What to charge for processing and darkroom work?

[DWThomas]

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.

En-n-n-nh, anyone considering this might want to study the fine print. I am not a tax wizard, I don't even pretend to be, but I did make some side money as a sole proprietorship decades ago. I seem to recall there are some guidelines to differentiate between a business and a hobby and it involves showing some profit at least occasionally to be considered a business, just to prevent folks doing as you describe. Of course, as a practical matter, you might get away with it, not because it's legal but because they don't have time and manpower to pursue nickel and dime stuff.

Just my 1.53 after tax cents

 

[pentaxuser]

Just a throwaway line here but in this week's Amateur Photographer magazine in the U.K. a company is advertising processing of a 36 frame trad B&W 135 film for £2.29(about $3.36) and as it's a business is presumably making a profit at this price. This is the lowest price I have yet seen

How this is possible is beyond me and just seeing your thread had stimulated my curiosity about the service. I might do some checking

It just goes to show what you are up against - well in the U.K. at least. Consumers it seems are always tempted by the lowest offer even when the dictum "if it sounds too good to be true it probably is" should be the watchword.

pentaxuser

 

[pbromaghin]

En-n-n-nh, anyone considering this might want to study the fine print. I am not a tax wizard, I don't even pretend to be, but I did make some side money as a sole proprietorship decades ago. I seem to recall there are some guidelines to differentiate between a business and a hobby and it involves showing some profit at least occasionally to be considered a business, just to prevent folks doing as you describe. Of course, as a practical matter, you might get away with it, not because it's legal but because they don't have time and manpower to pursue nickel and dime stuff.

Just my 1.53 after tax cents

It is perfectly legitimate to lose money in a business, or to have expenses in failing to get one started. Just fill it all out on Schedule C and follow all the rules as laid out in the Sch. C instructions regarding "material participation" and you'll be fine. But you are correct that the IRS is not in the business of supporting hobbies and one must make sure to properly qualify as a business activity. I am not suggesting abuse of the rules or operating outside the law, merely exploitation of existing law.

 

[urs100]

i enlarge any of your negs to 11x14 or 12x16the best of my ability for $100plus shipping. cant do it for less or i go hungry.

Dear Ralph, is that for FB or RC print? How do you price square prints?

 

[theseasideartist]

bump-
any advice on 2013 prices-
what to charge as per above post-

what to charge for clients whom you photograph in a session-

say $850? for session
then 20 x24 fiber prints-[maybe 18x18 sq on 20 x24 paper]
I do not want to undercut others who are already working in film and fiber-
thanks

 

[mopar_guy]

Cost of paper for the final print,
Cost of paper for proofs/test prints,
Cost of Developer, Stop, Fixer, toning,
Cost to develop film,
Cost of your time,
Cost for the use of your Equipment (cameras, darkroom, lighting, etc),
Cost of the studio/space/location...

This sound a bit high end. If it was me, I would have a frank and earnest discussion of what your price would be and what the "client" would receive in return. Putting it all in writing (a contract) would be a good idea.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

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.

I don't know about scanning, but I was getting $12 per RC 8x10 black&white in the 80s and early 90s. The worst thing you can do is underprice yourself.

 

[theseasideartist]

Hi Mopar Guy,

Yes - this is high end- million dollar beach homes, yatchs, etc-

I was thinking 8 to 10 rolls of 120 in RB67-
5,6,7 hour session
whatever it takes-

then make the prints-one at a time - in wet lab- by hand-

Handcrafted by the artist-

marketed as boutique

I didn't want to undercut any other artists working in this style- which is why I am asking for pricing advice of the prints-


I had also been considering a mini-session: maybe 3 rolls of 120 and a one hour session-maybe up to two hours ?
This would be ideal for toddlers on the beach - or perhaps as an intro to silver gel fiber prints and a film based workflow.

No scans, no computer, no photoshop- Just traditional wet lab methods and alternative photography.

Granted - it is not for everyone; I guess I am looking for those clients who might like something a bit different, quirky,fun.

I am also working on a film based doc idea, and large fiber prints of surf and beach culture.
This would be a self funded documentary, and of course prints probably made on spec-
so I would love to hear imput and advice from those already selling this way- so as not to undercut fellow artists in the Outer Banks region.


My overhead costs are low, and my raw material CODB is similar to others purchasing film, chem, and paper-
so I guess it all goes back to marketing and the lifestyle we chose to live.

We can sell our art cheap and be the starving artist or we can price our art at rates that will afford us a decent living.

The choice is ours, hobby, business, follow your heart, follow your passion.

For me- I just love shooting film in vintage cameras from the 50's and 60's, and I hope I can find clients who think it is cool too !