Right to Print.... Yay or Nay?

[ChrisAdval]

That's a difficult question and may be situational too...

Just in case if you don't know what I mean by "Right to Print." Right to print meaning you give the clients right to print. Whatever clients you have, but lets primarily concentrate on personal usage consumers (family portraits, weddings, portfolio, etc...).

I know if I give the personal consumers an option to get right to print, they could either buy the right to print for a percentage rate from the total cost from the services rendered of the production shoot, or not buy the right to print and I hold those rights and they can only order prints from me... what do you do? I don't do this yet but I'm strongly considering it to possibly bring up revenue.

[Minxes]

This is a question put on the forums alot but normally put as in weather or not to distribute Hi Rez images so the customer can print good copies. The best argument I have heard as to NOT do this is because if they take the picture and get a bad print of it, it could damage your reputation. Personally in 13 years of being married and 11 out of those 13 I have never gone back for more prints or even printed more, I actually have an abundant of left overs that I did not need. I would suggest track for a period of time how many people come back for more and see if it is worth it.

Minxes

[NathanFranke]

I give clients the cd of high-res images. I give advice on where to get prints made, and I'm going to have samples made of the same picture done at different labs (target, walgreens, mpix through zenfolio, picaboo, etc) to drive the quality point home. I personally don't want the hassle of having to do prints with all the overhead costs that that entails.

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by NathanFranke

I give clients the cd of high-res images. I give advice on where to get prints made, and I'm going to have samples made of the same picture done at different labs (target, walgreens, mpix through zenfolio, picaboo, etc) to drive the quality point home. I personally don't want the hassle of having to do prints with all the overhead costs that that entails.

I meant printing them from an outside source (printing lab) and charging the consumer whatever prices I want and make a profit per print... not having my own printing station, that would be way too much work and yes a lot of overhead costs.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by ChrisAdval

I meant printing them from an outside source (printing lab) and charging the consumer whatever prices I want and make a profit per print... not having my own printing station, that would be way too much work and yes a lot of overhead costs.

Pretty sue that's what Nathan meant too.

Ultimately you have to decide whether it's worth your time and effort proofing, sizing, ordering and then checking and delivering the prints in return for marking up the price. Personally, in the niche you're trying to get into, I don't know that it's worth it.

Using a intermediary such as Zenfolio allows you to upload the files, set your own price lists then sign out and let them handle orders for you.

Obviously giving clients the source files you run the risk of clients not using your system, and therefore not making money. I've found however that I still get a healthy number of orders regardless, however in weddings you always have family and friends that want items.

For me, it's worth it. I pay my fee to zenfolio every year then have no more overheads, and make a couple of hundred a week in addition. It more than pays for itself, and requires zero maintenance. Even if I didn't make those extra bucks, it wouldn't matter, I have enough profit built in up front.

For you, working with individuals, idk that it would be effective to try a back-end print model. I you ever went into conventional portraiture, it might be a different story.

Ultimately this has been hashed out almost as many times as jpeg vs raw.

Originally Posted by NathanFranke

I'm going to have samples made of the same picture done at different labs (target, walgreens, mpix through zenfolio, picaboo, etc) to drive the quality point home.

By the way, I do this too. It works really well. I only use two sources though, otherwise it dilutes the contrast.

[mshockley]

I'm not quite sure if I am getting what your asking Chris, but I can say this:
I do not allow a Right to Print to my customers unless they have ordered a set dollar amount of prints. After that, they have the option of purchasing a High-Res file of any image that was part of the previous order.

Otherwise I don't offer for sale any High Resolution CD, etc. All my clients do have access to the final set of proofs in low-resolution for social networking, ( I have a lot of Seniors for clients and this is just something I feel is important to offer them) but my contract clearly states no changes, editing, cropping, printing, etc are to be done to the image.

Now granted, as we all know I really cannot control this, but the file is sized to be really absolutely worthless beyond anything more than posting to Facebook.

[Biomech]

^^ Spam...


I primarily focus on 2 types of business.

Photobooth - the client gets all photos in high res available to print where and when they like.

Static Shoot - grad balls etc, backdrop. I sell 9x6 prints on the spot and clients can order further copies after the event at 9x6 which I print myself on a per-order basis. (Dye Sub Printer) Digital copies hit facebook in low res/dpi and on the shop part of my site for orders.