Reasonable...in fact cheap for that kind of quality.

Cheers,

[shannyD]

i think that if the guy wants it that bad. you are the artist. your camera is your paintbrush.
if he doesnt like the price dont sell it to him. but like suzy said. maybe throw in a little freeB.

[bieber]

Your problem is simple: if you charge peanuts, people will assume that you're worth peanuts. People think that if you're charging that little (and that is DIRT CHEAP for prints that big. Think more of a price that's measured in hundreds of dollars) you're not a real professional, and they can push you around as they please. Raise your prices to something reasonable, and if people complain tell them where to go.

[SuzyView]

All bets are off if you are also providing a nice mat and frame. Then you can charge up to $500 or more for those dimensions. The last thing to tell a customer is that "I've never charged anyone before."

[poloman]

I don't think that it is how much you charge that matters as much as quality and attitude.
If they really like and want it and can afford it, they will buy it. The throwing in a freebie idea is a good one. If you work hourly, be a bit early and don't charge them for the extra 20 minutes or whatever you run over at the end. Express that you are more concerned about the art than the money (even if it's a lie). That makes it easier for them to stomach giving you a lot of money. Set out terms ahead of time clearly. Always come through. Make sure they are happy. Reshoot or redo if they are not (even if they are wrong). The people that act like you are killing them over a reasonable price aren't serious anyway. If you want to get your work seen in their circle of friends, offer them a "discount" by stating that your price is normally this but because you know they will show a lot of people your work you are willing to give them a break. Competing with Sears or Walmart won't even buy your lunch. You may as well go fishing or just keep shooting.
Hope you do well. :)