New just starting out - Am I starting correctly?

[Dee1979]

bw!

I belong to another message board and on there we have a small group of pro's. I've always loved shooting and finally I was able to buy my SLR- XTi. It came with the kit lens..:p and then I moved onto the 50mm 1.8 to start. I love it.. I have a lot of bills so.. better lenses will come in time.

So right now I'm just looking to build my portfolio. Animals, trees and what not only give me so much. I love shooting people and that's now beginning. I have an album cover shoot, 3 family shoots and an on going infant shoot- my niece in the coming month.

My pro friend told me to charge SOMETHING because of the use of my equipment. So to gain customers, I'm charging $50 an hour, no prints on my end but I want rights to the pictures to use as I please so they will sign the Model Release form that I have.

Now I've noticed others charging their clients for the rights of their own pictures. Is that normal? I don't plan on charging at this time because I'm building my portfolio and I figure it's an added bonus.

I see insanely high printing prices, does everyone do that? Is that how you continue to make money? Again, because I'm starting out.. I'd hate to scare possible clients away. Perhaps in the future when I'm more experienced and have a steady clientele..

The album deal is different because it could go huge- I'm not sure what to do about him yet, nothing has been signed so no pictures were taken.. Advice on this?

[Shootfilm]

My son in law is just starting out after being laid off at the local PD. He does have quite abit more experience than most but has never been in the business. He's gone completely against the grain and is making more money than any of the locals and three times what he made as a cop. The "wing it system" as he calls it is making him more money than extorting prints. He found a niche and ran with it. He has five different portfolios all less than six months old.
He called all his buddies on all the local PD's to arrange free shoots. These are his portfolios that are distributed all over town in schools, daycares, gynecologist and pediatrician offices. No website, he refuses to use a website and believes hard bound is best(i agree). The prints are all costco and mpix and marked up only twenty percent. The client owns everything except for one pic that he keeps for his portfolio. I just did his quarterlies and he is slated to be well over six figures for twelve months.

Find your own niche and do what works.

SF

[sevillafox]

http://www.served-up-fresh.com/menu.html

[sevillafox]

http://mcpactions.com/blog/2009/10/12/how-should-i-price-my-photography-words-of-advice-from-jodie-otte/

[sevillafox]

http://www.professionalchildphotographer.com/information/?p=6

[Dee1979]

Thanks for sharing SF!

Great links Sevilla! I appreciate it :)

[jonwhite]

I see insanely high printing prices, does everyone do that? Is that how you continue to make money? Again, because I'm starting out.. I'd hate to scare possible clients away. Perhaps in the future when I'm more experienced and have a steady clientele..


People tend to think that the print prices that photographers charge are insane until they are in business themselves and then they start to realize what photographers are charging for and its not just the cost of the actual print, thats just one part of it.

[Dee1979]

People tend to think that the print prices that photographers charge are insane until they are in business themselves and then they start to realize what photographers are charging for and its not just the cost of the actual print, thats just one part of it.

Yea- After reading a few of these articles posted, I can see why they are priced that way.