I've been contacted by a local university who would like to have 40 members of their faculty photographed. It's going to be a pretty standard shot on the same background and same lighting for every person, and it should be something I can bang out really quickly (it will have to be, as they'll be standing around waiting in line for their turn).

They would like to purchase one of each photo in 5x7 or 8x10. They'll be getting their prints framed at a friend's framing shop (he actually referred them my way).

My standard prices, relevant to the situation, are as follows:
- Commercial on-location w/ ltd. license photo CD: $325
- 5x7 Glossy Print: $21
- 5x7 Matte Print: $25
- 8x10 Glossy Print $48
- 8x10 Matte Print: $58
*Add travel fees to on-location shoots: $0.70/mile by car; full airfare, hotel, and $50 per diem by flight. **Limited license does not give client copyright.


So would you just give them that standard price, or cut them a break since they're buying a lot of prints?

in regard to your question you have to look at it like are they going to be a yearly repeat customer or is this a one time thing... 40 prints isn't exactly "a lot" if they were buying a 5x7 and an 8x10 of each making it 80 prints i would give them 10-20% off

Maybe I would keep my prices the same for the 5 x 7 but cut them for the 8 x 10. This could encourage them to buy more 8 x 10 prints since it seems like they are choosing whether they want a 5 x 7 photo or an 8 x 10 photo. Maybe I would knock the price of the 8 x 10 down to $38 or so.

Yeah I don't think I'll budge on my on-location shoot price, but I can work with them on the prints. And yeah, 40 prints isn't really THAT much, but they also don't really care that much about the prints I'm sure (not that it's my problem).

I think the advice about giving a discount on the 8x10 and not on the 5x7 is a good one... then I make more, and then my friend the framer will probably be very happy as well.

Give them ONE price including EVERYTHING. Don't break it down or they'll start to nickel and dime you to death.

Including the prints in the pricing ensures that you don't have to worry about them NOT ordering prints once they get their CD and think they can print 8x10's from their 800x600 pixel files!

FSJ I may be mistaken but it does not say anywhere in the thread that the OP intends to give the client a CD.

I guess I should post an update on this... I quoted the following rates:

$375 for on-location shoot w/ backdrop and two lights
includes 40 photos (one of each member of the faculty / staff) and a low-res photo CD w/ limited license

Travel: $0.70/mile

35 5x7 Prints @ $21/each
5 8x10 Prints @ 36/each

....

The total comes to a bit more than $1300, and I already got word that they want to use me. Should receive payment tomorrow.

I'm definitely not giving anyone any high-res photos on a CD unless they pay big bucks for it.

FSJ_Guy wrote:
Give them ONE price including EVERYTHING. Don't break it down or they'll start to nickel and dime you to death.

Including the prints in the pricing ensures that you don't have to worry about them NOT ordering prints once they get their CD and think they can print 8x10's from their 800x600 pixel files!



I like the transparency of breaking things down. And I make it very clear to people when I mention a CD that it's really only good for e-mailing and posting on their website or facebook / myspace etc... And the low-res images on the photo CD have my logo stamped on them as well.