My daughter's VPK class had pictures done by a woman that owns a franchise of a photography business. I do not know if this is her full-time job or a side business. I loved the pictures and bought them all. I also asked her for her number so that I could have her take pictures of both my kids together.
We went and did a photography session at her house. She spent close to an hour with us. I just got the proofs in which she sent me 16 pictures from the session. I am very happy with the photos. She has indicated that with her pricing structure, if I spend $150 on prints, then I will get a photo CD on all of the images to do with what I wish.
Her prices are quite reasonable compared to some other photography studios. I want to be fair to her because she did spend her time with us. Obviously, I will be ordering at least $150 worth of pictures. I do not want to be cheap because I like her and wish to use her services again in the future. I probably will not order all of my pictures through her since it is still cheaper for me to have reprints done with the CD that I will buy. How much is reasonable for me to order through her? What is fair here? I want to be respectful of her profession and do want her to earn a fair commission off of her work...
I did talk to the photographer and the CD has photo rights so I can do whatever I want with it. Therefore, I would NOT be stealing as one or two of you have implied. I will be spending a couple hundred dollars with her...I was just trying to be fair to her.
I used to be a photographer. When I sold CD's it was with certain knowledge they would take the prints somewhere else. 150 seems fair to me.
Of she didn't think $150 was fair, she'd have a higher ceiling for the CD.
So....150.
You are getting a GREAT deal!
I come from a family of photographers. Her price points have already laid out what she thinks is fair. A photographer will only offer the disk of images, when they feel like they've been compensated fairly. For her, that number was $150. She has already told you that is fair. If you don't want to spend more then $150 on her, there is nothing unfair about that. Referrals are worth more then money, trust me!! Refer all your friends and continue to bring her work.
ETA:
Oh, ditto Jo W. My answer was kind of redundant!
Just looking at her structure she has placed 150 as that point where she is comfortable making nothing more. If she believes that is a fair point, accept it as a fair point. :)
I'm with Jo W on this one. She's told you what she thinks is fair. At $150 worth of prints, she feels as though she has been well compensated for her time and talent. Most photographers do this, including the "big chain stores". The prints are cheap... her time and talent isn't. At $150, you are paying for her editing work, not the actual paper pictures.
Buy $150 worth of prints and make sure to recommend her to your friends! Generating more business for her will make her more $$ in the long run than having you order $100 of additional prints!!
Order what you want. Treat her just like you would treat someone you do not know. Don't buy more "just because it's her." Buying what you want IS being fair to her.
If you want to do something nice for her, talk her up to people because she is GOOD at what she does. If you know any parents with seniors, go tell them to talk to her about doing senior portraits.
I had pictures made at a studio of my son for graduation. There were set packages, but no, I didn't order everything. I did pick a package that had the CD. I used the CD (which came with a letter saying that I had the rights to use it since I purchased it) to have my son's graduation announcements made. So, a package with the CD was worth it to me.
Some people use the CD to put pictures on FB, or email pictures to friends.
Hope this helps,
Dawn
i am with Lynn. $150 is very fair. you get the cd, it's all good. no problems.
I would spend only $150 or close to it since you are getting the CD to make additional prints.
She told you. Her policy is spend $150 and you get the CD.
I would probably spend what she suggested. She has set her own prices, so obviously the price is fair to her. I think telling her you were pleased with her services and asking for business cards to give out for referrals will be far more appreciated by a professional photographer.
I'd Definatly pay the 150$ and the the cd that's a great deal!
$150, plus recommendations goes a long way.
If you are very happy with her and like what she did then I would spend $200.
That way it doesn't look like you were just spending the money to get the CD. Its not much more than you are already spending... but it's more than the lowest amount to be able to get the CD.
i love that you are considerate enough to ask this.
i know when i buy race photos i generally just pay the upload fee and get the pics i want on my own computer, then send 'em to costco for prints. i assume this is fine with the professional photographers, since they offer it as an option!
khairete
S.
She has already set what she feels to be the fair price of orders at $150. So that is your guideline.
However, I learned from my photographer that not every print house is equal. My photographer uses a printer that only prints from professionals. The difference in quality is stunning. When my photographer gives us our proofs and the CD, she has already enhanced them and applied filters. Some of the retail printers, when you send your images to them, automatically remove some of these filters and so the quality will not be as good.
I'd suggest comparing the prices and maybe test out one picture at a retailer to see if the image quality is worth the price difference.
I dont truly understand why photographrs do this! We have had some bad experiences but the best was with a woman who took our reception photos. She was on the upper end of the photographers pricing but she GAVE us the CD's from our wedding. She edited about 40 or so and included all of this in her initial pricing.
I have another friend who puts the logo/water mark HUGE across the photo. When I mentioned how I loathed when photographers do this advertizing on my memories she piped up that it was about her business and not having people print elsewhere. I dont understand this thinking. They make there money at the session. Printing is just change for them. Walgreens costs like idk say 3 dollars to print something and she is going to charge say 6 for the same size print. She isnt making the big money under the printing process.
Needless to say she isnt very busy.
I think 150 is what she said and that is what I would pay. I personally would find a photographer like the first one who was up front and listed the pricing so there is no guessing what your suppose to do. I am annoyed by most photographers.
I am a bit confused....you are planning on ordering $150 in pictures but only want to buy certain ones? Then you don't need to spend the $150 to get the CD. Just buy what you want then understand that if you do make copies you are breaking the law because her pictures are her property.
As I understand it....nowadays photographers sell the CD with the pictures on it and have you sign a paper saying you have purchased this copy. Then either they say you have their permission to reprint and distribute the photo's at your own discretion or they may say they still retain ownership of the picture and you cannot copy and distribute it.
So you are getting into copyright law. I suggest you ask the photographer exactly what the $150 is buying. Is it buying just a copy of the photo's with her retaining ownership and therefore if you want copies you must order them from her or are you buying her permission to do what ever you want with the images.
If she says they are yours to do with as you please then you should go ahead and order $150 of pictures just to get the Cd. That way you can copy the ones you like to your hearts content and give them to every person you know, that would save a lot of money in the long run.
IF she is retaining ownership and you are not allowed to copy and give them to family and friends then only order the ones you especially like. They don't expect everyone to order every picture.
I am a pro photographer. If that is what your photographer is charging, then just do what she says.
I honestly would not let my clients take a CD and order through some other company. I put a lot of work into each and every single photo that I take and edit and it would drive me crazy if someone just went and got walmart quality prints. Trust me, you get what you pay for. I only offer CD's WITH my logo on it and it's only so they can share their photo's online (like facebook) and anything I post online, has my logo on it. There is too much stealing going on from other people trying to be photographers.
Gamma G. is 100% correct on everything. If she is giving you a print release, then go and get prints done where ever you want.
JT, our sessions fee's ONLY cover our cost for our equipment, insurance, taxes, gas, utilities, and up keep of having a business. Our PRINTS are what make us money. It's not pocket change. When my clients order prints, it's usually double to what the session fee is (sometimes more). That is where I actually make my income and take home to help feed my family.
Sorry if I went off on a rant. I just think a lot of people mis understand what it costs to run a small business.
But really, if she is giving you a print release, then go for it. I see no problem with that :) I'm happy you found a great photographer that you love and work well with.
