Digital Only?

[Coelus]

Originally Posted by Arcusmedia

I sell Digital Prints for about 99 cents just like I-tunes... I make about $30.00 for each client and about 600 bucks per month on digital downloads alone...

A few questions. Not trying to say you're ruining the industry nor that you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. Just curious about how it all fits together.

Are they hi-res images, or small web images?

Can you see print sales driven by the downloads? (Have they changed since a time when you didn't sell downloads.) Can you quantify the data.

Are print sales your profit maker?

Is photography your main job or a way to earn extra income?

[Arcusmedia]

Originally Posted by Coelus

A few questions. Not trying to say you're ruining the industry nor that you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. Just curious about how it all fits together.

Are they hi-res images, or small web images?

Web Resolution I never give out full resolution.

Can you see print sales driven by the downloads? (Have they changed since a time when you didn't sell downloads.) Can you quantify the data.

Print sales have increased by at least 10% About 200 dollars more then when I did not sell digital copies

Are print sales your profit maker?

No I have other Sales that make my profits.

Is photography your main job or a way to earn extra income?

I Do Graphic Design and Web Design. I create all the graphics including photos for websites and advertisements.

there ya go :)

[Coelus]

Now we can see where an apples to oranges comparison to someone who has a retail portrait sales type business might have a hard time with this price structure. Web size vs full size plays a role too.

[my3peas]

Hmmm, after reading all the responses, I'm just going to throw my thoughts out there.

Regarding the digital vs print debate:
Depending on your market and who you are intending to market to should help you decide your offering. Should you decide that you are only going to offer digital images, be ready and understand that by doing so will wipe out a certain potential clientele who are only interested in purchasing prints. Additionally, if you are going to only offer a maximum (ie all high-res images for $XXXX), understand this is probably the most you will make on a sale. Two things there: don't sell yourself short and be ok with what "the most you will make" is.

I have sold digital collections as well as a la carte prints for the last two years. I have found that my clients prefer to choose between the two and for each client purchasing prints, there is one purchasing a digital package. I do not sell digital images a la carte unless a minimum print purchase has been made. I do require, no matter what the purchase, a minimum order be made (this is disclosed in my contract upon booking).

I know a photographer in the area who shoots and burns, culling through the images for flawed images and applies presets to the images. Photographer charges appx $500 for appx 100 digital images & session fee. For this photographer, they've "capped out" at $500 per sale, however are relying on volume (what Coelus said in a previous post). I can make in one session what this photographer makes in 4, based on my current pricing.

In my opinion, the bottom line is that you decide what you want your bottom dollar to be (aligned with your COGS analysis, of course) and offer something just above that, what your market is interested in, and if you are willing to "wipe out" a potential market. Additionally, your price point will essentially qualify your clients for you.

Flores, my mind went in all directions after reading all the previous answers, so I hope this post helps even just a bit :)

[Flores]

this has been some excellent discussion so far, and something I hope has been valuable.

Is the 'low res' digital file a compromise between 'giving away the cow' and 'maximizing your profit'?

I find it appealing to my sense of 'rightness' to simply have a price for a certain 'size/quality' of image, regardless of the format, understanding (to myself anyway) that certain formats mean more or less margin and/or profit to the bottom line.