Specialty print sizes...

[ChristopherCoy]

How many of you are offering only specialty size prints? Things like 5x5's, 8x8's, or some combination of these?



I dont remember where I saw it, but I was looking at some photographers website the other day, and noticed that A.) they only sold specialty sizes like 5x5's and 8x8's, B.) they only sold finished and framed prints, including the mats. The other thing that I noticed was that their sessions fees were constructed around their prints. For example, their 'XYZ dollar package' came with a matted and framed 8x8 print, then their next expensive package would contain maybe two 8x8 prints.



After I thought about it, its an ingenious way to ensure print sales because square frames are few and far between. Its also an ingenious way to ensure that your product is highly recognizeable, because the images/mats/frames are always the same.



Do you do this? Whats your opinion of it?

[David Whatley]

Chris, couldnt you take a standard size print, say an 8X10 and if you "planned" it right when shot, you could put it in an 8x8 mat?
david

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by David Whatley

Chris, couldnt you take a standard size print, say an 8X10 and if you "planned" it right when shot, you could put it in an 8x8 mat?
david

I'm sure... but why would the customer buy a matted/framed print from you, when they could just put that 8x10 in a square frame themselves? Standard size prints are the norm, this person was offering something other than the norm, and thats ALL they offered. Standard size prints weren't even in the lineup.

[jeffkohn]

Do you want to be in the photography business or the framing business?

It seems to me that unless you offer a wide variety of frame and mat options, you pretty much guarantee that some customers won't buy because they don't like the frame/mat you're offering. And while custom framing can have nice profit margins if you're doing the framing yourself, if you outsource it will probably be the framer who makes the most money, not you.

[Howard Barlow]

When I shot Hassy, all wedding images were square, up to 10x10.

[Howard Barlow]

Haven't looked lately, but 5x5 and 10x10 frames weren't problem finding. Just mat an 8x8 in a 10x10.