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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
Charge/fee for photo montage

X-Mark_A_Foley
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Jun 17, 2003, 3:07 PM

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Charge/fee for photo montage	Can't Post

I was approached to do just a photo montage for a wedding (wedding already happened). I'm curious...as to what some of you may charge...$ per picture? I'm leaning towards $ per per picture (may 2 oe 3 dollars)...more if I have to scan them myself...thoughts?
Mark

X-Tara
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Jun 17, 2003, 3:33 PM

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Re: Charge/fee for photo montage	Can't Post

I haven't jumped head on into the business yet (still lurking these forums and
all), but when I was checking the web for prices I saw one site that charged $4
per photo. I don't remember which site it was, but the impression I got was
that included them (the business) scanning each photo at that price.

X-Coleman
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Jun 17, 2003, 3:34 PM

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Re: Charge/fee for photo montage [In reply to]	Can't Post

$300 for up to 50 photos
$4 per picture after 50
Coleman

X-Crystal
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Jun 17, 2003, 3:38 PM

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Re: Charge/fee for photo montage [In reply to]	Can't Post

That sounds good.
: I was approached to do just a photo montage for a wedding (wedding already happened). I'm curious...as to what some of you may charge...$ per picture? I'm leaning towards $ per per picture (may 2 oe 3 dollars)...more if I have to scan them myself...thoughts?
: Mark

X-Chris
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Jun 17, 2003, 3:55 PM

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Re: Charge/fee for photo montage [In reply to]	Can't Post

250 for upto 40 pics scanned with music dvd or vhs edit master..
Any additional pics after that are 2.50 each.
I scan everything and import into imaginate and scroll..etc on the pics...
btw that price of 250 include effects from pic to pic.
-chris

X-Joel_Peregrine
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Jun 17, 2003, 4:36 PM

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Man, maybe I'm under-charging! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Mark,
I charge $4 per picture with a 50 picture minimum. And I get people deciding to do their own at that price. $3 per picture and I'd be doing them all the time. At least thats what it seems like. I'd say I'm doing about 10 per year. I offer a discount (15%) if they hire me to project it at the rehearsal or reception...
Joel

: I was approached to do just a photo montage for a wedding (wedding already happened). I'm curious...as to what some of you may charge...$ per picture? I'm leaning towards $ per per picture (may 2 oe 3 dollars)...more if I have to scan them myself...thoughts?
: Mark

X-Jenn_M
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Jun 17, 2003, 4:52 PM

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Re: Us too [In reply to]	Can't Post

That is so WEIRD. LIterally, as Brian opened this post, we were discussing how we don't charge enough for these b/c I'm working on one right now. WERID!
Anyway, we only charge $2 per pic (60 pic min.) w/ a set-up fee of $50, which includes the scanning of photos, music, and opening & closing title. We had pan and zoom on most pics, and we had transitions. $2 isn't enough. People give us waaaay too many BAD pictures. It gets redundant and BORING. The only way we can discourage bad pictures or too many boring pics is to charge more.
We only do about 5 of these a year and some years we don't do any! It comes and goes.
Here's my question:
For $4 per pic, do you correct each image in Photoshop, or another application? By "correct" I mean, white balance, red-eye reduction, enhance clarity, etc. Because we have so many pics, it's not worth our time to do this - we do minimal correcting in FCP (color-balance, sharpen, etc). And in this area, people don't seem to care about the quality as much as getting as many pics on there as they can, no matter how many times we try to delicately explain it will be boring to sit and watch too many snaphots of the same people over and over.
I remember seeing demos of your montages, Joel, and they were great! I love the transparent image in the background, etc. It's a nice 'presentation'. But around here, like I said, that doesn't seem to fly. It seems consumers want more more more for their money and they see that in quantity vs. quality. We're trying to find a balance and wondering what others do.
Thanks
-Jenn

X-Dan_Holden
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Jun 17, 2003, 5:06 PM

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Re: Charge/fee for photo montage [In reply to]	Can't Post

I charge $175 for 50 photos, and $2.50 per extra photo. That's for a DVD. The VHS is $125, but no one's getting the VHS lately anyway.
This is included in my middle package as well (so I've been doing a lot of them), and I've gotten it down to a 3-4 hour process, including scanning, color correction, cropping, any misc. photo manipulation... Macros in Photoshop help speed up the process. I use pans and zooms as well. The DVD takes about an hour to process and burn, but that's away from the cpu time, and I have another cpu to work on in the meantime on graphics, business stuff, emails, this forum, so no time is lost there.

