Selling images to a friend.

I'm by no means a pro, take pictures for enjoyment and as a hobby and have no real plans to make my hobby a business as such. However a friend of mine wants some of my images just to display in his house and is willing to pay for them too.

My first instinct was to just email him the jpegs and let him then print and frame them, all for free. But then I thought that would perhaps detract from the time spent taking the shots and processing them ( also the prints might not be that great depending where they are done), and as he knows a lot of people who also might be interested in having original photographs on display in their homes, or even people who would like me to take some images for them, this would set a bad precedent. Also if I just give stuff away, the next guy who is trying to sell his/her stuff might lose out too.

So I'm thinking I might do some re processing of the images he wants ( so that they are unique for this transaction only ) and then get them printed and mounted then sell them to him ( on the understanding I'm selling a print of my work and I retain copyright.)

What is a fair "mates rates" price for this type of thing UK wise? Looking at 18x12 prints mounted and framed. Or even just a good quality print of the same dimension and let him mount and frame himself?

The pictures themselves are just semi abstract architectural type, no recognisable people in them requiring a release, and he just wants to have them over his fireplace as a talking point in his house.

Or, should I just give him the images for free and see if that creates interest later on?

sell it to him and be done with it. It will make you feel good as a photographer even if you just do this as a hobby.

Spose it depends on the level of friendship you have.

The people I call friends ( and I take the term seriously) over acqaintences I wouldn't dream of making a cent profit from. They never profit when they help me do all the different things they do so I wouldn't profit from them.
Fact being, If I could afford to give them something they asked for, I would because I always feel they do a lot more for me than I do for them and I'd be happy to have the opportunity to pay them something back.

If it were people I just knew or really friends of friends, then that would be different and I'd charge anything from full tilt to whatever discount. The thing I have learned though, people don't know if they are getting a discount or not and generally presume the price is the price. You may well charge full tilt and TELL them they got a discount because they don't know what the full price would have been when you do give them a discount to appreciate it it anyway.

IF it's true friends, I don't/ won't profit from them. Maybe they can shout lunch the next couple of times we go out but that's about it.
Just the thing that is the way with my mates and I, others may be different.

How many prints are we talking about here? If it is a REALLY close friend and only 1 or 2 shots, I'd print them and give them to him and let him pay for mattes/frames. That allows you to proof the prints before they are his. If he wants several, perhaps charge him enough to cover your cost - letting him know he is getting the "friend" discount.

philk54 wrote in post #15342534
How many prints are we talking about here? If it is a REALLY close friend and only 1 or 2 shots, I'd print them and give them to him and let him pay for mattes/frames. That allows you to proof the prints before they are his. If he wants several, perhaps charge him enough to cover your cost - letting him know he is getting the "friend" discount.

That works for me.

Excellent quality 18 x 12 prints can be had for virtually nothing (£1.20) from DS Colour Labs in Manchester so I wouldn't worry too much about the print cost even if you don't want to just send your mate the digital files,#

Framing on the other hand will be the biggest cost and you may be better off letting him choose / buy his own frames that will fit in with his decor.

As for price that's down to you,

I've just done a show and was selling 18 x 12 prints for £20 - dirt cheap I know but still most people still purchased 6 x 4 prints so obvioulsy they felt that £20 was too expensive.

I either give my friends a substantial discount or just give it to them as a gift. Most of them have appreciated it and have done the same with me for other work/favours.

I do my friends favors, because sooner or later I need a favor. If I charge then they charge. If I charge $50 you can bet they will charge me $50 when I need a favor. Most of the favors I do are in computer repair, and I,m out $100s over the years, but atleast when I need a favor I always feel like I'm ahead.

Christmas present...

Daship wrote in post #15345540
I do my friends favors, because sooner or later I need a favor. If I charge then they charge. If I charge $50 you can bet they will charge me $50 when I need a favor. Most of the favors I do are in computer repair, and I,m out $100s over the years, but atleast when I need a favor I always feel like I'm ahead.

Definitely agree with this one. I am by no means a "handyman," so when my buddy who IS has a party for his kids, I have no problem being the photographer and getting shots for them. I'll even use a couple of the better shots to frame in an 11x14 and give to them as xmas presents.