Selling Pics

[1downfall]

hey all. I have an individual that has seen some of my flickr shots of an old boathouse. Apparantly the individual has a bit history there. They would like to buy some of my shots. Good for me!;)
I have no idea what to charge.....I mean, it cost little to go to my local store and print. What you all charge for say
(2) 5 x 7
and your time......and your efforts in a condemned/do not enter/ready to be demolished building?
ty

[SoundsGood]

I'd like to know this too...

[bildeb0rg]

Anywhere from five to ten times the print cost. Your gear, your time. You have to decide what thats worth.

[1downfall]

Anywhere from five to ten times the print cost. Your gear, your time. You have to decide what thats worth.
an excellent starting point. thank you.

[amccomis]

The 5-7X number is in line... For my lab, that would put the price somewhere in the $10-15 range.

The one thing I would add is: Don't just shove them in a WalMart envelope and say "here you go" -- talk to the potential buyer and ask if there's anything special you can do, such as a black/white version, or perhaps would he like you to mount it as well. These may not apply (I haven't seen the photo), but turn the experience into a memorable and positive experience for the person buying the print from you.

[MJPhotos24]

Look around at other places in the area, how hard are the images to capture, etc. 5-10 times print cost is way to cheap, you get a print for .29 and 10x is 2.90. Not worth it. My prices are considered cheap nationally and cheapest is $5/4x6.

[amccomis]

5-10 times print cost is way to cheap, you get a print for .29 and 10x is 2.90. Not worth it.

Agreed there... not worth it.

But, if I print at my lab, as opposed to running to Walgreens/CVS, the lab cost is $1.89 per 5x7 and a $10 minimum order. Assuming I lump his print order in with other stuff to get that $10 min order in, 5X1.89= $9.45, and 7x1.89=$13.23. If I can sell 5x7s for $12.50 each, that's acceptable to me, and I think it's in the acceptable range.

Also, I think a 5x7 crossing the $20 mark is too high... just my opinion though. $20 is the low side of 8x10 prints, so I would think there's a threshold at which customers start to back off because of price, and $20 is probably over that line for a 5x7.

[1downfall]

Look around at other places in the area, how hard are the images to capture, etc. 5-10 times print cost is way to cheap, you get a print for .29 and 10x is 2.90. Not worth it. My prices are considered cheap nationally and cheapest is $5/4x6.
good points. I guess it is worth considering...you tell me....The building has seen its fun days with lots of concerts. It now has Asbestos signs up, the roof is partially collapsed, the floor is ripped up and sinking into the water, the piles it sits on are decayed. The building has "To be demolished" signs all over. All doors (except one) are locked. I was a bit spooked when I got inside.....set my pod up and shot away quickly.

[MJPhotos24]

Paying $1.89 for a 5x7 from a retail store like Walgreens is not a good deal, the local pro lab with someone checking the prints is $1.79 and the reason I don't buy there anymore since I get the same deal through Exposure Manager online much cheaper (.75) and order in bulk so shipping isn't a problem.

Those end prices you mentioned definitely say are good if you can get it and worth it, but would try to find a location that has better print prices and maximize your profits if you can charge that much. I keep hearing Costco has great prints cheaper, .39 cents for a 5x7 lustre I see online. Keep wishing there was one around me, but alas there isn't. Still have to do a test compared to other labs as I can't imagine they have anyone checking the prints and only printing on auto mode.

[amfoto1]

For personal use and display such as in a private residence, I'd charge about $10-15 per print.

For more public display, I'd charge $25-45 per 5x7.

For publication, it depends upon circulation but I'd start around $50-60 per image.

For online use, it again depends upon prominence, site traffic, size, but I'd start around $50-60 per image.

Any print would have my copyright and contact info on the back. Any digital file would have it embedded in the EXIF/IPTC data, along with image licensing and limitations.

One other thought occurs... Do the images give proof of your trespassing on private property without permission? (OP's last statement made me wonder about that.)

[1downfall]

For personal use and display such as in a private residence, I'd charge about $10-15 per print.

For more public display, I'd charge $25-45 per 5x7.

For publication, it depends upon circulation but I'd start around $50-60 per image.

For online use, it again depends upon prominence, site traffic, size, but I'd start around $50-60 per image.

Any print would have my copyright and contact info on the back. Any digital file would have it embedded in the EXIF/IPTC data, along with image licensing and limitations. I have not learned how to do this yet.

One other thought occurs... Do the images give proof of your trespassing on private property without permission? (OP's last statement made me wonder about that.)
You would have to know exactly what you are looking at to know where was. Really, I cannot even tell where these were taken, and i took them!

[amccomis]

Paying $1.89 for a 5x7 from a retail store like Walgreens is not a good deal, the local pro lab with someone checking the prints is $1.79 and the reason I don't buy there anymore since I get the same deal through Exposure Manager online much cheaper (.75) and order in bulk so shipping isn't a problem.

