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Photo Forum / Photo Technique / People Photography / July 2003

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ROBINSON4 - 15 Jul 2003 23:44 GMT
I am a commercial photographer and I am geting requests for senior portraits.
My problem is that I don't know what to charge.  I live in a semi rural area.
I was thinking of $100 sitting fee, including film processing and proofs for
about 48 photos.  Up to 4 changes done in my studio or my outdoors.  Prints
would be 12 wallets or 4-4x5s or 2- 5x7s or 1 8x10 for $30.  An 11x14 is $48
and a 16x20 is $96.  I would have a minimum order of $200 in prints, and
framing.
How do I deliever the prints?  In folders or loose?  I was thinking of shooting
chromes so that I could scan and retouch myself.  Bad Idea?
www.georgerobinson.com
zeitgeist - 16 Jul 2003 08:57 GMT
> I am a commercial photographer and I am geting requests for senior portraits.
> My problem is that I don't know what to charge.  I live in a semi rural area.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> How do I deliever the prints?  In folders or loose?  I was thinking of shooting
> chromes so that I could scan and retouch myself.  Bad Idea?

first off, wallets out of package printers come in sets of 8  a lot of
photogs used to build the packages around units of 6 wallets so they would
get two free ones with each unit to use for promotional usage.

used to be kids wanted lots of wallets so you'd price them so that it made
the middle and larger packages more attractive.   now they just scan the
proofs or printsand make their own.

consider the usage of folios, sets of images in a padded folder.  They cost
about ten bucks or so but you sell three enlargements or 8 proofs (and
usually you had to buy a minimum order to buy the folio set.)  it was a good
way to make the proofs (which in far to many volume type studios were
included with the minimum order) have more value, its not just a stack of
paper, buts a put together item with some weight.

I think your prices are too low.  though there are a lot of 35mm shooters
out there now getting into the senior market with dirt cheap prices now.
but how long will it take to retouch and print?

even back in the 80's my 'basic' prints were $50 a unit, 125 for retouched.
a 16x20 was 250 mounted, 350 on canvass, and I didn't offer 11x14s for a
reason that's too long to get into here.

mount your prints, it helps with the frame sales, and gives your images
added value, just the heavier product doubles the perceived value in a
study.   I slide my gift sized images into a black envelope I buy at the
paper zone (dealers of paper stock, and some artsy craftsy supplies etc) and
close with a large gold foil sticker with a celtic knot design.   If they
want a folder I show the folios, oh but they have openings for three images,
( I particularly like the wing folio with an 8x10 middle and two 5x7's on
either side) or five, an 8x10 and four proof size, or the frames.

the portrait industry has been based on neg stock, the professional films
are designed for capturing skin tones, slide films are not.  neg stock gives
you a couple stops of exposure leeway that you can take advantage of while
scanning or photoshopping, slide stock is unforgiving.

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