RichardJohn Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

Does anyone have experience selling their prints on canvas or metal? I'm getting a lot of requests for some of my pics to be put on canvas/metal and I'm not sure how to structure the pricing, specifically the mark-up. I know what Bay Photo and Canvas on Demand and Costco charge, but not sure of the % of mark-up since I haven't sold my work before. Is there an industry standard? Any suggestions would be so appreciated. Thanks, Rich

PhotoJoe Loc: WASHINGTON

Good question, I'd be curious also.

Capt Bill

Selling a photograph is not like selling a product, e.g a toaster, computer, etc. You might charge x amount of dollars while the guy across town charges 2 or 3 times as much. The rule of thumb is "charge as much as you can get." Discount photographers don't stay in business long.

RichardJohn Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

I agree. Was simply wondering if there was any industry standard I could gauge the pricing by. From what I've gathered so far in the past few hours doing some online research, a 150% mark-up seems to be what a lot of others agree on. So if a canvas costs me $80 to have made, I would sell it for $200. Again, I'm inquiring as to a general basic industry mark up philosophy without getting into a lot of intricate details. Those I can work out myself, ie hours spent, labor involved, shipping, touch-ups, frames, etc. This is strictly sending my photo to have canvassed by someone like Bay Photo, Canvas On Demand, then selling to interested parties. Thanks

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

There is no industry standard. You charge what your skill and reputation can command. A 3X markup would be on the low end.

If your time is worth anything, selling an $80 print for $150 is a loser. I would think it should be at least $250 and that is a bit low. Of course maybe your work could command $800 or just $85.00.

RichardJohn Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

Thanks Captain. This is a new adventure for me but I learn quick. I've noticed some command a 1600% mark-up, but they are generally already established. This is a photo that I have 5 buyers for who want it on canvas. Its 20 X 30 with a .75" wrap. My cost to have it wrapped and shipped was $140.

(Download)

RichardJohn Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

This is the actual finished canvas.

This is just a display model for advertising purposes, hence the website in the lower corner.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Cool image and I can see why the right audience would want one. Personally, I think $500 would be the minimum and $700 would not be out of line.

RichardJohn Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

Thank you very much for your feedback.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

In our type of economy (market) you take what you get, you do not set the price. But that does not mean you have to sell if you can't get what you want. Figure out your costs, and allow a nice profit.

I think MPIX sells metal 16x20 for $100 to me, I sell it to my customer for about $169. So there you go.

I take into consideration that I have to buy a million $ policy every year to cover customer who enter my photo booth, or who may trip over a light stand on a shoot and crack their skull, a camera has a limited life and has to be replaced every 4 years or so, there is travel and meals. A ton of things that have to be considered when pricing your work. But in the end you take what you can get.

Best of luck - hope you sell a lot.

RichardJohn Loc: Huntington Beach, CA

Thanks Capture. Good information. I take mostly beach photos. There isn't a lot of labor for me except driving to the beach, shooting, transferring to my PC, some light editing in LR5, and shoot it off to the canvas company. So I don't have studio costs or some of the other things involved. Its a part time job since I'm already working full time in another field, and I was just hoping to supplement my income and then segue into it becoming full time as I near retirement, which is about a year away. Appreciate your help.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Wow Capture48, that's awful. I would bet if you put a value on your time of even a lousy $15.00/hr, that you are losing money on every $169 sale you make. That does not even begin to factor in insurance, auto expenses, computer and software, camera repair, set-aside for gear replacement, taxes, etc.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

That kind of depends on how many and what you sell. It's not a main seller, but rather something I try to entice customers to add to their purchase. Sometimes I will only offer a photo or two in one of 2 large sizes due to the way it was shot or cropped. I don't sell a lot of that size so I imagine it is priced correctly or I would be selling more. I also use coupons, it lists for 209, but I've never sold one at that price without a coupon, normally 20% off.

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

I use Fineartamerica.I have a few of my photos on canvas & a few on metal on my walls.I get a lot of compliments from family & friends.You don't have to sell your prints there,you can just upload them there & pick what you want your photos printed on.

Robin Poole Loc: Missoula, Mt

Rich, A lot of your prices can be established by your market composition People don't NEED PICTURES. Buying is an emotional decision. Right now things are kinda tuff. Picture buying comes from discretionary income for the mid middle financial class on down and thanks to the gas companies they don't have much. Women do most of the buying. If men see a pic they like, unless its going into THEIR office or room, they'll have to talk to their wife first. As one woman once remarked to me at a crafts show where she was going to buy some hand made jewelry, if you're going to be poor, you'd best look pretty. Ok back to your question what mark up? 2 to 3 times cost is quite do able. Remember, it's easier to drop your price than to raise it .If you are dealing with middle class up, up goes your mark up. The rich like to brag about how much they pay for art work. Give them some thing to brag about Also if you can but from Costco. They do great canvasses. and offer usually half the price of local suppliers and they have great equipment and seasoned personnel who know their products. But don't base your mark up on their cost price. Sell at the local market rate and laugh your way to the bank. Good Luck, Robin PS It seems that aluminum is hot right now and canvasses are cooling. Depends on your location