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Photographer's album question
Question:
Do they have an online ordering system, or is it a storefront? Just asking, since you didn’t include a URL. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve been with Michel Company ever since. Free studio die, free stamping, > free shipping, 60% off AI’s cover stamping costs. When one order was > wrong, they fixed it immediately. I like ‘em. My clients like ‘em. > You’ll like ‘em.
Response:
> Our photographer told me the cost differenct (to him) between the cheap > album and the best album was $260. I was shocked.
Actually I’m shocked at this as well — because the range is actually much greater. Perhaps this photographer has a very limited selection. The cheapest so-called professional album is from the Taprell Loomis company, consisting of paper pages and simulated leather cover which are bound by a flimsy brass hinge. You can make the album as large as you want, but over a certain size and it twists out of shape very easily. Then you bet into various Art Leather types with snap-in pages and either fake leather or real leather covers. These are reasonably nice books, although the cheaper cover is like your shower curtain. Then come the library bound flush and matted albums which are bound like a custom made book. The matted are the nicest designs, and three companies in the US – Capri, Leather Craftsman, and Zookbinders – take the photographer’s prints and permanently mount them. High-end suede and glove leather covers and custom gold or silver embossing is offered. Zookbinders has a new thing involving computer design of the customized page layout by the photographer. So comparing the lowest to highest, difference is at least $300 and possibly $600. The higher end album also takes lots of photographer labor to prepare, where the low end can be put todether by the customer.
Response:
kyoto wrote… > I’m starting to look into getting a photographer for our wedding. > At first, I wanted the photographer to put together the book, > simply because I can’t see myself getting around to it in a > timely manner. I’ve put together many books, but this is our > wedding, not old vacation photos. But, in doing my research, > I’ve found they charge so much to put together the book. So, > my question is, do they do something special that the ‘average’ > person can’t do themselves? Is it worth the expense? Will my > photos disintegrate if I do the album myself?
I don’t know of any photographers who charge separately for "assembly" though it certainly may happen. What you’re probably seeing is how expensive professional wedding albums can be, because of better materials, better workmanship and a good deal of mark-up. :-) There are some places which sell professional wedding albums to the general public, but many times the retail cost of the album, plus the retail cost of the photos to fill the album can be more than the ‘assembled’ price of the final product from your photographer. For instance, an Art Leather or Renaissance 24-page album with pages, mats and stamping can cost about $350. Add 24 8×10s (from $400-800, depending on your photog’s prices) and you could be approaching $1,000 for your wedding album if you DIY. Check that number against your photographer’s price for the package price of an album. Don’t hesitate to email me with any questions.
Response:
Our photographer told me the cost differenct (to him) between the cheap album and the best album was $260. I was shocked.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> kyoto wrote… > I’m starting to look into getting a photographer for our wedding. > At first, I wanted the photographer to put together the book, > simply because I can’t see myself getting around to it in a > timely manner. I’ve put together many books, but this is our > wedding, not old vacation photos. But, in doing my research, > I’ve found they charge so much to put together the book. So, > my question is, do they do something special that the ‘average’ > person can’t do themselves? Is it worth the expense? Will my > photos disintegrate if I do the album myself? > I don’t know of any photographers who charge separately for "assembly" > though it certainly may happen. What you’re probably seeing is how > expensive professional wedding albums can be, because of better materials, > better workmanship and a good deal of mark-up. :-) > There are some places which sell professional wedding albums to the general > public, but many times the retail cost of the album, plus the retail cost > of the photos to fill the album can be more than the ‘assembled’ price of > the final product from your photographer. > For instance, an Art Leather or Renaissance 24-page album with pages, mats > and stamping can cost about $350. Add 24 8×10s (from $400-800, depending > on your photog’s prices) and you could be approaching $1,000 for your > wedding album if you DIY. Check that number against your photographer’s > price for the package price of an album. > Don’t hesitate to email me with any questions.
Response:
I’m starting to look into getting a photographer for our wedding. At first, I wanted the photographer to put together the book, simply because I can’t see myself getting around to it in a timely manner. I’ve put together many books, but this is our wedding, not old vacation photos. But, in doing my research, I’ve found they charge so much to put together the book. So, my question is, do they do something special that the ‘average’ person can’t do themselves? Is it worth the expense? Will my photos disintegrate if I do the album myself? Thanks! kyoto
Response:
> I’m starting to look into getting a photographer for our wedding. At first, > I wanted the photographer to put together the book, simply because I can’t > see myself getting around to it in a timely manner. I’ve put together many > books, but this is our wedding, not old vacation photos. But, in doing my > research, I’ve found they charge so much to put together the book. So, my > question is, do they do something special that the ‘average’ person can’t do > themselves? Is it worth the expense? Will my photos disintegrate if I do the > album myself? Thanks!
They usually do a different sort of album, which is generally unavailable to the public. You should ask any photographer you’re considering to show you an example album (preferably a recently completed album for a client rather than a "best of" album) so you can see what you’ll be getting. You can, of course, make a different sort of album yourself, and if you know what you’re doing you can do one that is archivally safe for the photographs. Only you can decide if what you will do yourself is preferable to what the photographer would do for you. Also make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. Get a price for the package with the album and without the album (but *with* the photos). Best wishes, Ericka
Response:
Thanks to all for their replies. I’ll be pursuing this avenue soon. I do have a business license, but for an unrelated line of business (computer consulting.) Unless they want to see a copy of it, there won’t be a problem. If they do, I can always go down and file the $25 license fee and make it official. Since I’m just "testing the waters" first to see if it’s something I want to stick with, I didn’t want to spend anything I didn’t need to. Everything has been "at cost" up to this point just to build up a nice portfolio of some beautiful couples. Thanks again! Ed – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> If you get paid to photograph weddings, you are, technically, > professional. > You don’t need a physical studio to be considered a professional > photographer. I don’t know many photographers who have a "pro studio" > anymore. > As for obtaining albums wholesale, all companies > I know of including Albums Inc. require that you have a business license > and a > tax resale card.
