Marking up prints from the lab??

mark_borosch · #1 01-23-2005, 07:15 PM

Marking up prints from the lab??

I’ve been asked to photograph some kids at the daycare where my wife works. I think I’m gonna do it however I need to check on pricing from the lab. How much do you generally mark stuff up from the lab. Say if an 8 x 10 costs me $1.95 what’s a good starting point for resale? I was thinking of offering a package or two say (2) 5 x 7’s and (8) wallets for about $35.00. I generally do not do this type of work, as I mainly do architecture.

Any thoughts
Thanks
Mark

David_Willoughby · #2 01-23-2005, 08:55 PM

I thnink that charge may depend on the type of daycare. If it is like the one my daughter was in (at a church) I would not charge as much or if I did I would dontate some back to the daycare...good karma and all, if it is a For profit place (especially if it is corporate) than your charges seem very reasonable. Just my opinion thats all.

mark_borosch · #3 01-23-2005, 09:51 PM

David
Thanks for the reply. The daycare wants %10 of total profits.

mark

David_Willoughby · #4 01-24-2005, 12:31 AM

ok...they are more commercial....I think your prices are reasonable with out knowing what the market in your area is like. I think around here a memory mate type of product goes for about $12 or so....check my website out, click on an event, click on a photo and it will give you option for packages, or more simply ala carte pricing. My prices are just below average for a studio but maybee a little above what a school photographer charges for yearly pics. I do alot of event style (maratthons, football basketball, relay races) so my prices are closer to that market than a studio.

Also, you might consider offering 3 options in this case...low med and high price point. Take your low price, multiply the number of children, and Figure low side 15% sales, and high side %50 will buy, any more than that is gravy. If the Daycare is going to take 10% make sure they only get 10% of what you sell the day of the shoot..not websales....it will give them incentive to advertise more...and reinforce that to them, the more advertising and buildup they do, the more they will make and so on so on.

This is all easier said than done! LOL

David_Willoughby · #5 01-24-2005, 12:34 AM

Also, make sure it is 10% of net, not gross. A partner and I did a wrestling tourney last weekend (it bombed...18hrs...made 50 bucks after exopenses) A mild saving grace was we had done same day service and werer able to get out of the 10% by giving them some photo's I don't know how many...not my gig. but there is a thought. Give a 5x7 of each teacher/helper and director...or a large group photo in exchange for the 10%

I could be full of dung but hey its a living [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Eric_llasenko · #6 01-24-2005, 06:23 PM

Be very aware that shooting awesome buildings/interiors and shooting cranky toddlers are two VERY different animals, so be sure you have the proper mindset going in or the kids will sense it and eat you alive - or at least make for a very long, hard day! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Here in Florida, most daycare centers expect and get 10%-25% commission on sales. Public schools demand more services like id cards, rolodex prints, seating chart software AND they want a full 50% commission too. It's scary, and I was shocked when I moved from Detroit 15 years back and did schools, but that is the norm here in the sunshine state.(just another version of our sunshine tax)
Just be sure you pay on Net sales - gross sales less the sales tax due. Also, most centers do seperate classroom group days at another time of year - you will make more money doing it that way than offering the memory mate packages as parents will be buying twice from you.

Most parents are used to packages. The best seller is usually the "big 3" which is 3 units - an 8x10, 2-5x7, and 8-Wallets and they sell for 20-40 dollars typically in central FL. Make your own packages up and just figure your unit prices at somewhere between 10-18 dollars and you will be in the ballpark of what most FL studios are charging. Also a good idea to see if the school has any leftover flyers from previous year, so you can see what was offered and how they charged and adjust accordingly. Be sure your libility insurance covers you dealing with minors on site, as lightstands and toddlers are a dangerous mix and kids are often undersupervised while waiting for pics. (I've had lights go down several times over the years, kids fall off posing stools and ladders, and the most common problem was the background being knocked over when a younger trips into it from behind. No serious injuries, thank God, but any one of them could have been a financial catastrophe.

A lot of Pre-k schools are shot proof now in the digital age, and parents appreciate the chance to see the pics first versus the old pre-pay style. Just be sure your proofs are returned to you and that they are small and stamped PROOF all over to help cut down on cheap soccer moms with scanners, who will glady steal pics rather than pay for them. Good luck on your adventure and be sure to post a follow up about how your experience went when you finish it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

JoyPetersKurtz · #7 01-24-2005, 08:13 PM

You didn't ask for these tiny pieces of advice, but here's my two cents about shooting toddlers

Have something for the kiddies to lean/stand against. Parents get a kick out of seeing children who only recently learned to stand, stand.

Very flat lighting, so that wherever the toddler moves to, you can get the shot.

Joy

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