Does this pricing scheme look feasible?

[ted_smith1]

Hi

 

I know there are lots of questions on this subject but they all (in most cases)

appear to relate to day rates, whereas I have based my proposal pricing scheme

for my new business slightly differently - on 'hourly shoot' rates, followed by

a seperate price for actual prints and another price for CDs containing the

images for the client to print themselves.

 

I am contious of, and have been critisized in the past for, undervaluing my work

which, people say, undervalues the trade. So I have tried to be more objective

and not worried too much about "Am I worth it?"

 

My intended business model is primarily as a 'specialist' pet photographer but

also family portraits at people's homes, baby shots, etc

 

I've arrived at a pricing scheme but have no idea whether it's 'the right' way

to do it and whether it will work or not as most photographers on photo.net seem

to base it on daily rates? That said, I have shown my pricing scheme and terms &

conditions page to several family members and all of them, bar one, said that it

looked very reasonable (compared to prices in my area). Should I adopt a

different pricing scheme, based on your experience, or not?

 

In brief, I have broken it down as follows :

 

---

 

Pre Shoot 30 minute consultation at clients home\business - no charge

 

1 Hour Photographic Shoot (payable on the day) - $150.00

 

2 Hour Photographic Shoot (payable on the day) - $280.00

 

----

 

Standard 'Post-Shoot' image processing - No Charge

 

Disk holding 1 to 10 print-quality images - $60.00

 

Disk holding 11 to 80 print-quality images - $100.00

 

Disk holding 11 to 80 print-quality images, plus 'web and e-mail friendly'

versions of same - $140.00

 

Disk holding 81 to 250 print-quality images (*) - $300.00

 

Disk holding 81 to 250 print-quality images, plus 'web and e-mail friendly'

versions of same (*) - $380.00

 

(*) = available with 2 hour shoot only

 

---

 

Then a variety of print prices which are basically the cost of what it costs me

to get them printed plus about 30%

 

In other words, I charge a fee for my skills (as a photographer), payable

regardless of whether the customer wants prints or not, and then a seperate

price for copies of the clients favourite prints on whatever form they want it -

digital or print.

 

Does this sound reasonable or unreasonable? Am I going about it the wrong way?

 

Thanks

[scott_richards4]

Something seems off in your pricing scheme. If you do a 2 hour shoot and get your 81-250 images that you will be providing on disk you would be charging 280 + 300 for disk. This is without prints.

 

2 hours = 580.

 

Now you say you do not charge for image processing but even if you do basic editing that will prob take a total of 10 minutes per image. (Loading image, opening, adjust this that, save, close).

 

So a min of 81 images x 10 minutes per = 13 hours in post. I am sure if you run batches you can cut this time in half or less but lets say 6 hours. So now you will get:

 

8 hours = 580.

 

Now deduct price of disk, electricity for the computers to run for that time as well as any other expenses you would accumulate. Gas, Food, etc, rent, wear and tear, Prob 300.

 

So for your 8 hours of work you will bring home less than 300.

 

If that is an acceptable number for then it isnt unreasonable but I think you need to include a standard post process fee and a minimum number of prints from each shoot in each package, increase your price on hourly shoots and possibly include incidentals as well.

 

I am not a pro photographer nor do I run a photo business but I do work in the agency world hiring photographers and dealing with the numbers game. And maybe its because I work in the ad world and not the portrait world but I have never come across a pricing scheme like this. You seem to be emphasizing quantity rather than the quality of your work.

[alanastonish]

Without knowing the supply and demand for your line of work in your locality, naming a price point is difficult.

 

If your skill set is unique, there is no doubt in my mind that you could ask for more! If your customers like you and your work... they'll rationalize!

[ericf1]

Ted,

 

It sounds to me like you are compairing apples and oranges. I can't imagine many portrait photographers charging a day rate. You should be comparing your sitting fees to that of other portrait photographers in your area. Depending on your experience that could mean anything from Walmart to a well seasoned portrait photographer with a studio and associated overhead.

 

A quick web search for photogs in your area shoud give you a good idea of whether your sitting fees and prices are in-line. Your print prices based on a 30% mark-up seem particularily low. An 8x10 from Mpix is $1.99 and at WHCC it's only $2.10. You should be charging a multiple of your cost for prints.

 

Good luck

[kellyka]

I dunno, driving to their home pre shoot seems excessive for a 1-2 hour shoot unless your planning of setting up something really elaborate. There seems to be a strange gap in the number of photos you offer with the $100 to $300 jump. And you are goign to get people who will order 2 $100 packages to get 160 photos and to bypass paying $300 for it. ( If you allow them to) and you need to raise you prices on the prints because with what your offering you will get two type of clients. Those who by the CD, and they wont order anything from you because they will print them out themselves, and then those who order prints, becasue they dont want to/cant pay for the CD In which case if they order an 8x10 and you print from whitehouse you will then charge them $2.73? But they wont order more than $100 becuase then they would just buy the CD.

 

I would not offer the differnt number of photos on each CD I would set up the Packages price with it inlcuded such as 1 hour package A without CD is $200 (for example) and 1 hour package B with CD is $400 (for example) but adjust the prices to what fits you.

Like I said before I dunno. If it works for you it works but try it and you will see and then make any nessesary adjustments!

[sobeystudio]

Ted-

As a professional photographer I can honestly say that this looks pretty amateur. Are you a

photographer or WalMart? Forget these elaborate packages and go for the simple. Don't

charge by the hour, but by the project (you never know when you can be expected to shoot

more than the given time- or less!) Give one price, and include 2 or 3 finals (let them edit

through no more than 150 lo-res images) If they want more they come to you, and you

charge for it. Don't confuse your clients, make it easy for them- to spend their money on you

and your GREAT product. They will pass on the word and you will get more business.

[ted_smith1]

Thanks everyone - this is really helpful.

 

I have simplified things a lot now and devised a price list that just states prices for prints of various sizes. It took about 10 re-writes but my good lady wife (who knows nothing about photography) now says that if she were a client she would understand it, whereas she did not before. Like many of you have said, confusing the client is not a good idea!

 

Martin - I like your suggestion. At my level, I think that will work well. If, when I deliver the 2 or 3 finals, they ask about more I will give them an idea of what I can do then and give a price. Many thanks

 

Ted