Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/12/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Again, Scott - it's because of the view that "anyone can take a decent photo." If cameras weren't consumer items, and only professional photographers owned cameras, photographers would be paid based on the quality of the images they produced. On 12/13/05 5:15 PM, "Scott McLoughlin" <scott@adrenaline.com> wrote: > I also think $250 is more than reasonable. I'm no pro, and the more > I read, I think I'm glad I'm not. Heck, a 3rd rate techie can make a > good $50/hour for breething and $100 to $150/hour for doing some > decent work. And that's 5 days by 8-10 hours per day. > > Given the equipment expense, the long learning curve to develop good > skills, the hassles of dealing with several clients, the marketing expenses > or efforts to reach a sufficient number of relatively small $$$ clients, > the risk of unsatisfactory results (skill plays a part here too, but not > completely), the cost of film processing and/or the labor of lots of > PhotoShop post processing, and so on.... > > Whew! Well, to me $250 seems like a downright bargain. > > I know there are photogs who make good livings, have homes and > kids and cars and nice vacations and what not. But these folks who > manage to run a decent business for themselves seem like exceptions > in the photo biz vs. the work-a-day world. > > Maybe I ran a consulting company for too many years, but I just can't > help thinking of work in terms of $$/hour. Grease monkeys at the local > Mercedes dealer charge $100/hour (plus parts, of course) to fix your car. > What does a good 1 hour massage cost at a legitimate spa? Or skilled > leatherwork at a quality shoe repair? Consumers pay these prices, so why > should they balk at a "reasonable" rate for highly skilled, highly > personalized > photographic services? > > Fascinating to this industry outsider. > > Scott > > mcyclwritr@comcast.net wrote: > >> Thanks for the pricing input, gents. >> >> Gerry, if I could count on the parent(s) to order more than a few dollars >> worth of wallet-size photos, which one of them would undoubtedly toss on a >> flatbed scanner and print on the office inkjet 5x7 or 8x10, I could shoot >> for >> a lower fee. But, that won't happen. >> >> Slobodon, I like the quotable "you'll find no happiness...." Wisdom begat >> from experience, I trust. >> >> B.D., thanks for reinforcement on $250 being more than reasonable. I fully >> intend to let her visit the shopping mall portrait mill. >> >> >> -------------- Original message ---------------------- >> From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@comcast.net> >> >> >>> Chris - $250 is more than reasonable. And what kind of 'friend' starts >>> telling you there going to comparison shop for prices. You quoted a >>> price - >>> stick to it. Let her go to the local portrait mill if that's what she >>> wants. >>> >>> Unlike other artists, photographers are saddled with the problem that >>> everyone owns a camera, and everyone who owns a camera is a >>> "photographer." >>> So on the whole, people tend not to value photography. If she thinks >>> $250 is >>> too much, ask her how much she'd pay to have a crappy portrait of her >>> daughter painted....;-) >>> >>> >>> On 12/13/05 2:28 PM, "Slobodan Dimitrov" <s.dimitrov@charter.net> wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>>> A senior portrait means a package price. >>>> The price referent is what the school's selected photography service >>>> charges. >>>> Anything outside of that is a specialty shoot, with the corresponding >>>> price. >>>> Outside of family, use the ASMP pricing guide for everybody. >>>> You will find no happiness with friends and quasi-friends and their >>>> photo requests. >>>> >>>> Slobodan Dimitrov >>>> Studio G-8, >>>> Angels Gate Cultural Center >>>> http://sdimitrovphoto.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Dec 13, 2005, at 10:03 AM, 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 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Leica Users Group. >>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>> >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>> >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information