What is your print pricing?

[Chris215]

I just wanted to get an idea of what everyone is charging for differnet sizes such as:

4x6 - $
5x7 - $
8x10 - $
11x14 - $
12x18 - $
16x20 - $
20x24 - $
24x36 - $

to compare and see what people are charging in different areas.. I'm starting to offer printing so I want to develop something reasonable.

(I've also seen this site: http://blog.exposuremanager.com/2009/09/pricing-to-increase-sales.html just wanted some going rates on this board)

[ChrisRabior]

I think you're going to find a very very wide range, as this is a very broad question. For example, a wedding photo printed 24x36 is probably going to marked up quite a bit more than a shot of your kid scoring at his weekend soccer league in the same size. Lots of factors come into print pricing, like if you were paid to cover the event and the prints are nominally marked up.

The general idea is to have a markup that is reasonable for the quality of work you produce and isn't priced out of the range of your target audience.

[Chris215]

yeah I understand, I just wanted to get a feel of what everyone is charging for some standard sizes.

[MarkAnthonyPhotography]

good luck with that....lol

[Karl Johnston]

Take what you make and put a premium on it as far as your clients are willing to pay. Look at what your competition is charging to gain direction to see if the market will support it. Most importantly see if you can physically do it and make a ROI (return on investment)

hang on a minute, if you've read all of that link you should understand that already.

Giclee
4x6" $5.00/ea
Wallets(20 per sheet):$10.00/ea
8.5x11" $20.00/ea
11x14" $40.00/ea
13x19" $75 (eco-friendly paper)
17x22" 125 (eco-friendly paper)
40x60" 300

Lightjet
20x24" $150
20x30" 175
30x40" 225

for the sake of the argument, mine..for portraits and such

[tim]

I charge different amounts for wedding and portrait photography. Weddings are cheaper as people pay a reasonable sum up front, portraits more as people pay little or nothing up front.

[jonwhite]

Its always good to compare what other prices are in the market place, but you should also be looking at what your costs are for supplying prints taking into account your time for processing them, delivery costs, printing costs (pro lab prices are quite different to consumer labs), early bird discount offers, costs of fixing a small % of problems, payment processing fee's, gallery hosting and shopping cart system fee's and of course a decent % profit that will allow you to pay the relevant taxes and have some money left over for yourself.

As Tim also points out your print prices could also reflect what your up front fees for the session were.

Print pricing is one of those things that its very easy for others to look at from the outside and think photographers are over charging but until you have processed an order for one 6 by 4 print for a client then you probably don't appreciate some of the costs involved.

When I first started up I looked around at about 10 local competitors that were showing print prices and had similar wedding fee's to me and created an excel spreadsheet of all the different print prices. The print prices varied quite a lot and whilst it was interesting to see what others were charging and ensure I was competitive I based my prices mainly on what my costs were and what markup I wanted rather than what others were charging.

[sevillafox]

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

this is also a helpful buy:
http://www.served-up-fresh.com/menu.html

[Karl Johnston]

dont forget to include packaging costs

[KFormus]

4x6 - $5
5x7 - $12
8x10 - $25
11x14 - $45
16x20 - $85 (mounted)
20x30 - $190 (mounted)

Stretched Canvas
16x24 - $300
20x30 - $450

[wyofizz]

KFormus,
Why such a price differential between 4x6 and 5x7?

[Chris215]

good info! do you guys add on coating to printed images (ie. from mpix Lustre Coating?)

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Why would you sell 8X's & smaller at a different price? There's not that much difference in your costs for these sizes, however your time, talent, all your overhead, equimpment, etc add up. At my studio 8X's and smaller are the same price. It's the easiest thing I've ever done at my studio and very rarely do I get a complaint from a customer. When you buy shirts, shoes, pants, etc. S,M,L are priced the same.

Ernst

[HammerCope]

5X7 $15
8X10 $20

[tim]

Print pricing is one of those things that its very easy for others to look at from the outside and think photographers are over charging but until you have processed an order for one 6 by 4 print for a client then you probably don't appreciate some of the costs involved.

This is why I have a minimum print order of $50.

KFormus,
Why such a price differential between 4x6 and 5x7?

