I LOVE LOVE LOVE blogs where they post big, bright images for the world to see! I just checked out jessica strickland's and the images are so impacting because they're not just little thumbnails. But, i'm scared to death to put copyable (word?) images on my blog. I have a lot of customers that (somehow) find a way to copy even pictage's gallery images, and sometimes, not even end up ordering prints, becasue they kinda wanted the photoshoot images for the internet to begin with (email, blogs, myspace, whatever!) So how do you guys go about justifying this? does it reflect in price/packaging (as in, you include prints in a the package so that they at least get a sweet taste of pictures in their hands)?

I know I would have a lot of people going down to walmart (or whatever 1 hr place)- and printing up those beautiful images themselves (even tho thye're low res) - and then tell their friends/fam that i took them (but if they look like crap, that's not saying anything true about my artistry).

How do you deal? Or do you just get over it?

Thanks a bunch!
<3 kristy

big 'ole watermark across the middle

I charge a good chunk of change for my sessions upfront... and that I way, I make my money there (on the front end) AND I am working with clientele who, although they might (and do) swipe an image for their own blog or desktop, won't be running to walmart to make those prints!

I encourage blog swiping

If they post it on their MySPace or Wedding website, or personal blog... that is only more exposure for me... And we border our images so that the branding is right there in your face!

YUCK!!!


Honestly if you fear that someone stealing 4 600pixel images is going to impact your business, you need to re-examine your business model or target market

hehe but then the pictures don't seem as aewsome that way - less impactful. it's like, somehow a lot of photographers just don't mind, and i don't usually care at all (because it just gets them excited about their images, etc), except this is a digital age, and i know so many people who do photoshoots and never intend to get prints...so digital files are gold to them. if i put their images up, that's like handing their session fee back. or something. maybe i'm dramatic

amber - very true. which is why i totally normally don't mind. but lately, there has been a lot of swiping and not a lot of printing (at all!) which is why i'm here asking you guys how you compensate for that, business-wise (AHEM, kawter)
<3 kristy

Do you think images are less impactful with a border?

as in...




Edit:

I didn't see your reply to me originally!

I really really think the answer is to charge a buttload on the front end!

What does your session fee look like?

amber - I LOVE that, actually, great idea! i've been meaning to do that too (write an action to create one) - i saw it at one point, anyone lead me to that post about how to do that (i tried one time, but i think it's much simpler than my version of the action)

<3 kristy

$250 (portrait session in cali) - now that i'm in beautiful southern oregon, it's considerably going to be less for a while (i'm doing some discounts until things pick up here).

I think it disappeared in the crash...

email nathan at info@holritzphotography.com

He'll send you a customizable action!

Thanks sweets!
<3 kristy

FYI...

We are in the middle of Podunkville TN...

Our upfront charge is $400... and no one has even flinched! Don't lower from that $250 even in a random city! I promise, there are people who can, and will pay it...

Amber - Would you and Nathan mind if I asked for the frame action also? I'm working on getting my biz set up and this is one area where I lack the experience. I've got a border, but the white narrow boarder inset is delicious on yours. Thanks in advance, either way you answer. - Matt

Hey Amber - I'm going to email Nathan about that Action - please let him know!

And thank you so much~!

Can I email Nathan about the action as well? I am really interested in it.

yah, i'm going to go back to $250 after january. right now, i'm just trying to get business going since i just moved back and no one knows me! i want the whole word of mouth (which is spreading fast now that i have a few grants pass clients!) i also have a few little marketting things around here i need to get done. i just need to target the right people. anytime i've ever lowered my prices, it's been rough, people are rude and expect even more freebies! :/

about the blog thing, i think i've got it taken care of with the border thing. thanks!
<3 kristy

I always frame and print my name on the images on my blog. I have an action for the frame. If they are editing savy, they could just crop it off before they try and print it. I don't worry about it too much. If they want to be dishonest, let them. What is going to stop them from ordering one 5X7, and scanning and reprinting that? If they are dishonest, they will find a way..... So, I don't worry my self about it.

I do try to educate my clients on it though. Sometimes I wonder if people don't think it is a big deal, or they don't know better. I put a letter in thier print order that says this: "Thank you for your order! I hope you will cherrish these portraits for years to come! I just want to remind you that these photographs are copyright protected, and my not be coppied, scanned or reproduced in any way. Thank you for your honesty in this matter. If you need additional enlargements, I will be happy to help you. Thank you, Kari"

Here is a sample of my blog image:

kari-great idea!
<3kristy

I WANT my clients to take images from my blog with my BIG OL' NAME across them and post them all over the net! Girls - hook me up!!! I've actually signed clients from images that are just scattered around the net, randomly taken from my blog! That's sooooo good for me.

