Race-Day photos - Am I being a jerk? (Page 4)

I love these threads...LOL

Coming from a business background, I'll just say this...even though the pricing doesn't make sense to most of us...we have to assume the business owner is not an idiot.  They know that 90% of the racers think their prices are ridiculous...but they have come to the conclusion that their pricing scale is what will profit them the most money.  It's not like your race's photographer is the only one charging high prices...they all do.  So there must be some proven business model.  Unless for some reason all photographers are so consumed by their work that they suddenly don't like to maximize profits.

I don't think your photographer will take the deal...because like others said, word will soon get out, and many others will want the same deal...or make their own negotiation.  What if I only want one picture in electronic file?  How much is that worth?  $10?  $10 is better than $0, right?

What I think photographers should offer, and is more reasonable, is a cheaper package to offer...say...8 months after the race.  If they can't make a sale within the first few months of a race...chances are, they never will.  If they slashed their prices by 30-50% well after the race is over, I think that would be fair.

Or...the best solution if you want cheap race photos...have someone go out there and take them for you personally. 

how is this a better deal?  photographers can print photos very cheap.  they can protect their art better that way too.  you are being a bit of a jerk fighting with every person that posts in this thread, for sure.

nicely put, megan...

every business follows that model... that's what dictates pricing structure, not how much time and materials were put into producing the item

supply and demand.. in essence, she is negotiating when she determines what SHE believes people are willing to pay and I'm sure she reasseses her pricing structure periodically to allow for market fluctuations...

I can easily scan a picture, at a pretty high quality.  A printed photo offers no protection.  Heck, you can even do it at Target or wherever they have a photo kiosk. 

Edit: not legally, of course, but that rarely stops the average joe.

Edited by BikerGrrrl 2010-06-23 12:15 PM

 just to quote myself 

 would people be interested in the bolded, if someone approached you at the race, gave you a business card, where you would email back your race number?? to see if there were any pics of you??

ditto

ditto

you are being a bit of a jerk fighting with every person that posts in this thread, for sure.

WTF?  I'm fighting with NO ONE.  I'm stating my case, and saying I won't hold ANY hard feelings if she (photog) declines my offer (which was also presented, respectfully).

Why should we (participants) be forced to pay for a block of photos.....when we only want a select few?

Edited by nc452010 2010-06-23 12:34 PM

This user's post has been ignored.

Edited by PennState 2010-06-23 12:48 PM

That's mature, Fred.  What does the "P" stand for in PM?

 

Edited by nc452010 2010-06-23 12:50 PM

In the art world.  Kind hard to explain. 


It's a business, and for good photography, it's a pretty expensive business. For those thinking that race photographers and driving bentlys, you're sorely mistaken.

It's not a 9-5 job, there is lots of post processing, lots of gear....and the MOST import thing....if photography was 'easy' everyone would be doing it and it would be cheap (im not talking point and shoot flickr, but actual sports photography.

I used to do a side business of pinstriping old cars and such at car shows....every so often I'd get someone bickering about the price for only 5 minutes of actual work. I'd hand them the brush and say 'here you can do it then'    

 sure it only took 5 minutes of work to put a design on someones car, but that doesnt count the 10000 hours to master the skill, the supplies, etc. etc. etc. 

I start cutting my prices in half, im basically saying i'm worthless.  

word

It's microeconomics at work.  They picked the price to make the most money, as any reasonable business with a monopoly would do, at the point where the marginal cost equals marginal profit.  You see the similar effect in food pricing at sporting events.  Sure they would sell more by lowering the price, but overall they would make less money.

Just a few thoughts. I'm sure that the price has been determined to take into account the amount if time the photographer spent at the race, any special equipment (like quality high speed glass) and the after effort to edit, improve, and categorize. They probably then assume that x many people will purchase and from there set the price. I wonder whether they also had to market themselves to get the gig or had to pay a fee to the coordinator or even be a sponsor to get the job. It comes down to options. If they knew they'd sell more the price point could be lower. Or if they found a way to make it more self serve they could cut their costs which would hopefully lower the cost again. If it were me and a bunch of people suggested a lower price option, i'd figure out a way to provide premium service at price x and some lower cost service at price x- . So give the feedback but plan on getting something "less" for the lower price. And keep in mind that prtining photos vs cutting a cd isn't a material difference in the cost/effort. All the time to take the pics, the cost, the editting etc is still invested regardless of the delivery.

If she does it for you, the flood gates will open and everyone will want to negotiate.

If everyone wants to negotiate, the photographer will raise prices in order to compensate for low-ballers.

*The photographer has nothing to lose except a few megabites of memory...which will be simply erased if you don't buy the photos. The photographer didin't print photos and is sitting there hoping that you buy them.

Only a tiny percent of racers need to buy photos to cover the photographers costs for the entire event...the rest is gravy.

NOW... Do I agree that the prices for these photos are high - yes I do!
Would I like to negotiate - yes I would !
Di I expect that to happen? - No I don't.

Whoa - this thread just took a turn! I'm going to sit back quietly with a bag of popcorn and watch this unfold. (For what it's worth, I didn't think anyone was fighting, just thought people were expressing and clarifying opinions.)


Edited by ToeKnail 2010-06-23 1:55 PM

The question asked in the subject is "am I being a jerk?"

No, but this guy is...




To the original question:
Wow, $90!?  Who pays that?!

Wouldn't the photographer get like 10x more customers selling CD's for $20 each?  Who buys prints anymore?

Another question is why isn't a picture included in the race fee? The race I'm doing this weekend charged an arm and a leg to register.



Edited by Apotheosis 2010-06-23 2:00 PM

How much should I tip my photographer?  Is it a percentage based on the price they requested, the price I negotiated, or is it a flat fee? 










> pot stirred

That's pretty much trash talkin' right there...low blow...

Which is why folks resort to raising their prices ;-)

This thread is useless without pictures.

I agree that this "seems" true...but if it were actually true, then you would also have to assume that all photographers hate money.

go look, i posted them;-)

its very hard to protect jpeg's especially if you are relying on some sort of watermark which is extremely easy to fix with a little know how (id be happy to do it for any1 as well for no charge). No hes not being a jerk asking for $50 what does it hurt in him asking? If its in the owners better interest to take 0 then they will take 0, in hard times like this i cant imagine them selling him 1 or 2 pics for $50 though.

Maybe he should charge her for taking pictures of him?

Edited by mkarr0110 2010-06-23 2:11 PM