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What to charge for processing and darkroom work?

edcculus

Member
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Joined
May 13, 2012
Messages
271
Location
Greenville S
Format
Multi Format
I've had a coworker and a few friends/aquantainces approach me about what I would charge to develop (B&W only) film and make some prints. I'd never really considered it so I said I'd have to look around and see what the going rate was. I've looked at Richard Photo Lab, and TheDarkroom.com to see what they charge.

The people asking would more than likely only be shooting 35mm. I'm iffy about offering scanning negs. Leaning towards not. Since this isn't a full blown business, here is what I'm thinking:

Processing
$15/roll 135 film. Customer gets developed negatives and a contact sheet on RC paper. Negatives will be stored in a Print File negative page. If they really want scanning, I'll probably tack on $5 per roll.

Prints
8X10 - $30 fibre, $15 RC per image. Duplicate prints $5 less.
I'd offer other sizes as well, smaller and larger than 8X10. I'm just using that as a base point.

Does that sound fair? My idea is to cover the cost of chemistry and paper, then have a little left. I wouldn't be doing a ton, but it woud be nice to do enough to completely offset the cost of my chemistry and paper in the darkroom.
 
No way I would scan and save 36 frames for $5.
It's fair if they like your quality, attention, and how much you (and others) value your time and skill.

It's the point of any business to make a profit for food, shelter, and modest fun times. ( or not so modest, I guess ).
 
Yea, scanning negs is a PITA, which is really why I'm not to hot on doing it at all. I really bought the scanner to scan in finished prints to put in my gallery online.
 
I think if you're offering a quality service, $15 is OK. You can certainly get it done for less, but if you're offering a good service, with push/pull options etc. Then it's a decent price I think.
 
15-17$ per 135-36 roll is reasonable -- be sure and be ready to add in shipping. When I do developing for work it's 8$ per roll just to develop.
 
Its mostly going to be coworkers, friends and other acquaintances to start with. I'll float the $15 for develop and contact print and see how its received.

The idea would be that I could provide the service to local B&W hobbyists that dont have darkroom access, just don't want to bother with the darkroom, or don't want to bother with the added shipping costs of sending it to a lab.

Unless they drop off 20 rolls for me to develop, I would offer any push/pull or any other customization they need.
 
Are your co workers fully aware of what's involved? If not, they will be comparing your prices with mini-lab prices and feel you are extremely expensive. I can see 30 dollar for FB and 15 for RC but if you have to do any manipulations (dodge, burn, etc), I don't think you can do it for that.
 
batwister said:
View attachment 63682
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One BILLION dollars!!

Processing one or two rolls takes a minimum of thirty minutes. Add to that the time mixing chemistry, cutting and sleeving negs, drying time, the time it takes to fill out the order, process the payment, handle your book keeping, client communications, etc. Photographers never charge enough!
 
Thanks for the response everyone!

I floated $8 for developing and $15 for develop and contact print. ~$30 for a 8X10 RC print. He seemed to think it was pretty fair, so I'll go from there. Apparently, there is nowhere in town that develops B&W. One camera shop sends out film, but they only do it every 2 weeks. None of the minilabs/CVS/Walgreens etc will develop B&W. They send it out, but I don't know turn time. So, even if it takes me a few days to process an order, I'm still faster than anyone in town.
 
Be sure you make an agreement up-front about what happens when (and it's inevitable that it will happen sooner or later) you make a mistake.
 
pdeeh said:
Be sure you make an agreement up-front about what happens when (and it's inevitable that it will happen sooner or later) you make a mistake.
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Yes, I was thinking about that last night when remembering an ill fated experience while loading a reel. Lets just say the film didn't survive.

Also, just to be clear, this is not a full fledged business and probably will never really get to that point.
 
I roast coffee as a hobby. Occasionally I'll part out a batch in small jars to friends. At one point, several different people asked me to roast larger quantities for them, so I started charging with much the same goal as you: cover my own consumption.

Didn't work out . . . Roasting when I want to roast is fun. Roasting because I have to have a pound of this and two half-pounds of that in a couple days is a pain, and sucks the joy right out of it. I'd recommend against doing hobbies for pay unless your enjoyment is VERY resilient against deadlines.

Though, if you're curious, you can still see the "friends and family order page" I put up with my stock at the time here: http://sehrgut.co.uk/coffee/ .
 
edcculus said:
Also, just to be clear, this is not a full fledged business and probably will never really get to that point.
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No, I realise that - but when people give you money for a service they can have a habit of thinking of you as a business as well as (or instead of) a friend or acquaintance. Even more so if you start to do work for people you don't know!

On the other hand, you may be catching a wave and end up a wealthy entrepreneur ...
 
Back when my daughter was a gymnast I used to print 8x10 action shots of other girls on the team and give them to their parents. Lots of them wanted to pay me but I refused. If you take money for something you are selling them the right to complain. And I ain't takin' no complaints!
 
How does the IRS see this idea? It would be unfortunate to get a large fine for your hobby.

To figure out a charge you would best add up your costs, rather than look at others in the market. If your costs are too high in relation to the alternatives then best not to start. Don't forget depreciation on all the equipment used. Typically a residual value of zero after three years, or possibly five. Also, applicable health and safety rules (including documentation, if required) over chemical purchase, storage and disposal?

I'd suggest you should be charging a lot more, or zero. If you 'charge' zero make an accurate breakdown of costs (not including time, as this is not a business, right?), show it to the potential customers and suggest that the customers make a donation to cover your costs?
 
in the commercial world people usually mark things up 3x cost

1=cost
1=overhead
1-profit

in the case of photofinishing it might be a little more
because waste disposal is included in the overhead.

if you have a mini lab near you, or a school, or a household waste recovery center ... you might
see if you can bring your photo waste to them ( and figure out what to do
with your wash water ) ... and have everything recorded so if / when people
who aren't your clients / friends knock on your door and wonder what you are doing
with your "tailings" you can show them exactly what you are doing.
where i used to live people would be fined lots of $$ for not paying attention to this sort of thing.

good luck with your business!

- john
 
You can always go buy all the cool stuff you want, start your business, and when it fails write it all off on Schedule C of your 1040. It makes a nice discount equal to your highest marginal tax rate and you get to keep the stuff.
 
I scanned 4 slides on my Imacon today and charged $5 each. Kodachrome has nice colors.
 
I charge $10 per roll just to soup film in D-76, and $7.50 for cutting and sleeving in a print-file page and contact printing an 8x10 on RC. I do not scan, don't own a scanner(or even want to own one). I have a regular list of clients who use my services, most have their own scanners, though I ocassionally print for them as well. Prices for finished prints is variable depending on size of print plus amount of work involved to obtain it.
 
Don't forget to price in the extravagant cost of "environmental" compliance, which will apply to you once you act as a business.
 
is that price for a RC print? How about square prints?
 
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