Selling Concert Photos for Website Usage

[Bearmann]

I'm just getting started and could use some advice from experienced professionals, especially those who do performance photography. Feel free to email me if you feel that it would be more appropriate than replying in the forum. See my post in the performance forum if you would like to see the photos.

1. Pricing, of course, is always a question. I want to compete on quality, not by undercutting other photographers. Still, they need to be affordable to the potential customer. My ultimate goal, though perhaps naive, would be to encourage sales for all photographers: A rising tide lifts all boats. That is, to stimulate demand.
2. My sales are pitiful at the present time. I think it is because the web presentation is so nice, that potential customers just view on line rather than buy. I plan to eventually reduce the pixel size of the web presentation and therefore the viewing experience.
3. I have had inquiries for website usage by the bands. I find it difficult to set the pricing for this. I have reviewed Seth Resnick's site, http://photographersindex.com/stockprice.htm, the big stock houses, "Pricing Photography" by Heron and MacTavish etc. Some of these references are out of date and do not discuss web usage in detail. Some of the bands are quite young and broke, while others seem well established. I would, of course, like to make photos available to all of them at a price they can afford. We have not discussed exact amounts yet-some lose interest after they find out that they will not be given away for free. Do you differentiate whether the photo will be used on a myspace page versus a regular website? Some performers have either, some have both. Do you charge additional if the photo is to be used on both? Would fotoquote be a good investment for me? What about photobiz? See #4
4. I know some base the fee on whether they will be used on the home page or secondary page, full size, half, or quarter. What about the number of daily hits on the site? Is this something I need to know. Can I access this information myself, or do I have to depend on the customer's honesty on supplying accurate information to me?
5. One of the performers asked about linking from my site to his. I am using a rental site, Zenfolio, so my options are limited. I can put his website address under his photos as a comment, however. Would it be advisable to trade links (mine on his and his on mine)?
6. I have the book "Business and Legal Forms for Photographers" 3rd edition by Ted Crawford. It is a bit outdated with web use getting only cursory treatment. I could adapt one of the contracts though. Is there a better source of contracts other than hiring my own lawyer?
7. Should I email or snail mail the contract? Photos first, then payment, or payment first, then photos?

I'm sure I'll have more questions later. I'm sorry for the long post and I appreciate those of you who will take the time to reply to one or more of the questions.

Barry

[PhotosGuy]

Ask Dwight: Q&A session with Dwight McCann: Event Photography

[Bearmann]

Photosguy,

Thanks for the link, but from reading his post, I think that Dwight's business set up is different than mine. Still, if he would like to comment, then I am all ears!