What Should I Say?

Alright... Well a friend has asked me to take their family portrait. As a follow up, I need to talk to them about price, time, place, ect. So I was trying to write u pa friendly, yet professional, response. I am only 15, and this will be my first paid shoot. I was told not to do it for free, because than word will get around and I won't be taken seriously. So I have decided to charge. Anyway, here is what I have written, any suggestions before I send it out?

“
Hello Mr. _____,
I just wanted to start talking to you about your interest in having a family portrait taken! I would first, just like to let you know that I am very thankful that you would want me to take the photo. Anyway…
I will take all the photos I can, and in all the different poses I can. After I am gone through the photos, and edited them, I will give you a CD with all the high-res pictures on it. I will also print some of the photographs, if you want me to. The prints will be done professionally, but of course will not be free. For all of this, I ask for $50 + however much you want to spend on prints. Just to inform you early on, here are the prices for prints:[/COLOR]
4x6 : $__
5x8 : $__
8x10 : $15
11x14 : $25
__x__ : $35

Anyway, just think it over and get back to me whenever you are able
Have a great day
-Brad Capote
“

What do you think?? I had a hard time trying to squeeze in my price…
The prices, and the last print size is blank, because I am not sure on how much the prints are, and I am not sure on frame sizes over 11x14 (Up to 18x21 (Max size 10.1MP can do, without losing IQ). The print prices will be giving me about $10+ profit. (The 8x10, I will pay $4 for it to be printed, but will charge them $15, 11x14 is $11 to print, I charge $25)… Anyway, if you think, should I up the print prices? Or would you say they are fine as is? (For what I have listed)

take away the part where you say " i don't have too much experience with familes" and the i will take the photos i can... basically, anything that tells people you do not have experienced. people don't know, why tell them, especially when you want to charge. let people know things on a need to know basis.

since you are not experienced, I suggest just charging them for prints, rather than a fee plus selling prints.

reason, if you receive a sitting fee, you have to produce the images no matter what because you are paid.

next part of charging, is not to give out high-res images. they might go somewhere and get crappy prints and them u will be blamed for being a bad photographer.

other senior members will have more for you.

if i were you, i would include these in my letter

1.) thank you for considering me
2.) show up and shot, print may be purchased at this price.
3.) web resolution images at this price
4.) look forward to meeting to discuss details, dressing, location.

where do you get 8x10's printed for $4? my smugmug pro account prints 8x10 for 2.99

also, i've noticed that your large sizes are not the 2x3 ratio, u have to compensate alot when framing and composing the shots for cropping.

why not offer standard sizes, wallet, 4x6, 8x10 and one up larger.

the more choices you give people. the harder it is for them to make up their mind.

keep it simple for them

That was my original thought... I expressed it with friend, and he suggested I at least charged $50. If I charged nothing, but for prints, then, he said, I would be looked at as a freebie photographer, who isn't that good because he does it all for free.
I do feel VERY confident in my skills, I work for 2 photographers, one is giving me a raise and sending me on weddings on my own (I am only 15.....). So I will take out the part saying I don't have too much experience. I have many ideas, and plans for the photos, I just need to implement them.
I can't do it for free, and only charge for prints because:
- I need cash ASAP to pay off my new 40D
- I may only end up getting $30 profit, from prints, when I need more!

I am thinking about making this an hour shoot, later in the evening at the beach (For the classic sunset family shot) but, the sun isn't going down until 8:30pm now'a'days, and they have two new baby girls, so not too sure if that will work out....
Anyway, point is, I plan on making it an hour shoot, and than I may need to get another small loan from my parents, to purchase Lightroom (trial ran out, and I only have Corel Paint Shop pro, which SUCKS)...
So I really do want to charge at least $50...

Please tell me if I am just being retarded by charging $50 for an hour family portrait (6 kids, and then the 2 parents)... I personally think I should\would charge $75-$100 if I didn't know the family...

Anyway, I mainly just want to know if the way I have worded the message is good (minus the "I don't have too much experience with families")

Aaagogo wrote in post #5565533
where do you get 8x10's printed for $4? my smugmug pro account prints 8x10 for 2.99

also, i've noticed that your large sizes are not the 2x3 ratio, u have to compensate alot when framing and composing the shots for cropping.

why not offer standard sizes, wallet, 4x6, 8x10 and one up larger.

the more choices you give people. the harder it is for them to make up their mind.

keep it simple for them

My friend, with the top of the line Canon printer (not sure what model it is), top of the line paper, ink, and uv spray's for the end product, prints the photos for me. It does seem like a bit high of a price, but the quality is AMAZING...
And for the print sizes, I have no clue what standard print sizes are...
If you could, please list the 'non crop' sizes for prints (Up to, 11x14 or so...)

Tumeg wrote in post #5565511
Alright... Well a friend has asked me to take their family portrait. As a follow up, I need to talk to them about price, time, place, ect. So I was trying to write u pa friendly, yet professional, response. I am only 15, and this will be my first paid shoot. I was told not to do it for free, because than word will get around and I won't be taken seriously. So I have decided to charge. Anyway, here is what I have written, any suggestions before I send it out?

My suggestions in BOLD

Dear Mr. _________

Thank you for your inquiry regarding a family portrait session.

(Elminate the above sentence entirely. Don't ever volunteer what your weaknesses are unless you are specifically requested to list your experience.)

I'm certain I can provide you with quality images shot in both formal and informal settings. If you have an idea in mind for how you'd like your family portrait to look, please don't hesitate to make suggestions at any time.

Once the shoot is complete, I will provide you with the finished, full-resolution images on compact disc.

