I'm setting up pricing for my prints, and I hadn't even considered how much I'd charge for metallic prints. It seems they cost at least 3x as much to make, but is there any reason to charge 3x the price to customers? Let's say you charge $5 for 4x6 luster/matte and $25 for 8x12 luster/matte prints. What would you charge for metallic?

Also, I'm considering not offering anything larger than 11x14 on my smugmug account, so clients will go through me to get larger prints (so I can double check for quality). Is that a smart option? Or will they simply not consider purchasing the larger prints because they don't see it offered? I have them on my pricing information sheet. Maybe I should get a few really large prints when I'm meeting customers so they will consider getting prints that large?

They only way to sell lrge prints is showing a sample.
Not sure why everyone wants on line ordering. On line people buy a print, when at your studio you can "sell" them what you want or feel they need. Very big difference.

I agree. Unfortunately we have no "studio" (unless you count our 10x14 foot room/studio apt. that we live in). But I have no problem getting a few really large prints and bringing them with me when I meet a client. I heard Ed pignol call these "pajama profits" and that's what they are for us -- we ask for all money up front that we need to make a profit, so if they buy anything extra from us, yay! Hmmmm... I'm not sure about having large print prices yet, but I'm edging on no.

Anyone not selling cropped prints? I may not include 11x14 (wanted to include 11x16, but those aren't even offered through smugmug). Thinking about not offering 8x10 - There are a few formal shots where the crop would work, but most prints are pretty tight at 4x6.

Deb, I have all my galleries on 2-day delay (you can go up to 7) for print orders - to check and adjust crops as needed.

THe labs I deal with only charge a 10-20% premium on metallic or true B&W prints. So that's about what I charge, over and above the regular price.

I don't push them and don't sell many, the most is with senior wallets or once in a while a collage. Up till this year my framed items were always under glass and metallic loses much of it's look when under glass.

Thanks everyone! I'm just upping the price a tad -- I think it's only the 4x6s that are 3x as much. It seemed like it wasn't that much more on the bigger prints. So I added $5, $10, or $15 where I thought needed.

Thanks for telling me about the delay, Tony - I'll add that so I can check things!

prof_fate wrote:
Up till this year my framed items were always under glass and metallic loses much of it's look when under glass.

If I were you I would get a metallic print and look at it under glass before deciding. I have a bunch of 16x20 metallic prints of my kids that I have done and they are under glass. I think they look great.
When it comes to pricing for metallic I just add a surcharge to the package price for metallic.
The main thing is you have to show your client an example, and the larger the better. I have found that people can't really imagine what metallic looks like, but once they see it, they want it.

FYI: I'm not a wedding photog, I do portraits. I lurk here for inspiration. I guess you could call me a fanboy!!

Marty

Deb Brundage wrote:
<snip>
Anyone not selling cropped prints? I may not include 11x14 (wanted to include 11x16, but those aren't even offered through smugmug). Thinking about not offering 8x10 - There are a few formal shots where the crop would work, but most prints are pretty tight at 4x6.


I shoot VERY tight in camera, my personal preference I just like framing things that way. Yes it causes problems but I deal

What I decided to do is offer the 8x10 but make them more expensive than the 8x12's thus hoping to force them to get the full frames.

We just got a 30x40 mounted metallic print from whcc and after looking at it (this is the first time we have ever printed a metallic print) I thought, "hmm, how much more can I sell these for?" It looked pretty sweet and I would not hesitate selling them for more than we sell our canvases for. Will we? Not sure.

Sell them for more and SELL them to the client!

-Zach

Try finding a lab that offers the Fuji Pearl paper. It looks like the Kodak metallic and is just a little higher than standard lustre prints.

For on the go large prints have them mounted on a hard board and buy a large portfolio case artist use. A 30x40 with handle and zipper is around $50.00 - $95.00 depending on the material used and it looks very professional.
Don't you sell Large Bridal portraits taken before the wedding. Maybe more of a southern thing but 99.5% of brides around my area must have a bridal portrait to display at the reception. I have not sold large images of the wedding itself, just the Bridal or engagement.

metallic under acrylic look sensational.

I'd take acrylic over glass any day.

We use millers and offer several different finishing services to our customers. For instance, we offer you choice of either metallic or linen texture finish for only an additional $25 on any size over 11x14. Now I can tell you the only way to sell this is to HAVE SAMPLES! BUT....... We were the recent hit at a local bridal fair because of ONE major thing! It was so unusal that I had the competition coming over and asking me where, how, who...... ummmmmm what is it? WE CALL IT PLATINUM FINISH and its EXCLUSIVE for our studio... Brides raved over it... And just today they still were! So what is it you ask? Metalic prints with a fine-linen texture finish over it.... WOW you will be in awe! But I can't take full credit... JB & DeEtte Sallee... I just love those two! If they come to your town on the Millers-Marthon Press tour make sure you ATTEND!!!!!!

3x as much to print? I pay $18au for a 20x30 on matt and $27 on Mettalic. That translates to $12.20 and $18.25 USD.

Printed on kodak endura paper with a 200 year archival life.

I would charge extra just to offer it as an option that makes more money though.

Yeah -- the 4x6 were .19 for matte and .66 for metallic. But that was only for that size. I realized the others were a bit closer. Not sure about the discrepancy for 4x6, but I guess that's what happens.

I think I'll offer up to size 8x12 online, then I'll start printing out a few of my own large and with special finishes and bringing them with me to client meetings. That way I can get a few extra sales on the nice finishes. Thanks for the heads up mzpictaker! I'll try something like that and see how it turns out!