Framed portrait prices...

kelly1

Hello all, I've been asked to provided a framed family portrait (inkjet) as 1st prize in a raffle and they want to know the value.

I'd really appreciate it if you guys could give me some idea of the typlical charges for a well framed 20x16. At least €200 - 250?

Thanks.

PCPhoto

talk to steve (stcstc)

check it out first if they want a price on Photoshoot and framed print - places like "Venture" make a mint out (or used to...not sure if they are still active) of these by offering the shoot for free but the prices of prints are several hundreds (and thats without framing)

printing, framing costs are proportional to what you get out - most decent photographers will link up with or have their own printing/framing service to minimise costs - if you do print on a regular basis and dont have any deals then you dont make profit on RRP for frames/prints.

how much do you charge for a print normally ? how much do you pay for a print normally ? how much do you pay for a frame - size, material etc , is the image to be mounted ? how much do you pay or do you charge for an hour long shoot (or even 30min shoot)

Asking the question "how much do I charge?" is all relevant to what you want to make out of it.....no-one wants to be out of pocket while doing a shoot for friends/charity, no-one wants to make a loss while selling a print or selling a number of prints.

EDIT: I'm a little confused - you have been asked to give a family portrait print ....just the print or the full shoot ? on location, in studio - can you ask the person who asked you to be specific and also .... do you understand what you are getting yourself into, if you are providing a photoshoot and print the person can expect professional results, have you got studio or portrait experience?

kelly1

Thanks PCPhoto.

I really must draw up a price list one of these days but I don't do a whole lot of portrait shooting, more practice than paid work.

I think a 20x16 inkjet would cost me in the region of €20 and a frame another €30-50 (which I won't be paying for!)

I'm only starting out and what I have in mind is €60 for the session fee and €20 for a 10x8 or 12x8 lab print. But with inkjet 20x16 + decent frame, I'd be looking at 60 (session) + 30 (print+profit) + framing (40+10 profit) = 140. Maybe round up to €150. Problem is I don't know what pros are charging.

The organizers of the event want to make this 1st prize look decent! But that's another story.

Thanks.

PCPhoto

Maybe you should talk to the organisers and explain to them that they want you to offer first prize when you have little experience.

Ask them are they willing to pay for rental of a studio ? or rental of lighting equipment if the shoot is at the persons location of choice.

Are they willing to cover the costs of printing, mounting and framing ?

a family photoshoot takes time to organise - especially if you are just starting out and do not have a studio to do the shoot in.

there are loads of different styles of family portrait - you could have the classic with studio backdrop setup or the more modern venture style over exposed in white.

you may be taking on a job which you have very little understanding of the inner runnings - I blame the organisers who are suggesting you offer first prize....I dont think they know what a photographer does in terms of a photoshoot....Do you have the correct portraiture post production software ? sometimes photoshop or aperture doesn't get it right.

A photographer doesn't just press a button on the camera - its your imagination and creativity which makes the photo.

EDIT: €60 for a session ...what do you provide for this session? , how long does it take ?

in creating your prices - factor in depreciation, insurance, rent, rates, purchase of new equipment etc ....every photographer needs to eat so add food in as another factor.

Work out how much it costs you to take a photo - everything from cost of camera equipment, lenses, flashes, pocket wizards, laptop, computer, cables, batteries, chargers, books, magazines, lighting gear, housings, strobes, cleaning equipment, insurance, depreciation of camera equipment, rental of studio space, backdrops and stands, tripod, remote release, etc etc etc ...the list goes on

melekalikimaka

i'd triple that... at least.

kelly1

PCPhoto wrote: »

Maybe you should talk to the organisers and explain to them that they want you to offer first prize when you have little experience.
>>> Yes, they know I'm starting out

Ask them are they willing to pay for rental of a studio ? or rental of lighting equipment if the shoot is at the persons location of choice.
>>> No, it's a charity do.

Are they willing to cover the costs of printing, mounting and framing ?
>>> Well, I'm not paying for it!

a family photoshoot takes time to organise - especially if you are just starting out and do not have a studio to do the shoot in.
>>> I have a good size spare room at home with lights, background setup.

there are loads of different styles of family portrait - you could have the classic with studio backdrop setup or the more modern venture style over exposed in white.
>>> It's up to the prize winner but my preference is b/w classic.

you may be taking on a job which you have very little understanding of the inner runnings - I blame the organisers who are suggesting you offer first prize....I dont think they know what a photographer does in terms of a photoshoot....Do you have the correct portraiture post production software ? sometimes photoshop or aperture doesn't get it right.
>>> I have LR and CS5.

A photographer doesn't just press a button on the camera - its your imagination and creativity which makes the photo.

EDIT: €60 for a session ...what do you provide for this session? , how long does it take ?
>>> Whatever the client wants really. If they want a couples shot, I'm not going to start doing individual shots. 30-60 mins for a session and cups of tea

in creating your prices - factor in depreciation, insurance, rent, rates, purchase of new equipment etc ....every photographer needs to eat so add food in as another factor.

