what should i charge for pictures??

[Aric C. Hoek]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

I learned years ago that if at least a third of my clients aren't complaining about my prices then it's time to raise them. I like for them to complain a little and buy a lot.

That's dead on. If you are in business, no matter what level, then you are subjecting yourself and business to complaints. They say you are ripping them off.... "compared to what" is what I would ask them.

According to the PPA, in the digital world, your cost of sales should be 25%.

I agree. I would tripple the price. Give your prints value. Secondly, you are not putting a gun to anyones head. They don't have to buy them if they don't want to.

One last thing I want to point out is that they are complaining about price, not quality of the images.

[carrbowl]

I just got done doing a dance team at about those prices...and trust me you will make more working at McDonalds. Every year I do it and I know it is a ministry, because it is for our church...and I go into it with that mentality, if you go into it with the mentality of making money at those prices, you will be extrememly disappointed.

[picasso]

I know this post is old but I just read it and want to relate a story.

I am going to see a lady this weekend that started 4 years ago and now does 280k a year. Here is the kicker. She lives in Arkansas in the middle of no where and her clients on average drive an hour and a half to get her to take pictures. She charges $60 dollars for an 8x10. You might say that she is the only person they can go to but this is not the case. There are others closer than her but the people choose her. Talking with her, it is all about perception. What the client you are selling to perceives is the most important thing involved in the pricing and selling of your pictures. If they believe you are the highest quality most sought after photographer then they will pay what you are asking for the pictures. Obviously your quality and professionalism needs to be equal to your pricing and if you are shooting sports photos you might tailor this a little but you get the idea. One thing she has told me is that she is constantly getting calls from people that have been in the business for years and have never made more than $500 per sale. She immediately tells them to raise their prices because most of them are not charging enough.

The cool thing is she has agreed to share w/me some of her marketing and other business information as well as allow me to shadow her.

At any rate I just thought I would share some of the insight she has shared with me. It seems people are always asking questions about pricing.

Paul

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by picasso

I know this post is old but I just read it and want to relate a story.

I am going to see a lady this weekend that started 4 years ago and now does 280k a year. Here is the kicker. She lives in Arkansas in the middle of no where and her clients on average drive an hour and a half to get her to take pictures. She charges $60 dollars for an 8x10. You might say that she is the only person they can go to but this is not the case. There are others closer than her but the people choose her. Talking with her, it is all about perception. What the client you are selling to perceives is the most important thing involved in the pricing and selling of your pictures. If they believe you are the highest quality most sought after photographer then they will pay what you are asking for the pictures. Obviously your quality and professionalism needs to be equal to your pricing and if you are shooting sports photos you might tailor this a little but you get the idea. One thing she has told me is that she is constantly getting calls from people that have been in the business for years and have never made more than $500 per sale. She immediately tells them to raise their prices because most of them are not charging enough.

The cool thing is she has agreed to share w/me some of her marketing and other business information as well as allow me to shadow her.

At any rate I just thought I would share some of the insight she has shared with me. It seems people are always asking questions about pricing.

Paul

Fill me in when you get back.. :)

[picasso]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

Fill me in when you get back.. :)

Will do. I am pretty pumped about the whole deal. I am also supposed to help her w/a wedding on Saturday so that should be fun as well.


Paul

[Arnor]

Paul,

Please keep us informed:) Marketing is always fascinating to me and I try to learn as much as I can about it:)

Best regards,

[picasso]

Originally Posted by Arnor

Paul,

Please keep us informed:) Marketing is always fascinating to me and I try to learn as much as I can about it:)

Best regards,

I posted some info about the trip here. Its probably nothing you have not heard before though. Just good common sense stuff. Sorry I have nothing sensational to report. I think marketing is truly the key to success in this business.

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...d=1#post459969

Paul