If you would like, I can also provide you with professionally finished prints at the following prices:

Again, thank you very much for your inquiry and I look forward to booking a date with you and your family in the very near future.

Kindest Regards (Sincerely, Very truly yours, etc...)

Brad Capote
Photographer (or your company name...)
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
span style="color:Black;"xx@xxx.com
“

Prints prices are going to be a balance between what your area market will bear and what you consider to be a fair mark up.

Good Luck...

Wish I'd found my muse when I was your age...

Thanks a TON FlyingPhotog! That is a GREAT way to word it all!
I just changed it up a bit, and said I would get the print prices to him later, or after the shoot.

I did not include the price in the message though. Should I? Or do you think that will be discussed in further e-mails?

Here is the newer message:

Dear Mr. _______,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding a family portrait session. I'm certain I can provide you with quality images shot in both formal and informal settings. If you have an idea in mind for how you'd like your family portrait to look, please don't hesitate to make suggestions at any time. Once the shoot is complete, I will provide you with the finished, full-resolution images on a DVD or CD-ROM. If you would like, I can also provide you with professionally finished prints (I will get the prices and sizes to you as soon as possible). Again, thank you very much for your inquiry and I look forward to booking a date with you and your family in the very near future.


Sincerely,
Brad Capote
(***)533-****
BradC@Spamex.com
www.photosbybradley.co​m

Tumeg wrote in post #5565663
Thanks a TON FlyingPhotog! That is a GREAT way to word it all!
I just changed it up a bit, and said I would get the print prices to him later, or after the shoot.

I did not include the price in the message though. Should I? Or do you think that will be discussed in further e-mails?

Two ways to approach it:

1) Your correspondence right up to the minute they arrive serves mearly as a proposal and they sign a contract at that point.

2) Your final correspondence serves as THE CONTRACT which they must send back to book the date.

Either way, all services to be provided and prices for said services should be spelled out and agreed upon before you ever hit the shutter button. It's along the same lines as telling them you don't have experience... You're expressing or exposing a weakness in your business. Get your ducks in a row (or in this case, get your print pricing nailed down) so you can provide as solid a proposal as possible. It's part and parcel of selling yourself.

IIRC, you said this person is an aquaintance? That's all well and good but aquintances (and even friends) can stop being such in small claims court.

IOW, get it all in writing up front (or at least as up front as is possible...)

Good points...
Looks like I will be looking for sample contracts over the next few days...

i would assume that it's still a ink jet printer and not the dye sublime type???

It's just me but i strongly recommend using a professional print house. my way of thought is, since you're charging, and more importantly, want to come out looking like a pro, why scrimp one a buck here and there.

While i understand that they might add up, but is it worth if it's screwed up. Murphy's law somehow will always find a way. let a pro print house take care of the prints. and in this case, you're paying more for a 8x10.

if you're worried about the extra setup costs for smugmug, then do a WHCC

i would send out the letter with the correct suggested by flyingphotog, but i would definitely take out the, " I'm giving you a full res or high res CD." simple reason, if they take it to walmart or sams and the prints, somehow, doesn't come out good, you are the one they blame.

ie, the full res is a 2x3 ratio, they get it printed at 11x14 at sams or walmart, and the guy crops out parts of the head or the feet or the legs, when the customer picks it up, they might not notice it, but someone else might, and then they ask, how come the photographer shoot your daughter with part of her head chopped off. They won't blame the printers at sams or walmart because they don't know the 2x3 ratio is different from the 11x14 ratio, so the blame goes straight to you.

less things the customer(i see them as people who don't understand photography) handle photography related stuff, the better it is for me, i feel

Tumeg wrote in post #5565597
My friend, with the top of the line Canon printer (not sure what model it is), top of the line paper, ink, and uv spray's for the end product, prints the photos for me. It does seem like a bit high of a price, but the quality is AMAZING...
And for the print sizes, I have no clue what standard print sizes are...
If you could, please list the 'non crop' sizes for prints (Up to, 11x14 or so...)

He uses the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8100 Large Format Printer....
I will just stick with him, his prints are AMAZING quality, they are easier to get and deliver, and if he messes up he will reprint until it is perfect (without charging per mess up, of course). He goes through each print with a fine tooth comb, looking for the smallest impurities. The extra cash is worth it, IMO

price should be made clear and known up front.

you won't want to send out the letter with both parties not in the same line of thought, u think he's paying, he thinks you're doing it for free, then u spend more time getting into more planning, discussion and stuff then then finally, you ask him when he's going to pay, he asks what pay... and then.... u know.

Tumeg wrote in post #5565663
Thanks a TON FlyingPhotog! That is a GREAT way to word it all!
I just changed it up a bit, and said I would get the print prices to him later, or after the shoot.

I did not include the price in the message though. Should I? Or do you think that will be discussed in further e-mails?

He knows he will be paying. He told me when he first brought it up.
I just sent the message, if he is still interested in the portrait, then I will bring up prices (prints + sitting\flat fee).

always keep it in mind, you are doing it like a professional now, so do things the way it should be done as a professional.

nothing is better than black and white documentation of everything.

while i understand that you say that he said that he will be paying, so he knows, like all things, price is made know right off the bat, so that everybody knows, then both you and him can make an informed decision. or maybe bargaining??

u see, now, he doesn't know what you will charge, then now u say if he's interested in the portrait, then u will bring up prices, you are doing twice the work for the same information that could have gone out in 1 email or letter.

anyway, all the best for this gig

You need to learn, how to use comas.

The letter isn't very professional or grammatically correct. I would fix that first.