I work with a local wedding and event photographer. We charge a session fee, which may include a set number of prints, else we charge per print. Images they receive are mostly unedited strait from the camera, with cropping and very minor PP that we see fit..
Anything in addition to that, they have to pay extra for. Full res pics on a cd = $$$. PP = $$$. Other prints/services = $$$..
So, I guess I'm saying do not allow people to take advantage of you. The session fee covers just that, the session. If they want additional products and services from you they need to compensate you for your time and efforts..
'I reject your reality and substitute my own' -Adam Savage..
You should post this on the pro forum, but keep in mind that your high res files are your 'negatives'. You are not obligated to give anyone your negatives..
I think this all comes down to good communication at the begining of the transaction. You should make it clear up front that your session fee is meant to cover your overhead/equipement/rent etc. The negatives belong to you, not the customer. They are your creative product. Your professional income really comes from the production of your end product. Once you give the negatives away the customer can make unlimited quantites of those photos and you are not compensated..
You need to make sure your customers understand this up front. If this is all discussed before hand, then you have no reason to feel obligated later on..
Some pros will sell the files to their customers, but only for a very high fee. There are pros and cons to this. You may make more money if you set the fee high enough. People may be willing to shell out more for the file than they would actually spend on prints if they can have unlimited use. The downside is that you lose control. The customer may decide to take the files to CVS and get cheap poor quilaity prints made up and then your name is attached to this low quality product..
Again, if you post this on the pro board you will get a lot of responses from people who do this all the time, but that's my 2 cents worth..
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Mike.
Http://www.liquidartgallery.com.
'For every complex problem there is a solution that is obvious, simple..and wrong'..
This (or something very similar) has come up on the Pro forum so you could ask there, as the others have suggested. The people (Pros) who replied were very clear that they would not give away copies of their pics at hi-res on CD. Some said that they would not even give low-res CDs for on-screen viewing, because cheap customers would make and distribute prints from these which would look cr@p and would reflect bady on the photographer..
When I have nought pictures from a pro (e.g. school pictures of kids) I pay a fixed price for a set of prints. If it is a special booking a session fee may be payable as well, either that or we agree to buy a set package of prints in advance (and can look at the pics as they are taken to make sure there is one we like). No photographer has ever offered to sell me a hi-res digital file, only their time for the session and/or prints..
Best wishesMike..
Thank you very much for your reply. I'm very much on the same page as you. However, I give nothing straight from the camera. All of my images are post processed to their absolute full potential. I want to really wow the client. But how do I show them that it wasn't just magic fairy dust sprinkled, that it took my skill, etc., to accomplish that and now they must pay if they want it.
How I phrase it..that needs work! Thanks so much for replying..
USACanuck wrote:.
I work with a local wedding and event photographer. We charge asession fee, which may include a set number of prints, else we chargeper print. Images they receive are mostly unedited strait from thecamera, with cropping and very minor PP that we see fit..
Anything in addition to that, they have to pay extra for. Full respics on a cd = $$$. PP = $$$. Other prints/services = $$$..
So, I guess I'm saying do not allow people to take advantage of you.The session fee covers just that, the session. If they wantadditional products and services from you they need to compensate youfor your time and efforts..
'I reject your reality and substitute my own' -Adam Savage.
Jennifer..
I got alot from what I didn't quote, too, not to disregard the rest...but what you wrote here struck a chord, for sure!.
Mmelgar wrote:.
The downside is that you lose control. Thecustomer may decide to take the files to CVS and get cheap poorquilaity prints made up and then your name is attached to this lowquality product..
Don't want this!Jennifer..
Thanks, Mike..
Mike703 wrote:.
This (or something very similar) has come up on the Pro forum so youcould ask there, as the others have suggested. The people (Pros) whoreplied were very clear that they would not give away copies of theirpics at hi-res on CD. Some said that they would not even givelow-res CDs for on-screen viewing, because cheap customers would makeand distribute prints from these which would look cr@p and wouldreflect bady on the photographer..