Realize that it's a reality and a possibility, and make it work FOR your business. Free advertsising on your myspace page? Hell yeah girl - take all the pics you want.. as long as my name is on them somewhere, I'm all for it! I think most of your clients are excited about your work and want to give you credit for it... so give them an opportunity to brag about you even more!

I've structured my business so that I actually give clients a CD of 4x6 prints, because that's not where I want to make my money or waste my time filling orders. I want the big profits in the enlargements and other products.

EDIT: The other side of that is also making sure you charge what you're worth without orders, up front. A good way to guarantee your portrait income is to include a print credit as part of the package. $250 to shoot, and they get $150 to spend on prints afterward. You can even build in a discount if you want for ordering within the first however many days.

Amber, I love your work...and your blog. It looks like you're using Blogger. How do you get your images that large. The biggest I can get them are still pretty wimpy - and I don't have great control over where they end up. Do you know something I don't?
Thanks,
Eddie

Amber - is there more to your image branding than just the 'H'?

I guess if they say where they got the image it wouldn't be a problem, but just an H would lead me nowhere (if I didn't blog stalk you 2 already - guilty!)

not that i care about thievery - I'd be flat out flattered to find my image somewhere else - when I have to worry about that, I have no reason to worry at all in my opinion.

amber - you are soooooooooooooo right!
up front fee. if it makes them flinch, throw in a little print credit.

amber's branding is second to NONE. everyone knows that 'H' that needs to!
be the brand!





100% +1

just some thoughts.....

could your print prices be affected it?

you list $20 for a 4X6
and go up from there......
also you have some low end packages and then some that cost a lot more.... why not meet in the middle and give them some prints and see if that helps?

trying to find a happy balance is the key..... and since I don't personally know your market you'll have to find it with some trial and error and a little market research.

goodluck either way
Heather

Howdy!

Just thought I'd give my 2 cents here.

I completely agree with the whole idea of the blog pics being a free marketing tool! I too put a postcard border with my name and I am all the buzz on the Vermont knot forum because of it. A couple of brides who are lovin' me put my photos on it and link their slideshows and I will get a thousand links from knotties looking at those slideshows. It's mind blowing.

And guess what? I have booked most of my weddings for next year without spending a dime.

How awesome is that?

I agree that people look high, look low, and then look for the middle ground to find what's right for them (ironically, the middle is almost always the "right" one regardless of what kind of client they are ;-).

Also - I think these days, with the availability of shutterfly, kodakgallery, costco, sams, and walmart printing options all under $0.20, people see a $20 4x6 and freak out, which is why I've just decided to not offer 4x6 prints any more.



That's phenomenal Daria!!! WOM ... or Word of Picture... is definitely the king of marketing.

I do a $50 print credit with my $250 package, but Im thinking i LOVE anne's idea - which is to include 4X6 CD - I totally know a lot of scrapbookers out there who want to cut up their pictures for their own little "art" - in their scrapbooks (which is not where I really want to make money, and not where they would want to spend it). I think that's just a fab idea tho, I'll look into changing things a tiny bit (YET AGAIN FOR THE 1000th TIME!)

<3 kristy

I took that idea of not offering 4X6 prints and i'm thinking about it! i think it's a fab idea to try out. Instead, I might only offer them with my packages in sets of 24 4X6 art prints, so there is no individually buying them (honestly, why i had the prices to high for a 4X6 is because my cliensts were buying like 2-5 of them THAT'S IT!!!!!!!) I have a lot of clients who want blurb books, because they get ALL their pictures in one place, and they don't have to scrapbook them or put them in photobooks. I guess I'm still testing the waters with print pricing and packages. I'm a firm believer in giving my clients every option possible, which is why i hate photography packages...because everyone wants something different....so i try to keep it simple with not really having package(S). We'll see tho!
(sorry - </end tangent> )

<3 kristy

We agree with Amber. We charge alot up front and really have a relationship with our clientele. We educate them about the horrors of non pro labs and they just don't go to them. I do however give them all the original disks and negs. I then give them the names of labs that I recommend, and use. And they still come back to us for prints. We are real busy with commercial and fashion so we don't have all that time to do peoples prints. so we kind of push them to our pro lab. Also most of our clients live or work in NYC. thats where our labs are so we send them there. I know its not the cool thing to do but thats where I "break the rules". That is also where ALL of my advertising comes from. recomendations from clients who have the disks and permission to print them themselves to save time and money.