Sitting fee dilemma

[NicoleScraps]

Ugh, this conversation is particular relevant to me as well. I am at the point where these "practice sessions" are costing me money out of pocket, mostly in travel expenses. I am going around with the idea of charging something, but I don't know what would be fair considering that I am relatively unexperienced.
Plus, we live in a fairly poor area, I don't want to kill any potential business that I might get by over pricing my services.
And the print thing, oh my gosh. I am completely torn about this. In one hand, I would love to just turn over a CD for a price and be done with it. But on the other hand, I would love to be able to mark up prints. But what do I charge? Who do I get the prints from? Then I am adding extra mileage or postage for delivering the prints which means I have to build that into the price. Oh man. It is overwelming to think about.
Hubby suggested $95 (not $100 because $95 sounds cheaper, kinda like the $19.99 as opposed to $20 thing) for a 1 hour session within a 20 mile radius of our home not including prints or a CD which as I said, I am still conflicted about. Is that fair and reasonable?

[summerbl4ck]

Originally Posted by Xposurepro

We watch new shooters come and go every year ...they go out of business within 12-18 months...

And this is why, as a consumer, I'll never work again with someone who doesn't offer digital images. The guy who shot my wedding 10 years ago? Out of business. Out of all the photographers who have done my baby and family shoots in the last 5 years, only 1 is still in business. Where do I get my reprints? After I've gone to the trouble and expense of doing a shoot, I want the extra assurance of backups and the ability to do reprints after they're gone.

[Jim Poor]

Believe it or not (I didn't at first either) pricing that is too low is worse for business than pricing on the high side.

On a barely related note the $X.99 originally had nothing to do with "sounding less expensive" it was about coding retail product sales for easy identification.

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

Ugh, this conversation is particular relevant to me as well. I am at the point where these "practice sessions" are costing me money out of pocket, mostly in travel expenses. I am going around with the idea of charging something, but I don't know what would be fair considering that I am relatively unexperienced.
Plus, we live in a fairly poor area, I don't want to kill any potential business that I might get by over pricing my services.
And the print thing, oh my gosh. I am completely torn about this. In one hand, I would love to just turn over a CD for a price and be done with it. But on the other hand, I would love to be able to mark up prints. But what do I charge? Who do I get the prints from? Then I am adding extra mileage or postage for delivering the prints which means I have to build that into the price. Oh man. It is overwelming to think about.
Hubby suggested $95 (not $100 because $95 sounds cheaper, kinda like the $19.99 as opposed to $20 thing) for a 1 hour session within a 20 mile radius of our home not including prints or a CD which as I said, I am still conflicted about. Is that fair and reasonable?

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by summerbl4ck

And this is why, as a consumer, I'll never work again with someone who doesn't offer digital images. The guy who shot my wedding 10 years ago? Out of business. Out of all the photographers who have done my baby and family shoots in the last 5 years, only 1 is still in business. Where do I get my reprints? After I've gone to the trouble and expense of doing a shoot, I want the extra assurance of backups and the ability to do reprints after they're gone.

I offer digital after 3 years after weddings... Im sure if I went out of business I would sell cd's to clients if they want it.. If I offered a cd for say wedding it would be 700-1000$ on top of the wedding.... I normally have 1000 images edited at the end.

Back to the sitting fee question. I do a 50$ sitting fee for portrait sessions 25$ of it goes towards a coupon on prints if ordered within 30 days of posting..

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by bhursey

I offer digital after 3 years after weddings... Im sure if I went out of business I would sell cd's to clients if they want it.. If I offered a cd for say wedding it would be 700-1000$ on top of the wedding.... I normally have 1000 images edited at the end.

Back to the sitting fee question. I do a 50$ sitting fee for portrait sessions 25$ of it goes towards a coupon on prints if ordered within 30 days of posting..

Wow, $.70 to $1.00 per photo at that rate.

I think you're cutting yourself short on your sittings even in GA.

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Wow, $.70 to $1.00 per photo at that rate.

I think you're cutting yourself short on your sittings even in GA.

Ya thats why I don't sell cd's I have a delema on that i feel bad charging over 1k when they already paid me 1k for the wedding and would never buy 1k in prints. The way I do it now is either an album package or ala cart prints......