How do you charge for scans and copies

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

03/18/2004 03:05:26 AM · #1

One of the many areas of photography that I enjoy is scanning, and or repairing images. Many folks have only one small photo that they would like reproduced or in one case a partially torn wrinkled photo that is all that was left after a house fire. How would you charge for these services. Should I establish an hourly rate, plus materials? How do I charge for a part of an injet cartriage? Thanks for any info you might supply.

Flash

Nikon D700

03/18/2004 04:06:26 AM · #2

I charge 15 dollars for an 8x10. Scanned, edited, printed.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

03/18/2004 04:53:50 AM · #3

I'd establish a basic price list for certain types of work. I.e., increasing amounts of damage repair cost more. Or you could establish a base per image plus per hour rate.

For print costs - work out how many prints you get from a cartridge, for a particular size of print. Work out how much your paper costs per sheet. Divide through to work out your consumable base costs, then work out how much profit you need. You can include the cost of the printer / computer or not in that calcuation.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

03/18/2004 04:56:07 AM · #4

I charge $35/hr with min of one hour and then charge separately for the prints.

03/18/2004 04:32:27 PM · #5

Thanks for the information everyone. I charged $25 for two 8 x 10's , 1 81/2 x 11 picture package of the same enlargement. It needed very little work to go from wallet to 8 x 10. Sounds like I may still be low. Will have to count how many prints I get from the Epson 925. Thanks again.

David Paulissen

03/18/2004 04:38:15 PM · #6

You also have to consider the lifetime of the print you are charging for. I wouldn't charge a whole more than you mentioned for a dye based inkjet print that is only going to last a few years before fading.

Depends a lot on the quality of the print you are charging for (and the paper, and the ink and so on)

Message edited by author 2004-03-18 21:44:59.

03/18/2004 04:41:51 PM · #7

Thanks Gordon. I use premium Epson paper but it is still ink jet. I guess if I provided a CD with the image I might charge a bit more and provide a much more permanent product to the customer. The Epson is however supposed to outlast color prints accoding to my reading but I have not had one for 25 years yet. LOL. Thanks for all the feedback. I do enjoy the work.

David Paulissen

03/18/2004 04:50:46 PM · #8

Yup, its about 10 years with the Premium papers and about 25 with the colorlife and heavyweight matte papers. The photo papers with the standard inks, under UV glass have ratings of about 1 year now, or 6 years if you use the new lightfast Epson inks.

Certainly handing out a CD can be good but has its own longevity and format compatibilty issues (find someone who can read a 5 1/4" floppy drive now that won't charge you a fortune - and that's not 25 years old)

03/18/2004 05:10:52 PM · #9

It may soon be hard to have a print from a negative? Thanks for your insight. Sounds like I need to do some more reading a figuring.