Those end prices you mentioned definitely say are good if you can get it and worth it, but would try to find a location that has better print prices and maximize your profits if you can charge that much. I keep hearing Costco has great prints cheaper, .39 cents for a 5x7 lustre I see online. Keep wishing there was one around me, but alas there isn't. Still have to do a test compared to other labs as I can't imagine they have anyone checking the prints and only printing on auto mode.

Sorry if I wasn't clear... The $1.89 I used is in reference to a color-corrected print from my pro lab. Not from a pharmacy or Walmart. Of course, I could go pay sub-dollar prices on the stuff from places like Sams and Walmart and Costco, but it goes back to my first post in the thread --- give the customer a positive experience. Having them flip the print over and seeing costco or walmart inkjetted next to my filename won't do in that regard. :-)

[MJPhotos24]

Sorry if I wasn't clear... The $1.89 I used is in reference to a color-corrected print from my pro lab. Not from a pharmacy or Walmart. Of course, I could go pay sub-dollar prices on the stuff from places like Sams and Walmart and Costco, but it goes back to my first post in the thread --- give the customer a positive experience. Having them flip the print over and seeing costco or walmart inkjetted next to my filename won't do in that regard. :-)
Yea, I just re-read that and if you didn't change it I read it wrong. I'm blaming the being sick for a month now :)

[ParkerDeen]

I sell prints at $15 for a 5x7. I also have an account with istockphoto.com and really enjoy that. A different market than what you're talking about here, but possibly another outlet if you're looking.
Parker

[HappySnapper90]

I sell 5x7 prints mounted and matted for $20 to $25 at art shows and printed at home on Ilford Smooth Pearl. 13x19 prints mounted and matted to 18x24 for $70 to $90 both examples are much more than 10x my printing cost.

It sounds like the OP doesn't know printing, hence the "go to my local store and print" comment. He might have trouble getting a good looking print if he hasn't put time into processing his photos on a calibrated monitor to aid in printing.

[F4 Cyborg]

Now that just erps me to no end.

[1downfall]

I sell 5x7 prints mounted and matted for $20 to $25 at art shows and printed at home on Ilford Smooth Pearl. 13x19 prints mounted and matted to 18x24 for $70 to $90 both examples are much more than 10x my printing cost.

It sounds like the OP doesn't know printing, hence the "go to my local store and print" comment. He might have trouble getting a good looking print if he hasn't put time into processing his photos on a calibrated monitor to aid in printing.
assumptions are correct. All my time and monies so far into the gear, some books, and PP programming and books. I would like one day to have a nice photo printer. Just economical for me at this time....since I do not sell any! (maybe until now). Mostly just 4 x 6 to family.

[amccomis]

assumptions are correct. All my time and monies so far into the gear, some books, and PP programming and books. I would like one day to have a nice photo printer. Just economical for me at this time....since I do not sell any! (maybe until now). Mostly just 4 x 6 to family.

Well... printing takes practice, but calibrating your monitor is an easy and definitely worth while good first start.

If you don't already, get an account with a pro lab. (Search the forums, and you'll see a whole list of who people use -- WHCC and Millers both come to mind as tops among users here) -- the labs will send you a calibration kit - usually a CD with an electronic version of a reference print, and a printed version of that print. And some text instructions on what to do to make them match (brightness, color, gamma, etc.). Once your monitor matches the printed version, you can be assured that what looks blue on your monitor will come out blue from the lab - and not green or purple instead.

Good Luck

[1downfall]

Well... printing takes practice, but calibrating your monitor is an easy and definitely worth while good first start.

If you don't already, get an account with a pro lab. (Search the forums, and you'll see a whole list of who people use -- WHCC and Millers both come to mind as tops among users here) -- the labs will send you a calibration kit - usually a CD with an electronic version of a reference print, and a printed version of that print. And some text instructions on what to do to make them match (brightness, color, gamma, etc.). Once your monitor matches the printed version, you can be assured that what looks blue on your monitor will come out blue from the lab - and not green or purple instead.

Good Luck
As usual....ty all for your feedback and input. I will be saving some pennies now for a decent printer. With some of the feedback form soccer friends, I may be shooting, and getting paid!!!; perhaps in the spring. It will be nice to be able to print as well. I am checking out the labs now! ty.

[cnv]

I keep hearing Costco has great prints cheaper, .39 cents for a 5x7 lustre I see online. Keep wishing there was one around me, but alas there isn't. Still have to do a test compared to other labs as I can't imagine they have anyone checking the prints and only printing on auto mode.

The costco near me does an excellent job. I do not use them anymore because I kept running into my clients there. Luckily never with the costco photo envelope under my arm. That wouldn't be good. They will check every photo for you rather than work in auto mode, but you have to request it specifically.

[HappySnapper90]

assumptions are correct. All my time and monies so far into the gear, some books, and PP programming and books. I would like one day to have a nice photo printer. Just economical for me at this time....since I do not sell any! (maybe until now). Mostly just 4 x 6 to family.

I hope your monitor is calibrated at least, if not all your post processing could be for not. You could calibrate your monitor and find that your previous processing is way off and would have to be re-done. :mad:

[lil_miss]

I'd probably try and sell it to them at least 8x10/8x12 in size.. things look better bigger :)