Pricing prints

[Pekka]

This is a question I will need an answer for in future.

How do you define prices for prints? How much does photographer, content (subject), audience and size govern prices? What about size? Material?

Let's say I have three very different photos which I would like to sell in e.g. A3 (large) size posters

http://photography-on-the.net/gallery/photo.php?photo=860&exhibition=12&u=5|73 is very "in" subject (Nighwish hevy metal band singer) and most likely would sell very well as a poster and other

http://www.lieksabrass.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=3247&u=89|18 which is more esoteric image but would definitely attract a small but active military bands or brass bands and enthusiasts, and

http://photography-on-the.net/gallery/photo.php?photo=285&u=30|30 which would need specialty printing gear (large format Canon or such) as large panorama and which would probably be very good seller.

How would rate those in e.g. dollars (you can use descriptive terms if you do not like to give fixed values)?

Also, would it be best to do small batches all the time and sell those signed and numbered, or do one fixed e.g. 100 piece numbered/signed batch and price that high because of small availability?

Are small sizes more profitable in the long run?

Thanks!

[defordphoto]

The first photo's market would be limited. A fan of that singer. The photo is excellent, but I would have no need to purchase it. I'd contact the website of the musical group and solicit interest there. Selling to fans would be a $20USD a photo deal. If selling that same photo to the group for commercial use, that price would change dramatically, depending on the popularity of the group.

Mätäsvaara Explodes would also have a limited audience. $20 for an 8x10 or 8x12.

Katajanokka Street Panorama however is a work of art and much different than the two above. This is a beautiful photograph and at that size would be well into the multi-hundreds of dollars for a matt/framed copy. I'd expect this one to be $300-$500 for an unknown photographer.

[Vegas Poboy]

I've been going over this all summer with many other photographers & I'll have to agree with Jim comments. The first print I would contact the singers agent & see if they would want the picture and go from there. If I was to sell it to them I would not give up my rights to the photo due to the fact that if the singer ever hit it big you could sell it to other publications. I believe the last one would be great for stock & here is a link to have a look @ to get some type of guidelines. http://photographersindex.com/stockprice.htm

[defordphoto]

Originally Posted by Vegas Poboy

If I was to sell it to them I would not give up my rights to the photo due to the fact that if the singer ever hit it big you could sell it to other publications.

Unless you are offered 5 figures, never give up your photo rights. Your mileage may vary, but 5 figures would be a minimum. In my experience, the people in the know, know what the rights are worth and would never ask.

[IndyJeff]

I have always had the mindset that the market will determine the price.

What I may be able to get for a print, Jim wouldn't think of selling one for that little and Pekka might die before he would sell one at either price.

[Vegas Poboy]

Originally Posted by RFMSports

Unless you are offered 5 figures, never give up your photo rights. Your mileage may vary, but 5 figures would be a minimum. In my experience, the people in the know, know what the rights are worth and would never ask.

Thanks Jim, I was thinking on a smaller scale but you're right.

[sGu]

how about football game prints?

I've been shooting some premiership football here in UK, and had couple of emails regarding print sales.

for a 8x10, how much should i charge per print?

[Vegas Poboy]

Originally Posted by sGu

how about football game prints?

I've been shooting some premiership football here in UK, and had couple of emails regarding print sales.

for a 8x10, how much should i charge per print?

For me locally I charge the following:
4x6 $5.00
5x7 $10.00
8x10 $20.00

For little leagues I reduce the price by$2.00 & set up package deals.

[sGu]

thanks for the advice, it helped.

[IndyJeff]

Last night I was on Indystar.com and checking out some images from the weekend sports. I noticed down in the corner they had a "purchase this print". Being curious I clicked to see what they were getting. I damn near fell down, $30 for an 8x10.

Next time someone thinks I am charging too much for a print, I will tell them to check out Indystar.com.



p.s. I am seriously considering raising my prices next year.

[Vegas Poboy]

Originally Posted by IndyJeff

Last night I was on Indystar.com and checking out some images from the weekend sports. I noticed down in the corner they had a "purchase this print". Being curious I clicked to see what they were getting. I damn near fell down, $30 for an 8x10.

Next time someone thinks I am charging too much for a print, I will tell them to check out Indystar.com.



p.s. I am seriously considering raising my prices next year.

Yeah, I had a hard time pricing 8x10's @ $20.00 then I went to some sport events seeing prints going $25 & up and I felt better about my prices. In fact when I do kickboxing 8x10's go for $25.00.
Think about when you capture the moment that can't be replayed it's priceless. When Roy Jones got knocked out by Tarver not one photographer caught the punch that hit him & the going price that weekend for anyone that had caught the shot was up to $5000.00. We're getting paid for knowing how & when to capture the moment. I'm not going to run prices up but I'm going to try to keep it within the average market.

[IndyJeff]

Damn poboy, wouldn't you have liked to be the exclusive on that shot?

I hear what your saying about "that one exact moment which can't be reporoduced", when I get a crash if someone wants a print of it that 8x10 is $30 firm.


I have only had one exclusive in my entire shooting career. That was Tom Wood's crash last year at Kentucky. Everyone in the press room loved the shot but no buyers. One guy, I think he was an SI writer, said if it were the IRL I could name my starting price and let the bidding war begin but, since this was the Infinity Pro Series it wasn't even news. The next day for the IRL race I was the only guy inside turn 3 again. My luck that was a record for the fastest race in history, only one yellow for debris and that was about 2 laps before they went back to green. Oh well it was a great race and I was lucky enough to be at Chicago when that record fell a month later.

[NILOLIGIST]

I am not good at this but my thoughts are...Price should always be determined based on type of usage. This photo of the singer could be used in her maketing/press kit and therefore would be worth much more.

I would contact her and show her the photo and if she expressed interest I would probe and find out possible use and take it from there. People that are entertainment are not like the rest. They are use to paying and therefore would not be put off by the price. I would be more interested in getting work from her rather than selling one photo for a small price. You could turn that into something much, much more.

The other photos should be priced according to a formula that you create based on the cost of your equipment.

Try not to overprice yourself and try not to underprice yourself. If you give things away for too cheap it has no value.

Good luck!!