proving worth of time in postprocessing...

[scrappyethel]

I have a customer whom I shot for outdoor candid for this last week and provided her with her proof CD to order from.....I charge $5 for one size 4 x5 print....she wants all 60 on the proof cd but not willing to pay my pricing, how do I GENTLY explain to her that a lot of time is spend in Photoshop CS2 in postprocessing each individual picture for light, color, etc and how do I say in a nice way they are printed in a professional lab and not at the local walmart or pharmacy 1 hour service and that my time in postprocessing is worth that?

I don't want to be rude, but the price I have set is the going rate in the area where I live among other photogs. and my lab charges MORE per one 4 x 5 print than online snapfish or other cheaper labs for the standard 15 to 19 cents per print....guess I need to know how to put all this into words? I would love to add these statements to my advertising brochure to so they realize the time and effort that goes into making their prints the best they can be and that they are not printed straight from the camera card! THanks

[PowerPix]

Haha, read my "Get this straight" post here in the earning with photography section. You might get some ideas from it and how to illustrate it to your client.
Here is the link: Get this straight

[i speak in math]

First of all 4x5?

If she want all 60 shots, tell her the total is $300. If she doesn't want to pay, don't give her any pictures. Give her what she pays for. Its not real hard.

[scrappyethel]

Thanks for both your responses so far

yes, 4 x 5 for $5 each

[lputman]

It isn't necessary to explain how you derive your pricing to her. If she isn't satisfied with that pricing and you stand your ground, she won't get prints from you. Unless you are going to do major editing on each and every photo, color correction and level/curves adjustments should be a quick process and not too time consuming. Anything other than that would be extra charges per photo. Make certain people know your pricing before hand.

[photo.mom]

What's with people wanting something for nothing?! I'd just send her an invoice with your price stated, and wait for the money before you place the order. If she doesn't pay, then she doesn't get anything. Plain and simple.

[SusanH1970]

Ugh...I feel your pain. I just got an email from someone trying to play "name her own price". She asked me about pricing, so I sent her my price sheet. She emailed me back saying my session fee was "alright" but then went on to say that she thought a fair price for 50 4x6's would be $75.00 (she wants them for Xmas cards - I offered to quote her a price for custom cards, she ignored me). It states very clearly on my price sheet that I don't sell 4x6 proofs unless a minimum order has been placed, and I have the prices for the proofs clearly outlined. Apparently she's seen too many Priceline commercials, lol!

I posted this on another thread, but I saw this link that another photographer has on her blog for clients to read.

[lputman]

I've seen that bit on quite a few photographers sites. Of course, everyone will try to negotiate pricing...even on the news I saw where they said try it at the retail stores on Black Friday. It might work to your advantage. Everyone looks for a deal.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by lputman

I've seen that bit on quite a few photographers sites. Of course, everyone will try to negotiate pricing...even on the news I saw where they said try it at the retail stores on Black Friday. It might work to your advantage. Everyone looks for a deal.

I agree - and I have worked with previous clients before and given discounts for large orders. However, (I should have mentioned this in my previous post - I've got the flu and not thinking 100% clearly, lol) this looney originally wanted me to include a high-res CD for her to have printed elsewhere with the session fee. Her reasoning was that so she wouldn't have to buy prints from me. After trying to explain my policies to her, she still kept playing Priceline...just don't want to deal with a client like that!