When I have nought pictures from a pro (e.g. school pictures of kids)I pay a fixed price for a set of prints. If it is a special bookinga session fee may be payable as well, either that or we agree to buya set package of prints in advance (and can look at the pics as theyare taken to make sure there is one we like). No photographer hasever offered to sell me a hi-res digital file, only their time forthe session and/or prints..
Best wishesMike.
Jennifer..
JSampson - I'm not a pro but thought I'd chime in. I've had professional pictures taken of my daughter and family many times and not once did I get any negatives, digital or otherwise. The only time I did was when my daughter had school pics done and basically they didn't take orders, they just showed up with the poses and a few pics and they had a deal that if you bought all of the pictures, they'd give you a release form to print one time. And I've found that CVS, Walgreens, Ritz, any camera place will not allow me to print pictures that look professional without a release authorization. Of course, I guess these can be made up since they can't really verify..
My recommendation to you echoes the others, do not give high res pics to the customer. I don't get them nor do I expect them. I guess you could sell them the pics for a pretty high price, but let them order from you, like you said, you put all the work in and the bread and butter comes from sales of prints, not the sitting fee. If you must show them something on the web, their prints, either make them small or put a nice watermark across it so it's obvious that it wasn't meant to be printed.Just trying to learn.
Blog: http://novicephotog.blogspot.com/Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9778447@N07/..
Thank you very much for the reply, great info. .
Riceowl wrote:.
JSampson - I'm not a pro but thought I'd chime in. I've hadprofessional pictures taken of my daughter and family many times andnot once did I get any negatives, digital or otherwise. The onlytime I did was when my daughter had school pics done and basicallythey didn't take orders, they just showed up with the poses and a fewpics and they had a deal that if you bought all of the pictures,they'd give you a release form to print one time. And I've foundthat CVS, Walgreens, Ritz, any camera place will not allow me toprint pictures that look professional without a releaseauthorization. Of course, I guess these can be made up since theycan't really verify..
My recommendation to you echoes the others, do not give high res picsto the customer. I don't get them nor do I expect them. I guess youcould sell them the pics for a pretty high price, but let them orderfrom you, like you said, you put all the work in and the bread andbutter comes from sales of prints, not the sitting fee. If you mustshow them something on the web, their prints, either make them smallor put a nice watermark across it so it's obvious that it wasn't meantto be printed.Just trying to learn.
Blog: http://novicephotog.blogspot.com/Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9778447@N07/.
Jennifer..
JSampson wrote:.
Thank you very much for your reply. I'm very much on the same pageas you. However, I give nothing straight from the camera. All of myimages are post processed to their absolute full potential. I wantto really wow the client. But how do I show them that it wasn't justmagic fairy dust sprinkled, that it took my skill, etc., toaccomplish that and now they must pay if they want it.
How Iphrase it..that needs work! Thanks so much for replying..
Maybe you need to show some before and after shots on a website or in your portfolio..
I see no problem is strucuring your fees quite openly:.
1. Sessional fee. - This covers your overheads of a visit and some proof photos. There is no obligation for the client to pay anymore..
2. Photo Fee - Price per photo to produce a high standard jpeg or whatever file either avialable on line to download or on a CD..
3. Print fee - Cost per print over and above 2 above..
Chris Elliott.
*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.
Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..
Chris, now this is exactly what I needed. Thanks so much. Both the client and I will benefit..
Chris Elliott wrote:.
JSampson wrote:.
Thank you very much for your reply. I'm very much on the same pageas you. However, I give nothing straight from the camera. All of myimages are post processed to their absolute full potential. I wantto really wow the client. But how do I show them that it wasn't justmagic fairy dust sprinkled, that it took my skill, etc., toaccomplish that and now they must pay if they want it.
How Iphrase it..that needs work! Thanks so much for replying..
Maybe you need to show some before and after shots on a website or inyour portfolio..
I see no problem is strucuring your fees quite openly:.
1. Sessional fee. - This covers your overheads of a visit and someproof photos. There is no obligation for the client to pay anymore..
2. Photo Fee - Price per photo to produce a high standard jpeg orwhatever file either avialable on line to download or on a CD..
3. Print fee - Cost per print over and above 2 above..
Chris Elliott.
*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.
Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/.
Jennifer..