A question about pricing...had a somewhat odd request from a bride

[jessiper]

So, my packages normally come w/the hi-res disc of the images, but I had someone contact me wanting just a digital album and a 16x20 canvas print (no disc). My question is, should I charge more than my package price since it'll be more money out of my pocket, or charge the same and consider the album a swap for the disc? I'm leaning towards charging more, because the disc costs me a few dollars to make, but the digital album will cost quite a bit more, obviously, as well as a lot more of my time. I haven't even priced out 16x20 canvas prints yet. I also don't know what percentage more to charge, either. Thanks for your help! :)

[Padawan Dad]

So, my packages normally come w/the hi-res disc of the images, but I had someone contact me wanting just a digital album and a 16x20 canvas print (no disc). My question is, should I charge more than my package price since it'll be more money out of my pocket, or charge the same and consider the album a swap for the disc? I'm leaning towards charging more, because the disc costs me a few dollars to make, but the digital album will cost quite a bit more, obviously, as well as a lot more of my time. I haven't even priced out 16x20 canvas prints yet. I also don't know what percentage more to charge, either. Thanks for your help! :)

Figure your additional cost for material and time and charge accordingly. It's a bit more work and $$$ to assemble an album than to burn a CD-ROM.

[Banbert]

We would definitely charge more in this situation as we dont bank on making lots of money on reprints and in your situation unless you anticipate making lots more money on reprints because your not giving the disk you need to charge more for these different items or your gonna be out of pocket.

BTW, these peeps > http://www.canvasondemand.com/ have been running a promotion for DWF members so if your a member there then thats very worthwhile, particularly given that the promo is for a 16 x 20 canvas print. Cant say what they are like yet, I ordered a couple last week to test them out and make use of the offer, remains to be seen whether its worth using a USA based company for this for me though.

[tim]

An album costs a lot, and you pretty much have to do the disk so you have good quality source images to make the album. You should charge more by perhaps double/triple the cost of goods, but I tend to charge cost + my time not a markup.

[notapro]

I'd maybe mark it up only because of the extra time involved in making an album, and I'd take a good chunk off the top for not including the CD. I mean, how can a photographer charge so much for a CD becuase of it's value over prints, and then not offer a reduction for not including it? I'd go by whatever an album would cost you over and above what prints would have cost you instead of a CD in that package if that makes sense.

[spphoto]

BTW, these peeps > http://www.canvasondemand.com/ have been running a promotion for DWF members so if your a member there then thats very worthwhile, particularly given that the promo is for a 16 x 20 canvas print. Cant say what they are like yet, I ordered a couple last week to test them out and make use of the offer, remains to be seen whether its worth using a USA based company for this for me though.


How did you find the prints? I'm trying to find a good place to get canvases from until my lab finds a place to get them stretched and they seem pretty good.

[Nicole Faith]

I don't think anyone should expect to get a well made and creative book for the same price as a CD you would burn from your computer. There is no way I would charge the same for them - it's different product - it's a different package. You should charge for that otherwise that bride is getting a steal and I would like to hire you as well!! :)

[jessiper]

I agree w/most of you. I will raise the price after I figure out how much the album and canvas print is. I'm not going to take a chunk off for the disc, because I don't rely on print sales, and if I do that, then I'll be losing money because of how expensive the album is. Thank you everyone!

[notapro]

if you're treating the albums and print as an add-on, why not just give her he CD anyway as it's part of the existing package?

[jessiper]

if you're treating the albums and print as an add-on, why not just give her he CD anyway as it's part of the existing package?

Because she specifically said she doesn't want it, or else I would.

[picturecrazy]

Tell her that the disc is just included with all your packages and your business model is configured to not make any profit off the disc at all. Give her your usual price for a canvas and album, and throw the disc in there too.

[Nan08]

watch it, they'll come back and get a disc weeks later.. haha!

[jessiper]

Tell her that the disc is just included with all your packages and your business model is configured to not make any profit off the disc at all. Give her your usual price for a canvas and album, and throw the disc in there too.

Yeah, that's a good idea, because she'll probably expect me to take money off because of it. Thank you!

[bobrock111565]

Seems to me, but I'm NOT a wedding shooter, that giving your client the disk practically guarantee's that they will NOT ever order reprints. With the improved output of today's printers, wouldn't they just make prints for themselves and send image files to relatives? Wouldn't it be much more lucrative to have a website set up for each wedding, showing all the images, with a section for ANYONE (bridesmaids, grandma's, aunts, uncles, etc....) to order prints?? I've heard other shooters tell me that they make a small fortune off these reprints...especially if you let everyone attending the wedding know where on the web to find the images.

[picturecrazy]

bob, a lot of people still follow your model, and it still works well for portraits. But weddings seem to run differently now. Brides nowadays have been educated by someone to get the disc. Most are turned off of a wedding photographer who does not release the disc of images. Therefore, many have updated their business models to include the disc and assume no prints will be bought, and charge a lot more for shooting. The upfront profit is higher but we make less on reprints after the fact.

[notapro]

Yeah, that's a good idea, because she'll probably expect me to take money off because of it. Thank you!

yeah, good idea...

[bobrock111565]

bob, a lot of people still follow your model, and it still works well for portraits. But weddings seem to run differently now. Brides nowadays have been educated by someone to get the disc. Most are turned off of a wedding photographer who does not release the disc of images. Therefore, many have updated their business models to include the disc and assume no prints will be bought, and charge a lot more for shooting. The upfront profit is higher but we make less on reprints after the fact.

Ah Ha, I didn't know that. I guess it also depends on the client. I would guess that some clients might not want to mess with the images at all, and will love the idea of just posting them on a site and letting everyone order their own. But as you point out, many savvy clients will want to save money in the long run.

Thanks.

Bob

[Tish]

Seems to me, but I'm NOT a wedding shooter, that giving your client the disk practically guarantee's that they will NOT ever order reprints. With the improved output of today's printers, wouldn't they just make prints for themselves and send image files to relatives? Wouldn't it be much more lucrative to have a website set up for each wedding, showing all the images, with a section for ANYONE (bridesmaids, grandma's, aunts, uncles, etc....) to order prints?? I've heard other shooters tell me that they make a small fortune off these reprints...especially if you let everyone attending the wedding know where on the web to find the images.

While it's absolutely true that today's printers are really quite good, A.) you can see the difference between a professional print & a home one when you put them side by side--which I do at my presentation; and B.) when you edit on a calibrated monitor & print on a calibrated printer, you can guarantee the results. I tell clients flat out that I will NOT guarantee prints from the disc, and explain to them why.

So far, it seems to be working. I'm still getting print orders, and they have their CD for web & "archival" purposes.

Most brides in my area won't take a package without a disc.

[bobrock111565]

Well of course you are right. I for one do consulting for color management, so am quite familiar with what is obtainable. But the key to your success is that you are showing your clients the difference. That is certainly the best approach, as not many people would be willing to invest the amount of time and money in preparing their own profiles and upgrading to the necessary level of equipment. So, great idea to offer the demonstration.

[Oneslowz28]

16x20 Streatched canvas prints cost me $60.38 and I mark them up by 20 bucks. I get them rinted at a local camera center and they specalise in canvas prints.