a baby shoot tomorrow!!

[Misty-Bug]

tomorrow I get to photograph our friend's 3day old! She asked how much for a CD of the photo's and I thought about $250-300. She said that they wouldn't be able to afford that. So I said how about $200ish. She is going to talk to her husband. Because she will have the CD I won't make money off the prints. Then when she tells people what she paid she is going to up it by $100. lol.

I have no idea how to start this out! I will have to call around to photographers. But I am not getting prices of just a CD. I was figuring this would be the CD and the sitting fee. I did say $150-200. Restated the $200 though. lol.

I am excited but nervous at the same time. What if I am not good enough! What if I mess up? But obviously they think I am good enough because they would rather me do the shots then Sears. AHHH!!

[windrider86]

everyone worries if they are going to be good enough and if the photos will turn out. Have confidence. Plan for the worst, give your customer more than what you promised and you'll really gain some good feedback and probably more clients.
You wont see much from other photographers just selling cd's. Reason, it cuts into thier profits. I used to offer them until I realized hell fire, they go print them themselves and I lose out.
For some people (a very select few)I will include a cd with ONLY the images they purchased and ONLY with a purchase of a photo package and at an additional cost.
9 out of ten people will tell you they cant afford you, then will try and get you to work out a deal. For me, I start high and then will negotiate of need be. Leaving enough room that your time and materials will be more than compensated for

[SusanH1970]

+ 1 for everything Windrider said.

To elaborate on the CD thing: I do NOT offer CD's at all for the same reason. The only time I did was when I shot a family, the Dad asked if I would be willing to do some headshots of him alone at the shoot for his website. I agreed to give him a low-res CD of the headshots he chose suitable for posting on the internet, but not for printing.

Another reason I don't sell CD's for people to print is this: If you give a client a CD to print from, and they print it themself or have Walmart or other such place do it, they will not get high-quality prints. So, when their friends and family see it (and it looks like crap), they won't ask "Who PRINTED that photo?"...they'll ask, "Who TOOK that photo?". Bye bye, reputation.....

[Misty-Bug]

well I am charging just $100. I am starting out after all! They had some unexpected expenses during labor stay and stuff. They are going to give me a written referral to put on my site. They also go in to this with the guarantee that they will get it developed at my place of choice. I won't do that for everyone but these are good friends.

[Jim Poor]

I have no idea how to start this out!

Ouch, I'd hate to be going into a paid gig (especially for friends) with no clue.

Hope it went well.

On pricing, if you really want to do the disc, figure your price for an 8x10 and double it, then multiply that by the number of photos on the disc. Give them a discount if you really feel you must.

[Misty-Bug]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Ouch, I'd hate to be going into a paid gig (especially for friends) with no clue.

Hope it went well.

On pricing, if you really want to do the disc, figure your price for an 8x10 and double it, then multiply that by the number of photos on the disc. Give them a discount if you really feel you must.

no clue on pricing!

[private]

Everyone has to start somewhere. But you really should figure out the pricing, but charge what you are comfy with. And then raise your prices...