Christmas Card sessions

[Wes]

Jaggz posted something about doing Christmas cards and it got me to thinking.... I did a few of these sessions last year and it really turned more into a family portrait kind of thing. Since this happened with about 4 families that are very good friends of mine I didn't really mind.

However, I don't charge the same for a Christmas card session as I would for a full blown family portrait session. Once you're on location how do you keep one from becoming the other?

Also, do you print and deliver the cards yourself, or do you provide them with a digital image that they can use to create their own cards? (Upload to something like Shutter Fly or some other on-line service)

[bondarnes]

We don't offer "Christmas Card" sessions any more. We do have regular sessions that they can order Christmas Cards from AFTER A MINIMUM PURCHASE. I got tired of working that hard for them to just order 25 cards. So when someone asks about Christmas Cards we quote them a session fee and the minimum purchase then we tell them they can order cards at a special price.

We order the cards from Stylart. They have some awesome cards that you can't buy anywhere else.

[JohnT]

I'm glad you posted this because I was thinking about this very thing earlier today.

I made a few shots for a friend of mine and his kids last year, and they included them in Christmas cards that they mailed to friends and family. I didn't charge for the session and gave him a break on the prints, but I was thinking about doing something different this year. However, with Don's response being what it is, now I'm rethinking things.

[loana0320]

I charge a session fee for regular portrait session which includes all the digital files at high resolution.... I am having a Christmas session October 21st for less than half of my price but instead of 2 hours plus is only 20 minutes long at galveston mini sessions minimum of 6 people.