Work out how much it costs you to take a photo - everything from cost of camera equipment, lenses, flashes, pocket wizards, laptop, computer, cables, batteries, chargers, books, magazines, lighting gear, housings, strobes, cleaning equipment, insurance, depreciation of camera equipment, rental of studio space, backdrops and stands, tripod, remote release, etc etc etc ...the list goes on
>>> Thanks

melekalikimaka wrote: »

i'd triple that... at least.

Triple which price? The 200-250??

stcstc

30-50 for framing a 20*16 is way off, thats a price for a readymade, where your assembling i assume

if you go to a pro framer / lab it will cost more than that

for example a nice black frame custom made and print dry mounted i would charge 57 +vat

if you want anything fancier ie chunky frame, etc it could go up as far as around 200 for that size, if your using posh glass and posh mouldings etc

kelly1

Thanks Steve. I realized afterwards that I was forgetting about the mount which would be around 24x20 I suppose.

So I'd be looking at

Session 80
Print 50
Frame 60

---

Total 190 --> 250 after rounding up to make the prize a bit more attractive.

Still too low?

melekalikimaka

knock the session up to at least 200 imo

kelly1

melekalikimaka wrote: »

knock the session up to at least 200 imo

Thanks but we're not talking a fancy pro studio here but I do have a nice rug on the floor

stcstc

Session would be too high at 200

Some of e high on photogs don't even charge that


What I would say though, most of my clients will at least double what I charge them for printing and framing etc

kelly1

OK, I'll go with 80 (session) + 40 (print) + 80 (mount+frame) = 200.

Thanks to one and all!

stcstc

Kelly


Sorry it's still not enough

It's should be something like

75 ish for session

Print and frame cost is approa 95 inc vat

Fo you should charge 190 ish+ 75 for session

kelly1

I'm fine with 75 for session and 95 for print and framing but where did you get the 190? I'm already making on the session and the printing and framing. What do I put the ~100 down to? Skill? Sorry I'm probably coming across as very naive!

melekalikimaka

kelly1 wrote: »

I'm fine with 75 for session and 95 for print and framing but where did you get the 190? I'm already making on the session and the printing and framing. What do I put the ~100 down to? Skill? Sorry I'm probably coming across as very naive!

how much value do YOU put on your time and your skill?

kelly1

melekalikimaka wrote: »

how much value do YOU put on your time and your skill?

Good question but whatever it is, I'm including it in with the session and print price. Session is a (fairly) fixed price, printing depends on size and volume.

Reasonable?

stcstc

for the price of the printing and framing

like i said earlier, you should double what it costs you, and thats what you should sell it for


so if it costs you say 100, chrage 200. you would be soooooooo suprised what some portrait companies charge for stuff like that


i know a very well known one who for a 20*16 framed would be charging 400+ to the customer

melekalikimaka

do you consider yourself a competent photographer and feel your clients will be more than satisfied with your results? Have a look or ask around what other photographers here whom consider themselves likewise would charge, as opposed covering ones costs and a bit on the side, thats not how a professional prices things, and I think by offering the service in the way you are, its in a professional capacity. Professional photography isn't a cheap service

stcstc

although its good to know and understand other peoples prices, dont EVER use them blindly as your own

they could be making a loss for example

they could have completeley different overhead to you etc


kelly the price you talked about

break it down into how much work,

travel
shooting
processing
meeting the clients
etc

and you might suprise yourself at what your hourly rate would be, somewhere near what you could earn in mcdonalds, with free food. if you know what i mean

kelly1

Thanks guys, appreciate the advice.

kelly1

Just one more thing, what's the typical charging model:

1. Session fee + n*print/framing cost (p1)

*or*

2. n*print/framing cost(p2)

Where p2 > p1, if you see what I mean. In #2 above, the session fee is only charged if the customer buys no prints.

stcstc

or 3

a package price which includes x amount of printing and framing aswell as the session

ie you charge say 250 euros, it includes the shoot + 1 20*16 framed print


be aware that 20*16 is not an out of the camera size btw, 18*12 and 24*16 are out of the camera sizes

oshead

kelly1 wrote: »

Just one more thing, what's the typical charging model:

1. Session fee + n*print/framing cost (p1)

*or*

2. n*print/framing cost(p2)

Where p2 > p1, if you see what I mean. In #2 above, the session fee is only charged if the customer buys no prints.

Looks like you're talking in a kind of pseudo SQL..

kelly1

oshead wrote: »

Looks like you're talking in a kind of pseudo SQL..

You know I'm a DBA, don't you?

oshead

kelly1 wrote: »

You know I'm a DBA, don't you?

I sure do... Oracle.. No?

kelly1

oshead wrote: »

I sure do... Oracle.. No?

Correct