Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

JohnT · **DVD of low-res. images -** 06-04-2007, 05:22 PM

Let's say you shoot a family event (for example, family reunion), and you want to offer as an option a DVD of low-res. images. What dimensions would you make them? Also, does $20 sound too high for something like this (I have seen it offered for less)?

TXhummer2 · 06-04-2007, 05:24 PM

If they have an old TV (tube) 640x480 fits them. If they say "I've got the biggest plasma HD on planet earth", I'd ask the dimensions so they would not be disappointed!

LadyShutterBug · 06-04-2007, 05:34 PM

can you just make it into a "movie" for them, to where they can't print from the files?

JohnT · 06-04-2007, 05:43 PM

Harris: Good point. Thanks for mentioning it.

Kasey: Great idea! Now I have to figure out how to do it. :-)

wjmphoto · 06-04-2007, 05:46 PM

Are we talking about shooting for your own family or as a hired photographer for someone?

Even if you sell them low res files, a lot of people are going to take them and use them to get prints even thought the quality will suck. Selling a disk of images for $20 bucks is, to be blunt, kind of nuts. You are cutting yourself out of the picture by doing this and making sure you don't get any print sales. You need to get paid for your work and if the client isn't willing to do so, you should not be doing the job. The worst part of setting this precedent is that you will end up getting low-ball clients wanting you to shoot a wedding and give them a $20 DVD like their friend got.

If you are doing this for your own family just because you want to, then you shouldn't be charging IMHO. If you are doing it for them because they want to hire you, then you should treat them as any other customer or there is no way they will respect what you do.

Personally, you should not sell it as a DVD with files, but instead as a slide show that they cannot take he pictures and download or print. Portrait and events should not be giving out the DVD's - period. If they insist on getting files, charge per file and get what you would expect out of prints, say $100 per file or something along those lines.

JohnT · 06-04-2007, 05:49 PM

Josh, for my situation, a DVD slide show would be the way to go since this would not be for my family but a paid shoot. I'm definitely all about protecting my work and copyright.

Thanks.

LadyShutterBug · 06-04-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Portrait and events should not be giving out the DVD's - period. If they insist on getting files, charge per file and get what you would expect out of prints, say $100 per file or something along those lines.

and remember, this is one person's opinion.

$20 is nuts, but I have no problem selling the image files in bulk if they are willing to pay what I ask (which is much more than $20). The bulk of my money is made upfront in the sitting fee. Prints are icing on the cake.

JohnT · 06-04-2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyShutterBug

$20 is nuts, but I have no problem selling the image files in bulk if they are willing to pay what I ask (which is much more than $20). The bulk of my money is made upfront in the sitting fee. Prints are icing on the cake.

Well, I'm just trying to figure out a way to offer something on DVD in case they aren't interested in prints for some reason. Again, I think the slide show idea is the way to go. Pricing it is another story.

TXhummer2 · 06-04-2007, 10:26 PM

Microsoft Photo Story 3 will create a slide show for free, and you can export to DVD or web. It basically runs as a movie. Oh, and MS PS3 is free.

darrenwilson · 06-04-2007, 10:50 PM

I use PhotoStory 3 for many, many projects each month and really like it. I bought the $20 plug-in from Sonic (http://estore.sonic.com/enu/photostory/default.asp) that will let you burn your PhotoStory video straight to DVD. I think the quality is awesome for a $20 total investment.

darrenwilson · 06-04-2007, 10:53 PM

Plus, there's lots of great tutorials (if you need them.)

Here, here and here.

picasso · 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnT

Well, I'm just trying to figure out a way to offer something on DVD in case they aren't interested in prints for some reason. Again, I think the slide show idea is the way to go. Pricing it is another story.

They are not interested in prints probably because they know they can find a photographer to give them a disk for $20. Someone in the family probably has a "nifty" photo printer and has offered to print pictures for everyone. I agree with the others. $20 is WAY to cheap and I would be inclined to do a slide show so they can't print them. If they want to print them take what you would charge for prints of say maybe 8x10 and X it by the # of images on the DVD plus some for releasing your images then give them a price. So lets say 30 images as an example x $45 + $200 for the release is about $1350. That sounds about right.

Paul

JohnT · 11:55 PM

Thanks, Harris and Darren! I will check out Photo Story. Sounds like just what I'm looking for.

JohnT · 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by picasso

They are not interested in prints probably because they know they can find a photographer to give them a disk for $20. Someone in the family probably has a "nifty" photo printer and has offered to print pictures for everyone. I agree with the others. $20 is WAY to cheap and I would be inclined to do a slide show so they can't print them. If they want to print them take what you would charge for prints of say maybe 8x10 and X it by the # of images on the DVD plus some for releasing your images then give them a price. So lets say 30 images as an example x $45 + $200 for the release is about $1350. That sounds about right.

Paul

Thanks for your input, Paul. This particular family is interested in prints. I'm just looking for something extra that I can offer Family Event clients when they don't want prints or they want something digital in addition to prints. Photo Story looks like the ticket.

Ahh!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnT

Let's say you shoot a family event (for example, family reunion), and you want to offer as an option a DVD of low-res. images. What dimensions would you make them? Also, does $20 sound too high for something like this (I have seen it offered for less)?

Its an evolving market out there. There are many segments and you need to understand YOUR market and both guage accordingly and determine your response. There have been so many simple answers posted on other threads, that I thought I would stretch this a little.

I, personally, want (full rez)images, not prints. Others people have come back to me JUST for image or multimedia work on their images...not for prints. I paid another photog for his time and talent for my (most recent) daughter's wedding day, and NO PRINTS. I have to...I am the father of the bride and am otherwise occupied! But, I did the bridals, rented the studio, and between my "Favorite second shooter" and me, we did the PP and shopped out the big print for the reception display.

Another daughter wanted packages, books, and...that photog got the deal, and I paid accordingly. Both photog's probably netted out about the same for their time. In fact, I think the no-print photog may have came out ahead.

You need to figure out what your time is worth and price accordingly based on the scope of work. You need to make a living. I pay what a person is worth. So will your client. It cuts both ways.