Simple portrait pricing

[LVPhotos]

We are typically wedding photogs but one of our regular clients referred us to shoot headshots for one of their clients.

FWIW, the group is all state judges. We'll be doing a 50-person group shot and that cost is factored into the "session fee" we are charging.

My question stems from the individual shots... we'll do full-length, 3/4, and head/shoulder shots for each of the people.

We want to put together a simple package of prints at a price that will get them to buy RIGHT NOW. They are at a conference and there will be NO WAY to follow-up and sell them later. I realize I could charge more IF we could "sell" to them later on but this is our one chance.

Here's what I was thinking, and of course all photos will be processed and touched up as needed and delivered the next day to the conference manager:

A. 1 8x10 and 2 5x7's $25 (they can choose one or multiple versions)
B. 2 8x10's and 4 5x7's $40 (they can choose one or multiple versions)

Additional 8x10s at $10, additional 5x7s at $5.

Digital versions of all 3 shots, optimized for web with full web-publishing rights: $40

Digital versions of all 3 shots, full resolution with full reprint, publishing and advertising rights: $150 (these are elected positions so they may use them on billboards, fliers, newsletters, etc.)


Is this way off-base? Reasonable? Way underpriced? We have NO idea!

By the way, the shoot will be less than 3 hours and the print prices above give plenty of room for profit. Remember, the idea is to make it affordable enough that they will buy RIGHT THEN. Of course we also want to optimize our profits, too!

HELP! THANKS!

[Yeoer]

Not sure about you pricing as i'm in the UK.

One point... in your A and B options

"A. 1 8x10 and 2 5x7's $25 (they can choose one or multiple versions)
B. 2 8x10's and 4 5x7's $40 (they can choose one or multiple versions)

Additional 8x10s at $10, additional 5x7s at $5."

Are they of the same image? or can they select which ever image they want and have in the B option 6 different images..? if so the PP work is far greater. I've been caught with that one before.. :( it might be worth adding a sercharge if they select more than one image.

Also you wil need to make it clear if they are allowed to have images of different people in the packs or as additional images... same PP thing applies. The danger is you'll be only getting $5 for taking, editing and printing an image. :(

[LVPhotos]

yeah we don't have a problem with choosing multiple versions, the PP will be very simple in LR. They are old men so we don't have to smooth faces or get rid of pimples. Just adjust levels, maybe run a portrait preset or something.

They will only have 3 images to choose from, so there won't be 6.

For example, we may take 2 or 3 of each shot (full length, 3/4 and headshot) but they can only choose 1 full length, 1 3/4 and 1 headshot at most.

[elgillet]

Digital versions of all 3 shots, optimized for web with full web-publishing rights: $40

Digital versions of all 3 shots, full resolution with full reprint, publishing and advertising rights: $150 (these are elected positions so they may use them on billboards, fliers, newsletters, etc

Are these as Jpg's.... HHmmm could be interesting if they are JPG's for making billboards.....Nothing but grainy photo on something that big may want to consider Med Format with a digital back for that one.... and/or film then scan them in for large photos like that for a billboard. I would think for $150.00 they are getting a good deal for that usage for 3 photos... More like 150.00-200.00 / photo.

[LVPhotos]

Everything will be shot with our 40d's in RAW. When I say billboards I mean those 4x8 foot signs you see all over the place here in Vegas in election time. Plenty resolution for that.

The problem again is that we probably could get more for the photos but we literally will have no way to contact these people after the event, so we have to "blow it out" at the event.

[chris1965]

you are giving your work awayat these prices, Walmart isnt even that cheap. I charge 19.95 per 8x10 and 12.00 for a 5x7 thats only add on prices if someone came in I would start with a 8x10 2 5x7 1 sheet of wallets plus sitting fees 89.95 special add ons extra one pose only in the package other poses ok with add ons.
Trust me dont give your work away. People who come to my studio have no problem at all with my prices.
I know other photographers who charge alot more than I do in studio.

[F4 Cyborg]

CD with; 1- Full shot, 1-3/4 shot, 1-head shot in jpeg file. 1 print - 3/4 shot, 8x10
Large jpeg files, $149.95 Package deal.
If you cant follow up to sell later sell it all now. One ball of wax, copyrights and all.
There gona reprint them anyway, might as well charge for it.

[LVPhotos]

you are giving your work awayat these prices, Walmart isnt even that cheap. I charge 19.95 per 8x10 and 12.00 for a 5x7 thats only add on prices if someone came in I would start with a 8x10 2 5x7 1 sheet of wallets plus sitting fees 89.95 special add ons extra one pose only in the package other poses ok with add ons.
Trust me dont give your work away. People who come to my studio have no problem at all with my prices.
I know other photographers who charge alot more than I do in studio.

This wasn't studio, it was event photography. My print cost is 50c for 5x7 and $1.29 for 8x10. So at $25, profit is $22.50 per order.

Also the main client paid the session fee ($200) for the group shot.

I appreciate the feedback both ways, as I said this isn't something we do regularly.

And, the shoot was Thursday, here's the results:

Were on-site from 5pm to 8:30pm at a location 1/2 mile from our office.

Shot the group shot at 5:45pm.

Started smaller group and individual shots at 6:15pm until 8pm, and shot 35 unique singles/groups.

Got 6 $25 orders ($150) and 2 $40 orders ($80) and 3 that wanted 8x10 of the group ($15 each, $45).

We found out that the organizer of the group had emailed the group and announced on-site that they could ORDER the prints on our website, so that hurt on-site sales BUT now it has opened up for after-sales.

We'll put all the shots online (watermarked of course) on Tuesday and she will re-email everyone (we also got everyone's email and phone numbers!). At least 75% of the people who saw their photos on the laptop said they loved them and WILL be ordering.

We'll charge $8 S/H for each order online and nobody had any problem with that. So bascially the s/h charge covers shipping, envelope, and print costs and the $25 is pure profit.

I already PPed all the shots and it took me 1.5 hours. Will take another 1/2 hour to upload and set up the ordering. We shot for 3.5 hours. Will take 1 hour to prep the prints, 30 minutes round-trip (2x) to the printer, and 1 hour to package and take to post office.

So we spent/will spend 8 hours total on this job. $480 already received. Let's just say that only 30% of the people actually order, that's another 8 orders or $200 at the bare minimum. So $680 for 8 hours work.

Not close to our hourly for weddings but it's work other than Saturday so it's gravy money.

[Armywife]

Congrats on making some "easy" money!!! Its always nice when things go so smoothly!!!

Maybe you might want to venture out and do a little bit of this on the side!!!

[LVPhotos]

yeah we're planning on submitting packages for this, but with on-site printing to the dozen or so meeting planners we work with regularly. And, we're developing a "photo booth killer" idea too. :)