The Price Is Right? LF LPT? (Cost of Photos Taken by Pop-Up Shop at Shopping Centre)

ruthlesskid on 18/04/2019 - 07:00
Last edited 18/04/2019 - 10:29 by 1 other user

Hi fellow OzBargainers! I have been bewildered by a quote given to my wife by a photographer.

A fortnight ago, my wife took the offer from pop-up photographers in the shopping center to take portraits of my kids. They spent 5 mins convincing my wife to do the photo, and the session lasted about 20 mins in their setup. They asked for a $50 deposit and will give her options to buy some photos and keychains. Wife purchased $50 dollar worth of keychains, with a single 5” x 7” enlargement photo.

Fast-forward to yesterday, after inspecting several of the shots on keychains, she asked the about cost to buy the photos on USB. To which she was told it would cost $3000 to buy, yep three thousand dollars!

I Have done some quick research online and asked a friend who has done similar studio kids shoots, the price can vary. The pop-up store had 2 people there, some props and clothing with a backdrop.

Any LPT on saving money from the community would be great, as I have no intention to pay the asking price. What do you guys think is a reasonable price for half dozen decent shots on USB?

Background context: I have spent well over $3k on camera gears, takes half decent landscapes and portraits for family and friend’s weddings. I think taking photos for children and animals are the hardest to do, the pop-up photographers did a fine job. I am just unsure if it warrants the asking price. Any Protips/insider would like to shed some light? I am tempted to give them a call and use the +5 banter skills that I hopefully pick up here,

TLDR; Is $3000 for photos on USB the right price for a 30min pop-up photo-shoot in the shopping center?

Poll Options expired

  • 4
    Yes, the Price is right.
  • 22
    No, the Price is not right.
  • 2
    Give me a better bargain!
General Discussion

Comments

  • JimmyF on 18/04/2019 - 07:58

    The pop-up store had 2 people there, some props and clothing with a backdrop.
    They spent 5 mins convincing my wife to do the photo, and the session lasted about 20mins in their setup

    Your $50 dollars would have been lucky to have covered wages of 2 people for 30 mins each. Let alone all the other costs of business and the 'shopping center' tax (aka hefty rent).

    Wife purchased $50 dollar worth of keychains, with a single 5” x 7” enlargement photo.

    Again, not huge profits for them, but more than above for sure.

    buy the photos on USB. To which she was told it would cost $3000

    Now this is were all the profit comes from!

    Agreed $3k is a over the top, but I see how they got there. All the other services are loss leaders, so do 10 photo sessions in the hope that 1 buys the USB etc.

    What are you buying though? The rights to the photos to use how you like?

    Did you try to negotiate the price down?

    I Have done some quick research online and asked a friend who has done similar studio kids shoots, the price can vary.

    Did you research the costs of buying rights to the photos? So many people get caught out with wedding photos when they find out they don't own the rights/get a copy of all the photos taken for their own use and have to keep going back to the photographer to get copies!

    • ruthlesskid on 18/04/2019 - 10:09

      Thank you for the breakdown advice.
      So, I should attempt for a negotiation?
      Any LPT on getting a better price in this situation? :p

      • JimmyF on 19/04/2019 - 11:18

        So, I should attempt for a negotiation?

        Yes, there is always room for negotiation. At the end of the day, the 'work' has been done by them. So these photos are the profit.

        As Above $3k is crazy too much, but I would still be expecting to pay $1000-1500 even after negotiations.

  • Hellfire on 18/04/2019 - 08:09
    +6

    They don't want to sell you the digital copies which is why they are so expensive. They want to sell more prints. Your wife has probably cost them money with what she bought.

    Many photographers operate a similar model. The originals are very costly because they know you'll get your prints for a fraction of the price elsewhere.

    • Gronk on 18/04/2019 - 08:56

      This…

    • ruthlesskid on 18/04/2019 - 10:19

      I was thinking what's the hurt of them selling it at 500? They might get 1 out of 5 buying instead 1 out of 10

      • Gronk on 18/04/2019 - 10:53
        +2

        Those numbers don't really add up, I'd rather 1 in 10 @ $3000 than 2 in 10 @ $500/ea.

        To me, comes down to leverage and the studio has most of it in this situation. You both have something the other wants - you have money and the studio has your photos, but if you want those photos then you can only go back to that specific studio whereas for the studio every Joe is a potential customer so they can just play the numbers game.

