How much to charge for a print?

Hi guys...need to pick your brains again!!

A lady from one of the photography clubs I belong to wants to buy one of my prints as a present for her daughter, as she's sure she'll love it.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled about this! She spotted it amongst my exhibition prints and said she had to have a copy.

I sold my first ever print last week to a close friend, but only charged her the printing costs as I know full well that she's really hard up studying for her course and barely making ends meet.

This is the first time I actually need to think about pricing, as the lady who wants to buy the print says she'll pretty much pay the going rate for it, only I don't know what the going rate is

The print is a 20 x 25 enlargement of one of my puffin shots, if that helps She's going to mount and frame it herself as she owns an art gallery and does picture framing, so price will be print only. I don't want to overcharge, but don't want to sell myself short either.

Just wondering what those of you who are pro / semipro usually charge, if it's not too rude to ask!

I think this is always a difficult one, prices vary so much - I guess it boils down to this: how much would you like to sell it for and how much do you think you can realistically get for it.. then find a happy medium somewhere in between?

I'd try and find other places selling similar prints and see what they're charging, to help give you an idea of what you could get.

Thanks Azz....will have a look round the local art shops and see what they're going for there

Andy Rouse charges £70 plus for his....but then he can get away with it!!

Pricing anything depends on the cost of producing in the first place. May I suggest you not only consider the printing/mounting of the picture but the personal cost of taking the picture in the first place.

As a guide retailers usually add about 33%+ to the wholsale cost, however I would say a 10% profit at least would not be unreasonable expectation.

Therefore an amount to charge is up to you as only you know your costs involved but a one off is usually more than selling several copies

Bazza

As Bazza states it really should be a mathematical equation which takes into account your time in taking the image, your time in getting the image processed and printed, depreciation of your equipment, actual costs to you (printing, mounting etc.) and then a percentage for your profit.

Personally I charge the following for images purchased from my web site of events I attend. 7x5 £6:00, 9x6 £8, 12x8 £10, 16x12 £25. Therefore if someone wanted a 20x25 print I would charge £35. All orders are subject to £3.99 postage and packaging.

Hope that helps

Steve

Thanks both That's really helpful

I sell a 16 x 20 wedding print for £70, but as said the choice is really yours but do think carefully because if more peoplewant your pics in the future you have to set a level.

This is difficult at any time not helped by the fact the lady involved is in the business of selling prints herself. However she has not asked to purchase a set of prints for resale so you are entitled to charge for a single print.

Do not know about Jo but weddings are a bit different as the are normally charged as a package plus and extra prints, in your case the going rate would seem to be in the £35 to £45 area charging a good deal more if the work is commissioned in any way.

Congratulations on your sale if is a shame you have to think how much to sell it for but once done you are ready for the future.

As indeed weddings are different as I am the only one who 'holds' the photograph.

Are you selling it as a limited edition or if someone else wanted it would you sell it to them?

Also if this lady owns a gallery perhaps you could tell her your prob and she would assist in your future pricing probs. If she is proffessional she will help you and then maybe it would be worth selling it to her possibly a bit cheaper for some help in the future. [always good to make contacts]

Thank you!! I'm still delighted that she wanted it!! Wendy (lady buying the print) doesn't really sell her own photography as yet, because she's an artist first and foremost and mostly sells originals rather than prints, so she didn't really know what the going rate was either

I'm tempted to charge her a bit less as she is a very useful contact as well as being lovely...owning her own gallery is a bit of a bonus!