Photographing a Painting.

[ChristopherCoy]

I've been contacted by a local artist who is need of a high res photo of a painting he has done. His agent in LA is needing at least a 10mg file at 300dpi to use for reproduction I assume. The artist doesn't have a way to get it done himself, so he has asked me to help him.

A.) What or how is something like this priced? What would you charge if the photo you take is going to be used to mass produce a poster of the painting?

B.) Does anyone know anyone I can refer him to if we can't get it done between the two of us?

He photographs his own stuff fairly regularly, and he knows how he wants it lit, he just doesn't have the equipment... which is were I come in.

[venchka]

Do your homework. The Big Boys use large format cameras and scanning backs. Flat scanning with your little camera will probably work. Make sure you have the camera square and plumb with the painting.
Ask about pricing, via PM, at the large format forum also.

[ChristopherCoy]

The painting is too large to ship for scanning, which is why he called me.

Anyone know someone I can refer him to in the Dallas area?

[WarrenG]

Chris,

Try American Litho Color in Dallas (assuming it is under 60x90).

W

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by WarrenG

Chris,

Try American Litho Color in Dallas (assuming it is under 60x90).

W

Thanks!

I spoke to him at length last night and explained my concerns. Turns out I misunderstood him during our original conversation. He apparently works for a company that provides images to large corporate retail chains. This particular image will be placed in a catalog of sorts that will be presented to the retail chains. If it is picked up and selected, it will then be scanned for mass production.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Is this going to be a one time thing or will he use you again? If a one time thing I would charge north of $500 if it may be reoccuring then somewhat less.

Chris what Wayne was talking about was using a LF camera to shoot a large film image that is then scanned by a drum scanner not scanning the painting itself but that can be done now on some systems.

[venchka]

Actually, Wayne was thinking of large format digital backs. Scanning large format film is naturally an option. When I said "flat scanning" with your camera I meant flat stitching of a bunch of images from your little camera.

[janikphoto]

BWC would have a list of people that can do large painting photos/scanning. Several of the pro labs in town offered that service in-house, before they closed up shop, thanks to the near-death of film. Since you are just taking the catalog shot, I'd charge a couple hundred bucks, plus state sales tax, and call it a day. If you were doing the "final" image for mass production, then I'd talk about a higher fee. You can find some DIY tutorials online for lighting and shooting large artwork. Glare and perspective are your main challenges. Lighting it evenly isn't too hard to do.

[Phisch]

If it helps with pricing, nearly 20 years ago we had a photographer make us film for printing and it cost us $100. It was a cheap price bec. it was a non-profit thing.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by Phisch

If it helps with pricing, nearly 20 years ago we had a photographer make us film for printing and it cost us $100. It was a cheap price bec. it was a non-profit thing.

But he clarified that he's not doing the actual image for printing, just for the catalog image.