X-Billy
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Jun 17, 2003, 7:41 PM

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Re: Us too [In reply to]	Can't Post

: Anyway, we only charge $2 per pic (60 pic min.) w/ a set-up fee of $50, which includes the scanning of photos, music, and opening & closing title. We had pan and zoom on most pics, and we had transitions. $2 isn't enough. People give us waaaay too many BAD pictures. It gets redundant and BORING. The only way we can discourage bad pictures or too many boring pics is to charge more.
I charge $1.75 per pic plus $30.00 setup. I do pretty well at this price (see below). There's another guy in town that charge $9.95/min., which seems dumb. There's others around who are also trying to cash in on this, but I do tons of these every year, probably 50 or more.
: We only do about 5 of these a year and some years we don't do any! It comes and goes.
: Here's my question:
: For $4 per pic, do you correct each image in Photoshop, or another application? By "correct" I mean, white balance, red-eye reduction, enhance clarity, etc.
Here's my method - I don't scan anything, I shoot them with a camera attached to a copy stand mounted on the ceiling directly into the editor where they're video-ready files. I also have a waveform monitor/vectorscope hooked to this and do color correction as I shoot with the proc amp. Once they're in the computer, they're ready to go. I don't do red-eye adjustments at all. With the proc amp you can also do black level adjustments, saturation adjustments, etc. in just a few seconds per pic once you know what you're doing.
I experimented with scanning once, and it takes waaaaay too long. I can capture a photo with the camera setup in 11 seconds, while with the scanner it takes way over a minute. The camera photo is just as good as the scanned photo once it makes it to NTSC.
I also take the "tall" photos and super them with a drop shadow over a background because I hate those solid colored borders around the pics. This takes less than a minute per pic to do, and I try to keep those to a minimum as I'm shooting. Usually about 25% of the total are the tall ones.
About half of the montages we do are about 120 photos and 3 songs, although the biggest one I ever did had over 900 photos. For the ones that have 120 photos it takes us about 4 hours to produce and we get about $250.
We require 2 weeks to produce these so that we can do it in our spare time between other edits. That way my editor (man and machine) stays busy just about all the time.
These are not "cookie-cutter" videos, but they're also not real fancy. But everyone likes them and we get lots of repeat customers, especially the end of the season sports banquet montages.
Regards,
Billy

X-Joel_Peregrine
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Jun 17, 2003, 10:16 PM

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Re: Us too [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Jenn,
: Anyway, we only charge $2 per pic (60 pic min.) w/ a set-up fee of $50, which includes the scanning of photos, music, and opening & closing title. We had pan and zoom on most pics, and we had transitions. $2 isn't enough. People give us waaaay too many BAD pictures. It gets redundant and BORING. The only way we can discourage bad pictures or too many boring pics is to charge more.
I think the growing up sections keep most people interested. What I think makes a photo montage boring is endless pictures of the couple together in different places with the same smiles every time. Even thirty of these couple shots can seem like it takes for ever...
: We only do about 5 of these a year and some years we don't do any! It comes and goes.
: Here's my question:
: For $4 per pic, do you correct each image in Photoshop, or another application? By "correct" I mean, white balance, red-eye reduction, enhance clarity, etc. Because we have so many pics, it's not worth our time to do this - we do minimal correcting in FCP (color-balance, sharpen, etc). And in this area, people don't seem to care about the quality as much as getting as many pics on there as they can, no matter how many times we try to delicately explain it will be boring to sit and watch too many snaphots of the same people over and over.
I shoot with a VX2000 and a close-up adapter to a memory stick @ 640x480. I take them into iPhoto for some quick cropping and then to the timeline in FCP. In FCP I color correct and position them. If an image needs more work, like when it has red eye or damage, I use the 'Open in External Editor' command in FCP. It opens the image in Photoshop (or whatever app you've selected in the prefs). You make your changes there and save it, and the changes are updated right on the timeline. Very handy.
: I remember seeing demos of your montages, Joel, and they were great! I love the transparent image in the background, etc. It's a nice 'presentation'. But around here, like I said, that doesn't seem to fly. It seems consumers want more more more for their money and they see that in quantity vs. quality. We're trying to find a balance and wondering what others do.
Since I started doing them this way I'm definately making less per hour, but most of them are for reception presentations, and I feel like it's an advertising opportunity when it's seen by that many people. I've included a link for what the timeline looks like for these 'cropped with a soft drop shadow over a b&w version of the same picture' photo montages. It's a lot more work than placing images down and then laying transitions on after, but by copying and pasting attributes you can cut the time down considerably...
Joel

X-Corey
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Jun 17, 2003, 10:37 PM

