oliver_leveritt

<p>Well, David, to simplify my question, let's forget that I'm currently dealing with a relative. I'm trying to figure out how to position myself and structure my offering(s) in such a scenario. Regarding her "as cheaply as possible" approach, my point was that just picking the cheapest printer and hoping to save money by not printing it on photo paper was unworkable.<br /> My interest is:<br /> a starting-point structure to process and deliver prints for framing to be used at various/multiple locations with some or all prints being replicated for multi-location use.<br> I need to be able to structure an offer regardless of whether this person or that person will accept or reject it based on their whims or preferences.</p>

<p>Here's the scenario:<br> I have a relative who either works for or provides services to an entity that owns several locations -- large rest homes, etc. up to 80,000 sq. ft. each. She does the decoration from drapes to furniture to wall art to -- you name it.<br> Right up front, I will qualify a few things here. I doubt seriously that any quote I offer will be accepted, because said relative is looking for the cheapest way out. She indicated that she would be using some of her son's "photography" -- cell phone and P&S snapshots on his travels in South America. None of his work is processed at all that I know of. He just grabs the snapshots and that's that. Since she will most likely get his work for free, it goes without saying that the reason for asking another family member is to get art as close to free as possible. She is part of a profit center and wants to use my work, therefore I see absolutely no reason to contribute my photography, processing time, etc. to a for-profit concern so that she can create a big margin in her budget and/or contract. To give an idea: she indicated that she thought it would be better and cheaper not to have to print on photography paper and find people who would do the printing cheaply, since they all did pretty much the same thing. Get my drift here? Huge education process and learning curve ahead for her.<br> Cutting to the chase -- I'm trying to determine how to structure my fees based on the following:<br> I will need to re-process nearly every photo from scratch using RAW files and then determine possible sizing for prints/framing.<br> Any photo(s) could be printed multiple times to use at multiple locations, so I need to take the replication of my work into account. I do not initially believe I could ever negotiate any sort of deal whereby I sold the rights to photo(s) for a suitable amount so that someone else could print it at will in whatever fashion they choose. I think more of my work than that, such as it is. It seems that I would need a "tiered" fee structure: per-shot processing, plus per-print income. I would also need to deal directly with the printer so that I always retained my files and the purchasing business entity did not have files to replicate/reprint at will.<br> So, I'm looking at a somewhat distributive reproduction structure involving replication a fair amount of the time. I'm hoping that I have provided enough info here to germinate a productive conversation. There may be other details that I haven't covered.<br> At any rate, I need to determine my position and fee structure, even though I doubt seriously that it will be accepted. There is far too little knowledge on the other side of the equation.<br> I'm looking for a starting-point structure here to process and deliver prints for framing to be used at various/multiple locations with some or all prints being replicated for multi-location use. With that in mind, any info/advice regarding actual pricing structure is welcomed, particularly for processing. Print cost is pretty much determined by the printer, plus any markup. I can't really go on "local" rates because she is in a different state/region where I would have more trouble gathering that info, plus the fact that I'm not sure how wide a region her company covers, etc. In short, my "competition" is all the companies that sell all the framed art that is sold to hotels, motels, hospitals, and other institutions -- whoever they are. I don't believe for a minute that I can be a cheaper option.<br> Your input is appreciated.<br> Ollie</p>