Session Pricing Help

[pahowes]

Yeah, I know... Another pricing question...

A local dance school has contacted me to take portraits for use on their web site. Since there probably won't be any prints made, how do I price the digital files? I'm tempted to charge my normal session fee + $25 for a DVD with the images, but don't know if that's the generally accepted practice.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[pahowes]

Wow, nearly 80 views and not one response. Has no one has ever been in this situation?

[autofocus]

Paul, being that you live and work in the Boston area I would suggest you charge more...considerably more. A few questions I have before I can give you my thought on pricing, however. What is your normal session fee for one subject, and how many kids will you be photographing? Will you be credited for the photos? Free advertising is definitely worth something, but $25 dollars for the disk?...I don't think so..don't sell your time and work cheap.

Vince

[pahowes]

Vince,

Honestly, in the portrait (e.g. non-wedding) business, session fees are not as high as you might think. I've gone through several photographer's marketing materials, and after stripping out the cost of prints bundled in the package, most session fees are in the $200-$250 range. There are exceptions, of course, but this appears to be the average.

So that said, my normal fee is $200/hr.

I don't know how many dancers I would be photographing, but the time involved would definitely be between two and four hours. There will likely be some large prints made for the walls of the studio, but the majority of the images will be for the studio's web site. I'm sure I could convince the owner to let me put a copyright notice in the prints so customers know who took the portrait.

In terms of the disc, they would only get low-resolution JPEG files, suitable for use on a web site -- nothing that could be used to generate prints larger than four inches or so.

Thanks for your feedback.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by pahowes

Vince,

Honestly, in the portrait (e.g. non-wedding) business, session fees are not as high as you might think. I've gone through several photographer's marketing materials, and after stripping out the cost of prints bundled in the package, most session fees are in the $200-$250 range. There are exceptions, of course, but this appears to be the average.

So that said, my normal fee is $200/hr.

I don't know how many dancers I would be photographing, but the time involved would definitely be between two and four hours. There will likely be some large prints made for the walls of the studio, but the majority of the images will be for the studio's web site. I'm sure I could convince the owner to let me put a copyright notice in the prints so customers know who took the portrait.

In terms of the disc, they would only get low-resolution JPEG files, suitable for use on a web site -- nothing that could be used to generate prints larger than four inches or so.

Thanks for your feedback.

OK, so if I understand you well your session would be around 2-4 hrs @ $200 per hour. Now knowing that, your price for the low rez disk of $25 (still feel a little low on that, however) makes more sense. Are you planning on charging them your print price for the enlargements?..or will that be part of the deal?

[Xposurepro]

So the photos will not be given out to parents? How big a school? Have you considered negotiating the deal based on a 1-3 yr contract to be the dance schools photog. I would be one to consider taking a loss on the website shoot to seal the deal on X amount of new clients every year .. that turn into repeat business of family portraits, seniors, etc.

[pahowes]

Vince,

I would be charging my normal print prices for whatever they need. I have never given a CD with images, so I have no idea what to charge. Your thoughts are welcome!


Xposurepro,

I honestly had not thought about entering into a contract with them. That's an awesome idea! That would lead to some great repeat business. I have not talked with the teacher yet to see if the parents would want these portraits. The original intent was for these to be for her advertising purposes. I will definitely follow up with her on both of your ideas. Perhaps give her the option of some free large prints in return for a two year contract.

Thanks guys, this great! Keep the ideas coming.

[Jim Poor]

Are you planning on marketing prints to the dancers/parents in addition to the school's website use?

$25 for a low res disc is really low.

My low res discs start at $60 for dog sports. and that's only one dog.

[pahowes]

Jim,

As I mentioned, I hadn't thought about marketing to the parents simply because the owner of the studio had a specific purpose in mind. It's worth asking her about the parents though, especially since both she and I will need model releases in place to do any of this shoot.

Would $100 for a CD of web-ready (800x600 or so) images be reasonable?

Thanks for your input.

[Jim Poor]

You may want to do some more research on the model release issue. You don't need a model release to sell the photos or provide them to the school.

The school needs one if the photo is to be used to promote the school on the website or otherwise.

The price you charge the school really has a lot more to do with the school and its budget than anything else.

You may even consider a deal where the school gets a discount based on print sales to parents.