Charging for prints

[hesaias]

Okay, I believe I can produce some images people will buy. In fact, I have already been asked to sell prints. My first question is about pricing. What are the general ranges for prints? I can do a print package in photoshop on 8.5x11 paper for the same price as an 8x10 on my end, but I would imagine the photo package would be higher, right? Also, how would I calculate the cost per print of my printer or where can I get that info. Lastly, my time.

I want to provide a high quality product for a good price. That is the botom line. I will not sell a picture unless it looks good because I do not want any crap floating around out there with my name on it.

[JBPhoto]

Scott - If you are considering selling prints, I would strongly suggest you use a professional print lab for the printing. They will drop ship directly to your customer. Unless you have a very high end photo printer and paper, they will not last and will not be the quality you will get from a lab. I have an HP Photosmart 7960, and although its a decent printer, I would never use it to generate prints that I sell.

Generally speaking, quality 5x7 action shots range from $8 to $12, and 8x10's from $12 to $15. At least that's what I see.

[specradio]

8x10 prints here from ritz are $5
5x7 is $1

And they're have a professional lab in the back of their local store. Not from those cheap little kodak pos.

[hesaias]

I have a Canon PIXMA I6700D and use Epson pro paper.

Do you have any labs I can use online?

[livin4lax09]

i use winkflash.com

i charge 7 for a 5x7 and 15 for an 8x10, but I'm going to up my 5x7 costs.

[Homer]

Hi Scott another on-line service for professional quality prints is Mpix (Mpix.com). They offer a wide range of products and have the best customer service I've seen.

Jim

[Old Timer]

I've used Mpix for my landscape and nature prints that I market and sell at festivals and and in a local gallery. But for sports pictures I go with printroom.com they offer all the services you could possible want and it's totally hands off once you up load your images.

[Stina]

I have to agree with those that said Mpix.com they are great. If your sales start going well you might try smugmug.com I just opened my accout about six week ago and I love it. For the pro account the yearly fee is $149 but in two weeks I made that much in sales. The pro account lets you set your price they take 15% and the cost of the prints but take care of printing and shipping your order. I you want I have a code for $5 off a yearly fee. They also have great photo protection. (right click save wont work)

You might also try instaproofs.com I used them for about a year and a half they don't have a yealy fee just take 15% of the sale but you have to take care of prints and delivery yourself.

Just another idea I started wearing a t-shirt with my web site on the back to all sporting events (mostly local high school)I photograph. I also gave out tons of business cards at the beginnig of the season. Now if I don't have my photos up in the usual two days I have kids calling wanting to know when they will be able to look at them. Hope some of this was useful to you.

Christina
www.jcphotography.us

[JBPhoto]

When I suggested prices ("Generally speaking, quality 5x7 action shots range from $8 to $12, and 8x10's from $12 to $15. At least that's what I see."), I was referring to the prices that photographers charge for prints, not what labs charge to print them.

I mostly use Adoramapix, 5x7 premium luster are $.59 and 8x10's are $2.29. Shipping however, is usually $4.95.

[livin4lax09]

oh forgot to mention the reason i use winkflash is because of cheap print prices, plus they dont touch your print. how you send it is how you get it back. no color correction or anything. also $1 shipping on all print orders. I actually like them better than adoramapix.

[SunnySideUp]

I use ExposureManager. They are setting the high water mark for sports photography hosting and printing. I was using Printroom but was limited by space. ExposureManager allows a ton of control and if you ever want it to look like it is all coming from your website you can. Also they will print the envelopes to look like they are coming from you, your logo and all.

As for prices. Every area (sport and region) is different and then there are different types of photographers. I made a spread sheet with all the prices that the different photographers offered and then found the average. For the most part my prices are at the average or a tad bit higher. It just depends. For example 4x6 are 7 bucks, with is the average. 5x7s are 10 which is a little above average but I hate cropping. My 8x10 and 8x12s are the same price $15. I would prefer people to buy the 8x12. Next year my prices will be higher.

Note the prices that I talked about are all prices for the weekend warrior photographer. Prices should and will change if your sole job is photography, if you are the "authorized" photographer, or if you are doing a ton of touch up work.

All and all, switch to a service. I have tried doing it my self and it is way too much time.

Also, you may not want to be too selective on the photos you sell, depending on your photography goals. If you are the only photographer at the event, there are going to be a lot of photos that you sell, that you would never buy yourself. But people are happy to see photos of themselves, even if you feel that it is crap. It is still better than the point n shoot photos that their family got.

If you use this referral link you will get $5 off. You can search to see if someone else has a discount code, but if not, $5 is $5.

http://www.exposuremanager.com/aff/oregonvelo

Enjoy,
Shane

[SunnySideUp]

Oh yeah, here is a comparison chart for features offered.
http://www.exposuremanager.com/scrip....pl?rm=compare