Post #11 of 22 (871 views)
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Second the motion on charging too little! [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have one rendering as we speak. I went way above and beyond the call of duty on this one! Jumpback composites, story telling with titles, some scanning but mostly copystand with my VX2000, and finding and using my own music. I really love how it came out as it is the first montage that I have done that would make since to anyone that watched it. After all, that was the point as it was for a retirement party and I wanted to really tell a story and not just assume everyone knows what she is doing in this picture and where she was at in this picture and so on.
Anyways, back to the money thing I usually charge based on 3 packages. 50 photos for 85, 80 for 100 and 100 for 125. I know it is low already because I also include a DVD in a custum case. This nurse project then really became apparent that the montage would not make since with the usual approach of picture after picture. It basically turned into a photo documentary with a text narrator!
Obviously this does not fit into the project package price that I quoted her but maybe I should have told her what the new price was after I seen the puzzle that I was going to have to put together. Put the puzzle didn't really present itself until I dived in and began to visualize the whole project.
This project should have went for at least $250 but instead I will end up with about $140 for about 8 hours of work, a DVD, a VHS, and a 2 custom cases.
I know you will say lesson learned but the real problem is that I have done many of these and the process for each turns out differently. Maybe this is because I am don't enjoy putting together your basic montage. Thats boring! Its hard to set a standard price when I don't want to produce your standard video!
I sure am glad this forum is here because even if no one reads this, it sure makes for good therapy!

Corey
Memories in Motion
Kansas

X-Coleman
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Jun 17, 2003, 10:47 PM

Post #12 of 22 (870 views)
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Re: Charge/fee for photo montage [In reply to]	Can't Post

We scan ours and then use Imaginate on each picture for super smooth moves. I don't really like to do them so I keep raising my prices. Weddings are so much more profitable and fun.
Coleman

X-M
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Jun 18, 2003, 12:46 AM

Post #13 of 22 (870 views)
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Re: Man, maybe I'm under-charging! [In reply to]	Can't Post

We charge $199 for up to 50 pics then $2 each for over 50, and this is for the basic montage (statick Pics) and $399 for the Deluxe montage (moving Pics) ,ost people got for the montage after they see the difference. Works here.
MArcel
: Hi Mark,
: I charge $4 per picture with a 50 picture minimum. And I get people deciding to do their own at that price. $3 per picture and I'd be doing them all the time. At least thats what it seems like. I'd say I'm doing about 10 per year. I offer a discount (15%) if they hire me to project it at the rehearsal or reception...
: Joel

:
: : I was approached to do just a photo montage for a wedding (wedding already happened). I'm curious...as to what some of you may charge...$ per picture? I'm leaning towards $ per per picture (may 2 oe 3 dollars)...more if I have to scan them myself...thoughts?
: : Mark

X-Jenn_M
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Jun 18, 2003, 2:51 AM

Post #14 of 22 (870 views)
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Re: Thanks everyone for the info [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for the info.
Right now I'm working on a graduation photo montage. Finished one up last week and have another to do next week. This one, though, is tough b/c they gave us 170 pictures. Mostly bad snapshots. That's what brought all this up.
Thanks again
-Jenn
PS Joel - I just love that template!

X-Marcel
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Jun 18, 2003, 4:08 PM

Post #15 of 22 (870 views)
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Re: Us too [In reply to]	Can't Post

We scann all pictures, and take each picture in to photoshop and color correct them and if they lets say have rips tears pen marks, we fix those areas, with the cloning tool, some pictures can take some time to make them look good, but the clients love that we fixed a specail picture for them, I think a 50 pic montage is the right size comes out to about 7-10 minutes long, What i don't like is when I have to do one that is over 50 even tho they pay the $2 per pic, Maybe we should charge $4 to try to cut back on pics.
MArcel
: That is so WEIRD. LIterally, as Brian opened this post, we were discussing how we don't charge enough for these b/c I'm working on one right now. WERID!
: Anyway, we only charge $2 per pic (60 pic min.) w/ a set-up fee of $50, which includes the scanning of photos, music, and opening & closing title. We had pan and zoom on most pics, and we had transitions. $2 isn't enough. People give us waaaay too many BAD pictures. It gets redundant and BORING. The only way we can discourage bad pictures or too many boring pics is to charge more.
: We only do about 5 of these a year and some years we don't do any! It comes and goes.
: Here's my question:
: For $4 per pic, do you correct each image in Photoshop, or another application? By "correct" I mean, white balance, red-eye reduction, enhance clarity, etc. Because we have so many pics, it's not worth our time to do this - we do minimal correcting in FCP (color-balance, sharpen, etc). And in this area, people don't seem to care about the quality as much as getting as many pics on there as they can, no matter how many times we try to delicately explain it will be boring to sit and watch too many snaphots of the same people over and over.
: I remember seeing demos of your montages, Joel, and they were great! I love the transparent image in the background, etc. It's a nice 'presentation'. But around here, like I said, that doesn't seem to fly. It seems consumers want more more more for their money and they see that in quantity vs. quality. We're trying to find a balance and wondering what others do.
: Thanks
: -Jenn