Response:
<< In my state, a tax ID is required for photographers and videographers who sell the service *and* give the clients a finished product. There is a technical bulletin specifically for photographers stating the requirements for abiding by my state sales tax laws. Surely it differs from state to state; the assumption being, however, that the OP wishes to re-sell a wedding album to his clients, and would be required, under any state’s law (if I’m understanding sales tax laws correctly), to have a current state sales tax ID number (for re-sale purposes). My state requires charging and paying sales tax on the packages photographers sell, because the state assumes the client will receive a product in addition to the service. >> I am in CA and this is the case here. Best regards, Rick Rosen Newport Beach, CA www.rickrosen.com
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> << Albums, Inc – www.albumsinc.com > If you get paid to photograph weddings, you are, technically, > professional. > You don’t need a physical studio to be considered a professional > photographer. I don’t know many photographers who have a "pro studio" > anymore. > What defines a "professional" photographer will vary depending on the area > in > which you are applying the definition. For example, "professional" to > your > insurance agent and the I.R.S. is very different than the definition that > a > prospective client may have. > Very true. > As for obtaining albums wholesale, all companies > I know of including Albums Inc. require that you have a business license > and a > tax resale card. > If the OP is performing a service for paying customers, he should have a > sales tax ID # and permission from his state/county to conduct business in > his locale, even as a part-time sole proprietor.
You do not have to have a Tax ID if you are soley performing a service. In the State of Kansas and many other states, photography and videogrpahy do not require a TAX ID only a "city" issued business license. Actually when you go in to get your business license they should be able to provide you with information on what, if any, are other items you will need to apply for. In my state the fact that I shoot video and then put it on VHS, put it in a handsome custom case, and give it to my client, does not require a TAX ID. Now if I sold video tapes in a shop (recorded or blank) that is not a *service* it is selling merchandise and requires a TAX ID. Hence, that is why they probably did not ask you for your TAX ID. Not all of us have one. — Secret Agent Enterprises "You don’t need to be a detective to know we are the best at video!" www.secretagentent.com or check out our bridal software at ebay! Just look up secretagententerprises
Response:
(snip) > You do not have to have a Tax ID if you are soley performing a service. In > the State of Kansas and many other states, photography and videogrpahy do > not require a TAX ID only a "city" issued business license. Actually when > you go in to get your business license they should be able to provide you > with information on what, if any, are other items you will need to apply > for. > In my state the fact that I shoot video and then put it on VHS, put it in a > handsome custom case, and give it to my client, does not require a TAX ID. > Now if I sold video tapes in a shop (recorded or blank) that is not a > *service* it is selling merchandise and requires a TAX ID. Hence, that is > why they probably did not ask you for your TAX ID. Not all of us have one.
In my state, a tax ID is required for photographers and videographers who sell the service *and* give the clients a finished product. There is a technical bulletin specifically for photographers stating the requirements for abiding by my state sales tax laws. Surely it differs from state to state; the assumption being, however, that the OP wishes to re-sell a wedding album to his clients, and would be required, under any state’s law (if I’m understanding sales tax laws correctly), to have a current state sales tax ID number (for re-sale purposes). My state requires charging and paying sales tax on the packages photographers sell, because the state assumes the client will receive a product in addition to the service. If the client purchased and processed the film I shot, and I *only* provided a service without any product delivery, I would not be required to charge sales tax on my service charge. Because the end result of my services is the sale of a finished product enclosed in a re-sale product, I’m required to have a sales tax ID. I am in NC, btw. ~Charo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> — > Secret Agent Enterprises > "You don’t need to be a detective to know we are the best at video!" > www.secretagentent.com > or check out our bridal software at ebay! Just look up > secretagententerprises
Response:
FWIW… Oregon has no sales tax.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > (snip) > You do not have to have a Tax ID if you are soley performing a service. In > the State of Kansas and many other states, photography and videogrpahy do > not require a TAX ID only a "city" issued business license. Actually when > you go in to get your business license they should be able to provide you > with information on what, if any, are other items you will need to apply > for. > In my state the fact that I shoot video and then put it on VHS, put it in > a > handsome custom case, and give it to my client, does not require a TAX ID. > Now if I sold video tapes in a shop (recorded or blank) that is not a > *service* it is selling merchandise and requires a TAX ID. Hence, that is > why they probably did not ask you for your TAX ID. Not all of us have one. > In my state, a tax ID is required for photographers and videographers who > sell the service *and* give the clients a finished product. There is a > technical bulletin specifically for photographers stating the requirements > for abiding by my state sales tax laws. Surely it differs from state to > state; the assumption being, however, that the OP wishes to re-sell a > wedding album to his clients, and would be required, under any state’s law > (if I’m understanding sales tax laws correctly), to have a current state > sales tax ID number (for re-sale purposes). My state requires charging and > paying sales tax on the packages photographers sell, because the state > assumes the client will receive a product in addition to the service. If > the client purchased and processed the film I shot, and I *only* provided a > service without any product delivery, I would not be required to charge > sales tax on my service charge. Because the end result of my services is > the sale of a finished product enclosed in a re-sale product, I’m required > to have a sales tax ID. I am in NC, btw. > ~Charo > — > Secret Agent Enterprises > "You don’t need to be a detective to know we are the best at video!" > www.secretagentent.com > or check out our bridal software at ebay! Just look up > secretagententerprises