What do I charge for my photographs?

[Scottie_the_Rebel]

How do I know what to charge people for my pictures?

I am new to photography, well I have always taken pictures I guess new to making it a hobby.
I have had many people tell me I could and should sell my photographs. I have just lately started letting people see my photography, I have kept them to myself up to now. I have been asked how much I charge for my pictures. I have not idea what to charge, for some reason I feel a little weird to charge people I'm not really sure why. I am very happy that people like my work enough they want to pay me for a print.

So, how do i decide how much to charge for my pictures? Do I sell just a print, or do I put it in a matte?
If I'm going to do this (be a photographer and sell pictures), I want to do it right.

This is one of the pictures I am being asked how much.
She wants to know what I would charge for a 11x14 print.

[autofocus]

That's a very nice photo, and I can understand why she wants to buy it. I would like to have seen the horizon a little less centered, but if you felt a need to do it, a re-crop would easily solve that. Now as far as price you'll have to consider a few things:
1) if this was a shot by a famous photographer it might easily sell for $1500 - $2500 dollars. But, unfortunately, that's not you..not yet anyway
2) it's always what the customer is willing to pay for it (the old what the market will bear)
3)matted and framed will always get more money, but your costs go up commensurately
4) adding just a mat doesn't allow the customer to pick a color of their choosing, but a basic matching mat could add some perceived value to the print (it makes a nicer showing)
5) make sure it's printed by a quality lab, and a giclees on watercolor paper can be very nice, and adds more value to the resale (an 11x14 giclees from our lab costs us ~$35 bucks)
6) will this be a one off...an exclusive never to be duplicated again? That too can add more value

Now after all that said, you are still the one that has to set a price for your work. Without knowing all the details I don't see why you couldn't get a pretty good price for it. Don't know if this helps, but maybe a few guidelines. Nice job!

[Biomech]

Awesome shot! That's the kind of thing I could see well framed and going for maybe £500 (edit) I say £500, if I saw it in a gallery with a £7,000 tag on it I wouldn't be shocked :P
What steps did you take in post production? I have a shot that could be worth me experimenting with

[Scottie_the_Rebel]

Thank you very much.

I used Adobe Photoshop CS5 to do level, curve and saturation tweeks.
I also used masks and different actions to add the cracked look and give it a bit of damaged vintage look.

I am still up in the air as to how to price photos. It seems so "pick a number out of the air" way of doing it. I understand every picture may have its own price, and the picture will be worth different amounts to different buyers. I don't want to put a $50 price on it if the buyer feels its worth $250. Is there a way of getting a rough price range? Do I look for others selling pictures that have the same look or style?

I'm not looking for someone to price each of my photographs, but a way of learning how to price my photography.

Thank you both very much.

Scottie

[Biomech]

I think if people are inquiring, I'd go it at a maybe $500 for that. I think it's worth it (at a decent size). If you try and start higher you should be able to go the "fine art" route and start getting into the thousands. If you price at $50 you'll just become another person selling pictures. Believe it or not, there's actually ALOT in "perceived value". Someone said here before that a gallery that can't shift a piece of work actually increase the price and it goes.

[nickbedford]

I totally agree. Pricing within a reasonable but generous amount will make your work appear more valuable, more professional.

The price of a shoot or an image or a print determines how much people believe you're worth.

[gturner]

I only have 1 question - how big will that image go without looking badly over processed.

I think it is tremendous shot but it in giving it the vintage look it will look a little faked blown up in a frame.

[danbaileyphoto]

Pricing is a tricky thing. You can easily come in too high and scare off potential customers. However, you can just as easily come in too low, which gives the perception that your work is not worth very much. That said, I'd start higher rather than lower, because there is indeed an element of 'perceived value.'

[amandaggogo]

That is a beautiful photograph, I can see why someone would want to buy it. I would just do what the last person said, start at a higher price and see how it goes, Also, selling photos is kind of like a car, People don't usually buy it at the starting price, so if you price it a bit higher than you want, then barter with the person to lower it, they think it's a deal and you are happy with the price. That's all I can from experience in the sales booth at a studio anyways.

[camera3d]

Negotiation skills!
1. Always ask for more than you think you will get.
2. Practice on friends, ask for $1000, then ask again for $1000, then ask again.. you will see your voice will not be so stressed at the fifth time. People who will hear you will be convinced you believe you are worth it.
3. Ask for your price (loud and clear) and shut up! Don't over sell or convince. The long silence will do the selling for you. It's a $1000.
4. If your client tries to find if it is negotiable.. say "I will be sad to give away for anything less than $950... How much did you think to offer ?" Showing you move in $50 steps.. will embarrass your client asking for $700... They will add up and get closer to your figure and say: $850 ?
5. Never agree for the other side first offer. Let your body language show it! (Even if it is a sum you never dreamed of getting!) Shake your head, lean backwards..
6. Ask them for their last offer.. then when they say it, $870. Call your closing price and wait.. $890 ?
You will be surprised.. they will say"OK!" or try to meet you in the middle.

Good luck
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