Do you sell 4x6 prints?

[Fireball]

I'm new to the business and have noticed the last couple of shoots I've done that people mostly order 4x6's. In fact the last shoot I did, that's all they ordered! It's making me think they're either really hard up for money or they're scanning them and making their own large prints. Of course there's no way I can prove that but it makes me wonder.

Maybe it would be best not to sell that size? But then I'm putting myself in their shoes and knowing there are tons of cute 4x6 frames out there and how that's the size I like for small spaces. What do you do?

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Charrie, Here is what you do, 8X's and smaller desk sized portraits are all price the same. I had been listening to my friends who do this and it took me a couple of years to finally get the guts but once I did it ended up being the easist thing I ever did for my studio. Do it today and I promise ya you won't regret the move.

Best to ya, Ernst

[HotHolly]

Hell no! We have a flat price of prints 8x10 and smaller - same price regardless of size. People will buy the least expensive means possible. If they buy the image at any size, it fulfills the emotional need to have it. You need to look at your pricing structure and redo it if selling 4x6's isnt meeting your session sales goals.

Well call anything smaller than 5x7, "proof size." Nobody orders those unless they want to buy a proof set. Proof sets, albums, discs need to be priced at your session max gross amount + cost of goods.

Hope that helps a little.

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

I have no quams in selling 3X's or 4X's at $60 each, if that is really what the client wants and I've sold them, why, because that is what the client wanted. ;-)

[J Eddington]

NO Pricing starts at 8x10 THAT is my small size. I gift wallets to them when they pick up the order of their favorite photo. Then they have something to give grandma or a friend.

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Ok Janice, I'm your client and I really need 3X5's?

[Jessica Merritt]

We do the same thing as Ernst. Pricing starts at 5x7. We'll sell any size smaller than that for the same price as a 5x7, but if they buy it, it must mean they really want that size for a particular reason rather than just being a cheapo.

[Kalrog]

I do sell 4x6s, but that is because it is usually part of a collage of 4 to 8 prints when they do that - and I price 5x7 and 4x6 at the same. Haven't gone all the way to the 8x10 price though.

[LSCSN.com]

If I was in the portrait business I would not sell 4x6s either. I would as suggested sell them for the same price as a 5x7 if they were requested.

[JohnT]

They aren't on my price list, but if the client asks for them, I will sell them for the same price as a 5x7.

[Redneck]

What is bad about selling 4x6s?
I actually prefer prints at the format ratio of my camera sensor. You do create your image composition through the viewfinder, don't you? Cropping the image to a different format kills a little bit of its intension. Just MHO.

[ChristopherCoy]

I only offer 4x6's as 'event pics only,' (i.e. rescue events, adoption events etc.) They are not offered in my portrait lineup. When someone asks why they aren't available, I tell them its because I order 4x6's in 'bulk' and not single pics.

With that being said, I'm really starting to consider not even offering 5x7's.

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Remember we're not just selling pieces of paper, we're selling portraits, an emotional product. The costs between a 3X5 to an 8X10 isn't that much, however your talent, time and all of your other costs should come into play. 8X's and smaller desk sized portraits are priced the same. I very rarely get complaints from my customers.

Ernst

[debbry531]

I'm another who sells them for the 5x7 price (just listed as "5x7 and smaller").

I actually prefer prints at the format ratio of my camera sensor. You do create your image composition through the viewfinder, don't you? Cropping the image to a different format kills a little bit of its intension. Just MHO.

YES! This is why I hate 8x10s. Really wish more ready-made frames were 8x12.

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Why not offer your customers a custom size? 9X6's works just as well.