        • ruthlesskid on 18/04/2019 - 15:52

          I agree with the number game.
          What do you think is a fair amount that I should tell them to take it or walk away?

      • Hellfire on 18/04/2019 - 11:57
        +1

        At 3000 they probably don't get any buyers. Even at $500 it's unlikely many would buy them.

  • orangetrain on 18/04/2019 - 09:13
    +1

    Explain to you wife about copyright releases and agreeing on it before payment.

    More information: https://enviragallery.com/print-release-vs-copyright-release…

    • ruthlesskid on 18/04/2019 - 15:44

      Very interesting read, did not think about such issues.

  • MeesusEff on 18/04/2019 - 11:03
    +1

    Why not just book your wife in for a proper photoshoot with people that have outright pricing, definitely will be cheaper than $3k and better than a 30 min store photoshoot lol.

    • ruthlesskid on 18/04/2019 - 15:51
      +1

      Looking into buying ones of those 1-hour photoshoots in red balloon, USB files included. $500

  • [Deactivated] on 18/04/2019 - 11:34
    +2

    Opportunistic behaviour.

    It is perfectly legal and that's why I don't deal with popup stores. If I want something, I'll do my research and go buy it.

    Impulse purchase, especially from popup stores, is a poor decision.

    • ruthlesskid on 18/04/2019 - 15:44

      Yes, the wife is a sucker for a bargain.

  • adam on 18/04/2019 - 11:34
    +1

    Sounds like they've put a price of $3k on it so they don't ever have to sell it (because I don't think anyone will pay that), because if they just had a policy of not providing digital versions then they would spend too much time arguing with people.

    We had photos taken off our kids at various sessions growing up, some of which we paid for, some of which we didn't. Regardless I scanned in the sample photos (the ones with hole punches in them to stop you using them) and I would say that the sample photos with hole punched in them are just as valuable to us now (15+ years later) as the one that we paid lots of money for. Summary: any photos are useful.. don't need to pay lots to a photographer unless you want to make it into an art work to hang on the wall.

  • rompastompa on 18/04/2019 - 11:42
    +2

    Any LPT on saving money from the community would be great.

    Either spend $3k on a decent camera (like https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/445665 and a decent lens) or;
    Spend $3k on a small holiday, take pictures with your phone - get printed at HN, or BigW etc. Real life fun photos are better than staged modeling.

    I don't agree with their business plan, but it obviously works. They get you to 'fall in love' with pictures of your loved ones. It's basically emotional blackmail.

    • ruthlesskid on 18/04/2019 - 15:46

      Thanks for the advice, although I already have something quite equivalent to the AIII.
      Have taken many holiday photos for the kids, but never modeled like a studio.
      I have to contemplate how to negotiate a better price.

  • kolorijo on 18/04/2019 - 12:25

    Get a new wife

    • ruthlesskid on 18/04/2019 - 15:48
      +1

      I loled.
      But would not change a thing about her or the kids, (not that if it's even possible)

  • abb on 18/04/2019 - 12:48
    +1

    You can always try and negotiate - to them a sale is better than no sale.

    Or, you could buy an umbrella, light stand, and remote flash for under $1k if you don't already have them and take the photos yourself ;)

    • ruthlesskid on 18/04/2019 - 15:50

      I actually already own a moderately powerful flash($400+) and remote trigger.
      Missing the umbrella and props.

  • Fier2 on 18/04/2019 - 16:03
    +1

    A year ago, i was almost "tricked" by the same company as your wife. As if you do some research this is always the same company in all the shopping center around the country. They basically told me $75 for each print or they got 3 packages from $550 to $1950 for usb. I asked them if i could take a day to think about it. The lady try to get me sign on a plan if i couldn't afford to pay it one go. Told her that it wasn't the issue but just need to think about it. She told me she might be not here with the pictures tomorrow. I was fine and told her to throw them away then.Nonetheless to say she try to bring the price down and told me to come back the next day. I just walk off.

    If you want some beautifull pictures of your kids and family, try facebook or a proper studio. You will see that none of them have price near $3000. It s way lesser. And then it will depend on if you want them to print the picture (which of course will incure a price) or just get them on usb ( price can vary from $250 to $1000 for 20 digital pictures). And most of independant photographer will offer you to take pictures wherever you feel comfortable.

    • orangetrain on 18/04/2019 - 21:54

      How do I invite Facebook to my family outings?

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