How to price wedding albums??

[edleg]

My problem is figuring out how much to charge for albums and clone albums. For the original album I figure I could set a price of $cost x2 plus labor for the hours to design and build that into the package price. But how about the clones for parents, friends, etc.? The album is already designed (cloned) and in the same format (square). Do I do a $cost x a % markup.... or a $cost plus a fixed $$$ markup?

Example: Say a clone album cost me $200 delivered to me. Would you do a $200 x 50% markup = $300, or whatever percentage, .... or a $200 cost plus $$$ profit amount?

The idea is to make extra $$$ by encouraging orders of extra albums which have already had the labor paid for in the original design and package. I don't want to get greedy, but I don't want to give them away, either.

[Unkl Buck]

If you don't want to give them away, don't charge what you do. I couldn't begin to make an album for $200. From a reputable vendor, a good album will run you that or more.

[edleg]

I was NOT talking about the original design of albums... those may run $1400 - $4000 dollars depending on the type, size and number of sides/pages.

I was referring to CLONED albums for the parents or friends of the B&G.

Since I have already recouped the labor of the design... the only cost is the cost of physically ordering another CLONE of the original album... either same size or smaller. Basically I want to incorporate those into a package deal and was wondering what is a good return on my COG for the clones.... a % markup or a flat $$$ markup per album. Without getting too greedy, but still getting some add-on $$$.

[edleg]

Oh... and the cloned albums would be strictly part of a package or a pre-paid order by parents, relatives, friends, etc. So I would have the money up-front and order, inspect and then forward on to the customer.

[Unkl Buck]

In that case, I would still charge something comparative to the original album. For example, if you charge $2000 for the bride & grooms, I would charge $800 or more for the clone.

I struggle with this too. I don't want to price it too cheap, yet I don't want to make it too much that the parents don't order one and go off and make one of their own. Oh, the joys. Sorry I'm of not much help.

[Mark McCall]

I agree with Mark.

Your watering down the implied value of the parent book by concentrating on the fact that the design work is already done.
Your client certainly doesn't see it that way.

Years ago, we were charging $500 for an 8x10 parent book until I found out a buddy of mine was getting $1,000. I almost fell over.
After a little market research, we found out we were the cheapest parent album supplier in the market. DAMN.

Didn't take long to fix that bug in the price list.

[edleg]

Old style versus new style albums require diferent amounts of labor (COG). I agree not to de-value the parent albums.... but, when they are printed by an outside lab (not assembled picture by picture, page by page) then there is a real cost savings to the studio/photographer of the CLONED parent/gift albums. If the parents want to make changes in the album (like just include pics of "their" side of the family) then there is NO discount... they get charged the regular rates for design and printing.

I think in the end I am trying to add more value to higher end packages without giving away too much by having reasonable priced add-ons... I have decided not to advertise in the low-end wedding market anymore, and there really is not a middle market... just low end shoot & burn and high-end wedding packages.

[Mike_e]

Have you considered trying to sell them in the package at a discounted price (compared to the "full" () price if they are ordered later)?

Always nice to get some commitment, ya know?