[Leica] Reality check on pricing

[gwpics at googlemail.com (Gerry Walden)]

I find that I price a portrait session very low (maybe around $100)
but then ALL the prints are charged at full rate. All images are only
viewable on the Internet. I must confess that I hate doing portraits
and seldom book them because people expect you to do a lot of work
when all they want is one 10" x 8".

Gerry

On 13/12/05, mcyclwritr@comcast.net <mcyclwritr@comcast.net> wrote:
> I got a call from an almost-friend asking if I could shoot her daughter's 
> senior portrait. And muy pronto, to boot. "I'd be happy to," I said.
>
> Not knowing details on exact location, number of wardrobe changes, etc., I 
> quoted $250, which would include 4x6 proofs but not batches of wallet-size 
> photos or custom enlargements. Easily a half day, counting schleppage.
>
> "Would it be less if you shot fewer pictures?"
>
> 'Huh?' thought I.
>
> I explained the cost of proofs was incidental and the half-day I'd put 
> into a location shoot, etc., is where the cost would be.
>
> She said she'd have to check with a local portrait mill to compare 
> pricing. I encouraged her to do so.
>
> By the way, she "just loved" pix I shot at a baby shower, so credible 
> people photography is not an issue. Evidently, money is.
>
> Frankly, I felt I'd have to apologize to my Leica and Canon kits just for 
> snatching them out of the safe to earn a near-chump-change $250 fee.
>
> I know many of you are superb photographers and have earned brand-name 
> status, so this probably isn't a fair question (apples and oranges deal), 
> but how would you have priced it?
>
> -Chris Lawson


--
Gerry Walden LBPPA
Web: www.gwpics.com
Stock: www.digitalrailroad.net
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