X-Scott_Brooks
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Jun 18, 2003, 6:25 PM

Post #16 of 22 (870 views)
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nice tool [In reply to]	Can't Post

Joel ... didn't even know about the External Editor. Great tip!
I do my photos the same way ... sure beats the scan. However I did have one really bad photo that I wanted to fix before this weekend's projection. It had been torn up pretty bad, but they never said anything (they've seen the montage).
I opened it up in PS Elements an sure'nuf ... I was able to touch it up.
I guess you never know what thread you might pick up on something useful!
Scott

X-Joel_Peregrine
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Jun 18, 2003, 8:01 PM

Post #17 of 22 (871 views)
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Re: nice tool [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey Scott,
I had a great conversation with Ronnie Mystedt. He saw your post on WEVA about my one man show at weddings. The guy is a marketing maniac - which is something I need some help with...
Joel

: Joel ... didn't even know about the External Editor. Great tip!
: I do my photos the same way ... sure beats the scan. However I did have one really bad photo that I wanted to fix before this weekend's projection. It had been torn up pretty bad, but they never said anything (they've seen the montage).
: I opened it up in PS Elements an sure'nuf ... I was able to touch it up.
: I guess you never know what thread you might pick up on something useful!
: Scott

X-George_Loch
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Jun 18, 2003, 10:05 PM

Post #18 of 22 (871 views)
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Re: ahem [In reply to]	Can't Post

And *who* is Ronnie? No name dropping in public forums without more information on them :)
GL
: Hey Scott,
: I had a great conversation with Ronnie Mystedt. He saw your post on WEVA about my one man show at weddings. The guy is a marketing maniac - which is something I need some help with...
: Joel

: : Joel ... didn't even know about the External Editor. Great tip!
: : I do my photos the same way ... sure beats the scan. However I did have one really bad photo that I wanted to fix before this weekend's projection. It had been torn up pretty bad, but they never said anything (they've seen the montage).
: : I opened it up in PS Elements an sure'nuf ... I was able to touch it up.
: : I guess you never know what thread you might pick up on something useful!
: : Scott

X-Joel_Peregrine
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Jun 18, 2003, 11:30 PM

Post #19 of 22 (871 views)
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Re: ahem [In reply to]	Can't Post

George you've got to be great at parties! Ronnie Meystedt is in the Dallas market (I'm sure glad I'm not. Too much good competition.) His site is linked at the bottom.
He's a business person first, videographer second (but obviously a good one), and has built a thriving business from scratch in a year and half. He goes to great lengths to get people on his site. He's got some good ideas. Like 'Bridal Elegance' shoots of the bride in her dress 30 days before the wedding. He then has that playing in a conspicuous spot at the reception on a nice monitor. Next to the monitor is, of course, literature...
Joel

: And *who* is Ronnie? No name dropping in public forums without more information on them :)

X-George_Loch
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Jun 19, 2003, 1:47 AM

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Re: Thanks [In reply to]	Can't Post

I agree. He has some good marketing ideas. Creativity outside of the edit suite can sometimes make you more successful than what's on the tape (sometimes *in spite* of what's on the tape unfortunately). I noticed that his top offering was only 2 cameras. Does that seem to be the 'norm' with wedding packages these days?
Thanks for filling me in and yes, I do enjoy a good party. That's why I'm thinking about going to WEVA ;)
GL

: George you've got to be great at parties! Ronnie Meystedt is in the Dallas market (I'm sure glad I'm not. Too much good competition.) His site is linked at the bottom.
: He's a business person first, videographer second (but obviously a good one), and has built a thriving business from scratch in a year and half. He goes to great lengths to get people on his site. He's got some good ideas. Like 'Bridal Elegance' shoots of the bride in her dress 30 days before the wedding. He then has that playing in a conspicuous spot at the reception on a nice monitor. Next to the monitor is, of course, literature...
: Joel

: : And *who* is Ronnie? No name dropping in public forums without more information on them :)

X-Joel_Peregrine
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Jun 20, 2003, 12:14 AM

Post #21 of 22 (870 views)
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Re: Thanks [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey George,
: I noticed that his top offering was only 2 cameras. Does that seem to be the 'norm' with wedding packages these days?
He was really interested about how I manage three cameras by myself, so I think he may be moving to three cameras soon...
Joel

X-George_Loch
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Jun 20, 2003, 12:40 AM

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Re: Me too [In reply to]	Can't Post

I share in his wonder at how you manage it. I need to watch your demos again - with a careful eye ;)
GL
: Hey George,
: : I noticed that his top offering was only 2 cameras. Does that seem to be the 'norm' with wedding packages these days?
: He was really interested about how I manage three cameras by myself, so I think he may be moving to three cameras soon...
: Joel