Personally I price the 5x7" higher than the 6x4 to discourage 5x7" print orders. I do the same for non 2:3 sizes like 6x8 and 8x10. People still buy them though.

good info! do you guys add on coating to printed images (ie. from mpix Lustre Coating?)

Keep it simple. If you want to add a coating include it in your price.

Why would you sell 8X's & smaller at a different price? There's not that much difference in your costs for these sizes, however your time, talent, all your overhead, equimpment, etc add up. At my studio 8X's and smaller are the same price. It's the easiest thing I've ever done at my studio and very rarely do I get a complaint from a customer. When you buy shirts, shoes, pants, etc. S,M,L are priced the same.

People expect to pay less for smaller prints, and some complain if they're all priced the same. But you have a good point, the cost of the paper isn't really hugely significant - but it can take longer to retouch larger prints as you need to be more careful.

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Tim, No offense, but that's pure bull****

What people expect and how you run your business is completely different. Educate them ahead of time and you really have no problems. When you do educate them you find the customers that want to work with you. If they are going to WalMart of course they expect cheap pricing and paying less for smaller prints. Are you a WalMart photographer?

As to retouching a portrait, once I've done that it pretty much fits any size. ;-)

Ernst

[tim]

Gee, you're quite offensive for a n00b there Ernst.

Like I said you make some good points, but people do expect to pay less when they get less. Sure we can reasonably justify otherwise, but that doesn't mean people like it.

Depending on the level of retouching required it can take me longer for large prints. Some things that you just couldn't see at 6x4 will be pretty obvious at 50" across.

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Ok Tim, Not sure what a nOOb is but that's ok. ;-)

Had an ordering appt just today, Mom bought a 16X20 Canvas Wrap and 9 Desk Top Portraits that were priced the same. 5ea 5X7's and 4ea 8X10's, they were priced the same. The 16X20 was a non smiley portrait I did of the bother and sister, BW, by the way. (Thank You Tim Kelly)!!!!!!!!!

They expect to pay less when they visit WalMart, not my studio, because I honestly offer so much more.

Best regards, Ernst

[tim]

Portrait photography is 20% photography, 80% sales :)

[stillinamerica]

well here is my pricing (which I reserve the right to alter at any time)...I mainly shoot kids and families

4x6: 10
5x7: 15
8x10: 35
11x14: 75
16x20: 85

I charge a $75 session fee.

My large prints are always mounted and have lustre coating. I physically check every print that comes from the lab. When I proof my pictures to my clients...they are not fully touched up...but still look good. I reserve the final edit for the final print so it looks better than their proof and they feel value.

For the time I put into my pictures and session, pre-planning etc and then post editing I actually feel that I do not charge enough. Average 'family order is in the $250-$300 range. However I do this because I love it and would be fine doing it for free....however then people would not perceive value in my product or me or my brand name.

It can be surprising to some but clients like to tell their friends that their pictures were not cheap. I am sure I lose some clients due to my pricing...however that is fine with me, I have enough business to fulfill my 'hobby'. Often on the first session I will trow something in for free or provide a slight discount...makes them happy and normaly provides repeat or referral business.

cheers

[tim]

well here is my pricing (which I reserve the right to alter at any time)...I mainly shoot kids and families

4x6: 10
5x7: 15
8x10: 35
11x14: 75
16x20: 85

I charge a $75 session fee.

My large prints are always mounted and have lustre coating. I physically check every print that comes from the lab. When I proof my pictures to my clients...they are not fully touched up...but still look good. I reserve the final edit for the final print so it looks better than their proof and they feel value.

For the time I put into my pictures and session, pre-planning etc and then post editing I actually feel that I do not charge enough. Average 'family order is in the $250-$300 range. However I do this because I love it and would be fine doing it for free....however then people would not perceive value in my product or me or my brand name.

It can be surprising to some but clients like to tell their friends that their pictures were not cheap. I am sure I lose some clients due to my pricing...however that is fine with me, I have enough business to fulfill my 'hobby'. Often on the first session I will trow something in for free or provide a slight discount...makes them happy and normaly provides repeat or referral business.

cheers

Those are similar to my wedding print prices, and people have paid me $2000 - $6000 up front to take the photos to start with. So yeah, you're too cheap if they're your portrait prices. I suspect if you did a proper business plan and expense analysis you'll find you're WAY in the red, once you count equipment, insurance, software, etc. You're probably paying quite a bit per hour to photograph people! But another way to look at it is you have the equipment, you're just spending time, and you're making a tiny bit of money to compensate you for your time.

