Pricing digital copies of concert pics

[ericw]

I've been doing concert pics at small clubs in DC. One of the guys from the band in this set contacted me on flickr wanting to use some of the images for their website. Now, I spent a lot of time processing these pictures, and I think the final products, for the most part, are pretty decent. So I didn't feel like giving them away for free. Sent him a message back asking for more details - # of images, full resolution without watermark or web-sized with watermark, preferred delivery method, and what he was expecting to pay.

What do you think of this potential pricing plan for digital copies of concert pics? Keep in mind this isn't like wedding pictures where people are likely to want prints, so I doubt many people would want the full-res images. I usually get about 20-25 keepers per band. I doubt a band would buy the whole set of 20-25 though, so I'm not sure the best way to plan the pricing. Here's what I was thinking of charging the bands.

Web-Sized (1000px longest side) with my watermark:
$2.50/pc for first 10
$1.50/pc for each additional
(25 images would total $47.50)

Full-res without my watermark:
$5.00/pc for first 10
$3.25 for each additional
(25 images would total $98.75)

Delivery method:
CD - Add $2.00

Opinions on the price list? Should I have a minimum order? Am I not good enough to charge yet?

#1. Your too cheap
#2. If you have to ask if your "good enough to charge"... then the answer is no.
#3. You are still too cheap.

[peeperita]

i agree that your pricing is on the inexpensive side....but i do understand the mindset of someone who might not have sold any work....yet....

consider selling the cd only.....saving both time and headache for both parties.....calculate your time spent and what it's worth to you.......your experience level.....and then price from there.....

as far as max's #2, i say pishaw....if someone is interested in purchasing your images, then you are indeed good enough.....

peeper

[ericw]

Max: Didn't mean to ask if I was good enough to charge or start one of those threads. That statement was more of a "If your opinion is that I'm not good enough to charge, go ahead and let me know that I'm out of touch with reality." I sent him an e-mail a couple hours ago explaining I won't be giving them away for free.

peeper: Thanks, I see what you mean about making things simple and only offering the whole package.

As for the cheapness: I calculated a low (internship level) hourly rate, added travel expense, and split it between the two bands and came up with $100. But they aren't getting the full benefit of those hours (full-res images) so... Also that doesn't account for equipment cost but how do I know how to prorate that as they are the first customer (people have approached before but not been willing to pay the price).. I would've bought the equipment anyway, I would've gone to the concert and photographed anyway. Of course you can't get these images in a dark venue with a P&S so maybe I should incorporate equipment cost somehow. I almost feel like I'm just picking a number out of thin air but I want to come up with a set price so if/when other bands approach me I can just say "these are the prices." And most of all I want to get paid something rather than having them walk away. Maybe that's immature or unprofessional of me.

[OsmosisStudios]

Im just gonna suggest you double your prices.

[ericw]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Im just gonna suggest you double your prices.

Cool, thanks for the direct advice.

[OsmosisStudios]

At least.

Generally full-res images with limited rights sell for upwards of $50, easy.

For smaller files, depending on use, $5 is still too little.

[Jim Bryant]

agggggggghhhhhhhhhh, your prices are cheaper than the damn beers they sell there. You're killing the photo industry with those prices lite beer prices. What are you thinking go read my threads. It the band hits it big time and they forwarded your photo for a Rolling Stone article, or CD Cover photo, or People, Time magazine. You gotta think about future and what the images might worth down the road.

[ericw]

Jim, I'm not getting it. I've read your threads, specifically this one, where you state "I was trying to suggest that for some people in today's economy $100.00 - $200.00 might be worth considering (depending on the circumstances of course). But as some of the others have added, there are valid reasons for being cautious about that situation.

I don't know what your CODB, is but with all my expenses, upgrades in computer/software, photographic equipment, studio equipment, utilities, vehicle expenses, insurances, it costs me more than $200 just to turn the key in the studio door every morning."


My CODB for this event was: $20 travel and $180 for my time. What I didn't include was the equipment factor for which I don't really know what to charge. If you have some specific advice on that part I'd appreciate it.

So if I doubled the prices I posted would that be at the low end of your acceptability? I can specify usage which would avoid the Rolling Stone issue. Are the full-resolution images the one you have the real problem with? Because in this thread you suggest $20-$30 for a framed 8x8 (which would be like $10-$25 for the image) - I would expect a 1000px watermarked digital copy to cost significantly less than a framed 8x8. Just trying to apply all this information to my specific situation.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by ericw

Jim, I'm not getting it. I've read your threads, specifically this one, where you state "I was trying to suggest that for some people in today's economy $100.00 - $200.00 might be worth considering (depending on the circumstances of course). But as some of the others have added, there are valid reasons for being cautious about that situation.

I don't know what your CODB, is but with all my expenses, upgrades in computer/software, photographic equipment, studio equipment, utilities, vehicle expenses, insurances, it costs me more than $200 just to turn the key in the studio door every morning."


My CODB for this event was: $20 travel and $180 for my time. What I didn't include was the equipment factor for which I don't really know what to charge. If you have some specific advice on that part I'd appreciate it.

So if I doubled the prices I posted would that be at the low end of your acceptability? I can specify usage which would avoid the Rolling Stone issue. Are the full-resolution images the one you have the real problem with? Because in this thread you suggest $20-$30 for a framed 8x8 (which would be like $10-$25 for the image) - I would expect a 1000px watermarked digital copy to cost significantly less than a framed 8x8. Just trying to apply all this information to my specific situation.

Yes. never give anybody full blown res images, there are some here on DPS that do. But if a client wants them, they pay for my computer time, technical expertise and I size it at the size they requested, plus I have them sign a contract stating the limited rights they have, such as for family use only, one year North American publishing Right, no international sales....etc, etc.

You add a certain % of what you camera costs. I go onto a camera equipment rental website and charge them a 10 or 15% of what it would costs for you to rent the gear.

Then take the money, put in a bank for new equipment purchases.