[RDKirk]

For my wall portrait line, my minimum order is a framed 16x20 for $700 on Kodak Endura. I also offer canvas finish and four types of frames. My client will have agreed to at least that much at the initial consultation. And I'm rather cheap for what I do. Gift prints are extra.

[Zansho]

Ok Tim, Not sure what a nOOb is but that's ok. ;-)

Had an ordering appt just today, Mom bought a 16X20 Canvas Wrap and 9 Desk Top Portraits that were priced the same. 5ea 5X7's and 4ea 8X10's, they were priced the same. The 16X20 was a non smiley portrait I did of the bother and sister, BW, by the way. (Thank You Tim Kelly)!!!!!!!!!

They expect to pay less when they visit WalMart, not my studio, because I honestly offer so much more.

Best regards, Ernst

You priced a canvas wrap AND your desktop portraits the same? Oy. I think you just shot yourself in the foot for that one. Canvas is a completely different product than a desk portrait, and cost considerably more. I wouldn't price that the same as your desktop portraits.

Do you charge a large amount up front to make up for your loss of revenue (as I see it) and profit in sales?

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Zansho, Canvas Wraps are of course priced more and they are Wall Portraits, not Desk Top Portraits.
Desk Top Portraits are priced the same.

My sale was $710 and I'm quite happy with that. ;-)

Ernst

[stillinamerica]

Those are similar to my wedding print prices, and people have paid me $2000 - $6000 up front to take the photos to start with. So yeah, you're too cheap if they're your portrait prices. I suspect if you did a proper business plan and expense analysis you'll find you're WAY in the red, once you count equipment, insurance, software, etc. You're probably paying quite a bit per hour to photograph people! But another way to look at it is you have the equipment, you're just spending time, and you're making a tiny bit of money to compensate you for your time.


Tim...yeah good points....If this was a true business things would be a little different, but it is a hobby so a little bit of cash here or there is fine.....I am being paid to enjoy my hobby! :)
My surprise is at those in this thread that do not do this for a hobby and charge less than me...or those that feel bad for charging for a service!

Cheers

[wyofizz]

Tim,
Why do you discourage 5x7's ?

[Mike R]

4x6 $5
5x7 $9
8x10 $11.00
11x14 $18.00
8 Die cut wallets $11.00
20 min slideshow $265.00 (HS Sports)
I also offer posters at various sizes and novelties

Last night, I received a call from a football mom, she wanted to know if I could offer Christmas cards,
so now I do, in quantities of 25,40 or 50. Price per print decreases as quantity increases. She placed an order for 50. I had them on line in one hour for her with a huge selection of templates to choose from. My pricing will changein August (new school year)

[Karl Johnston]

Portrait photography is 20% photography, 80% sales :)
the 80/20 rule

Need to reverse it to the 20/80 rule so that you come out on top.
80% of your business is equal to 20% of your work.

Often doesn't work that way but in time it's a goal to get it to that place.

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Hey Karl, I've always heard the 80% of your business can come from 20% of your customer base.
Which means if your not staying in touch with those customers that you have already done business with your missing some trips to the bank. ;-)

Ernst

[Karl Johnston]

That's true too. When I realized that (through a member on here) I stopped calling them "customers" and switched to "clients."

and some become friends.

actually most do, lol. good business goes hand in hand..that's why I use a model release at these things; to keep track of people, where they are, what their phone numbers are if I need to reach them or if they contact me 6 months later or if I need to email them something like an invoice or a receipt or if they need me again...I recently invested in some magnetic business cards because I found a place that will do them real cheap and I need new ones (old ones are too hard to read and crease easily). I figure the magnetic ones can be thrown on fridges and that kind of thing or on the back of cars :lol: free advertising all the time.

[tim]

Tim,
Why do you discourage 5x7's ?

I crop in camera and often fill the frame, so making a 5x7 sometimes means cutting off part of the image i'd rather keep. I leave space for group shots, but really I shoot for the album where I have full control over size, keeping prints is mind is a distant second.

With bigger print orders I just email them and offer a free size upgrade, as the extra cost isn't so important as having the image looking good.