Comments on: The Cultural Divide http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/ Handmade Software Experiences Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:19:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Hillel http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/comment-page-1/#comment-23738 Hillel Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:56:32 +0000 http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/#comment-23738 I understand that the COGs are a relatively minor part of how cost is calculated. That said, I was really more interested in the discussion. There's so much opportunity for giving me additional value that I felt like the photographer could have made a reasonable case for a higher price. It's like iTunes plus. You pay extra to get it without DRM. But in addition to paying for the "privilege" of being treated like an honest person, you get higher quality downloads. There's a psychology of pricing and it's important to articulate the value in a way that a consumer can relate to even if the costs of said value are only a small component of the pricing formula. I understand that the COGs are a relatively minor part of how cost is calculated. That said, I was really more interested in the discussion. There’s so much opportunity for giving me additional value that I felt like the photographer could have made a reasonable case for a higher price. It’s like iTunes plus. You pay extra to get it without DRM. But in addition to paying for the “privilege” of being treated like an honest person, you get higher quality downloads. There’s a psychology of pricing and it’s important to articulate the value in a way that a consumer can relate to even if the costs of said value are only a small component of the pricing formula.

]]> By: Paul Gross http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/comment-page-1/#comment-22595 Paul Gross Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:48:12 +0000 http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/#comment-22595 Hey Hillel, I agree that not offering a digital option misses the boat. But I'm curious what you think the right economics are for a digital image relative to the print equivalents? The photographer that Marcelo referenced offers all the digital images in low resolution for the customer that buys some package of prints and then sells the high res images for a premium that is x times the price of an 8x10. Hey Hillel, I agree that not offering a digital option misses the boat. But I’m curious what you think the right economics are for a digital image relative to the print equivalents? The photographer that Marcelo referenced offers all the digital images in low resolution for the customer that buys some package of prints and then sells the high res images for a premium that is x times the price of an 8×10.

]]> By: Hillel http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/comment-page-1/#comment-20376 Hillel Tue, 05 Jun 2007 01:02:27 +0000 http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/#comment-20376 Andrew: I agree that for generic stock photography, the licensing model makes sense. For portrait photography of my child the licensing model makes zero sense. The corollary in the software world is not mass market software, but custom software written on commission. And finally, even if the licensing model is for custom portraiture is the way it's always been, my main point is that the guy should embrace the technological shift, evolve his business model, and ultimately make me a happy customer. Clearly this was not his priority. Andrew:

I agree that for generic stock photography, the licensing model makes sense.

For portrait photography of my child the licensing model makes zero sense. The corollary in the software world is not mass market software, but custom software written on commission.

And finally, even if the licensing model is for custom portraiture is the way it’s always been, my main point is that the guy should embrace the technological shift, evolve his business model, and ultimately make me a happy customer. Clearly this was not his priority.

]]> By: Hillel http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/comment-page-1/#comment-20360 Hillel Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:30:32 +0000 http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/#comment-20360 Speed: You know, I only assumed she was getting a cut. I didn't ask. I did make it clear to her that in next year's negotiations she had all the leverage since she was basically granting a right to print cash. Speed:

You know, I only assumed she was getting a cut. I didn’t ask. I did make it clear to her that in next year’s negotiations she had all the leverage since she was basically granting a right to print cash.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/comment-page-1/#comment-20327 Andrew Mon, 04 Jun 2007 23:43:38 +0000 http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/#comment-20327 First of all, scanning a print of a professionally taken photograph and making copies is illegal. The photographer owns the copyright and you cannot make legal copies without permission. Quite frankly I'd get annoyed if you openly said to my face that you would copy my company's software without permission. I'm sure you'll feel the same about your eventual products. The basic principle of portrait photography that most people don't get is that it is essentially an intellectual property business. When you buy an image you are really buying the photographer's time and know how. The cost of the print is minimal compared to the other overheads of the business. Unfortunately, like most intellectual property transactions consumers don't really want to pay for something they perceive as being free ("all he did was press the button on his camera and send a file to the printer, how hard can it be?"). Receiving a physical print makes the cost of the image seem more legitimate in the eyes of the consumer. Photographers rely on customers ordering multiple prints to make a profit in the same way as grocery stores rely on their customers buying more than the weekly "door buster". Is your photographer stuck in the past? Sure but let me ask you this, how much would you pay for a single jpg? I'm not a professional photographer but I'll bet that he'll need to charge something like 3 times the price he charges for a single physical print to make a profit. Also, how would you feel if he charged you more for higher resolution, for instance $50 for a 4x6 resolution image or $100 for jpg that can be printed as an 8x10 without noticeable pixellation? Ultimately, of course, the market will decide whether independent portrait photographers stay in business. If there is profit to be made then somebody will figure out how to capture it. The key part is whether the addressable market is large enough to support anything other than the Sears/Kiddie Kandid/WalMart type portrait factories that rely on a few standard poses to minimize costs. I don't know the answer to that for sure but I'm glad photography is a hobby for me and not my livelihood. First of all, scanning a print of a professionally taken photograph and making copies is illegal. The photographer owns the copyright and you cannot make legal copies without permission. Quite frankly I’d get annoyed if you openly said to my face that you would copy my company’s software without permission. I’m sure you’ll feel the same about your eventual products.

The basic principle of portrait photography that most people don’t get is that it is essentially an intellectual property business. When you buy an image you are really buying the photographer’s time and know how. The cost of the print is minimal compared to the other overheads of the business.

Unfortunately, like most intellectual property transactions consumers don’t really want to pay for something they perceive as being free (“all he did was press the button on his camera and send a file to the printer, how hard can it be?”). Receiving a physical print makes the cost of the image seem more legitimate in the eyes of the consumer. Photographers rely on customers ordering multiple prints to make a profit in the same way as grocery stores rely on their customers buying more than the weekly “door buster”.

Is your photographer stuck in the past? Sure but let me ask you this, how much would you pay for a single jpg? I’m not a professional photographer but I’ll bet that he’ll need to charge something like 3 times the price he charges for a single physical print to make a profit. Also, how would you feel if he charged you more for higher resolution, for instance $50 for a 4×6 resolution image or $100 for jpg that can be printed as an 8×10 without noticeable pixellation?

Ultimately, of course, the market will decide whether independent portrait photographers stay in business. If there is profit to be made then somebody will figure out how to capture it. The key part is whether the addressable market is large enough to support anything other than the Sears/Kiddie Kandid/WalMart type portrait factories that rely on a few standard poses to minimize costs. I don’t know the answer to that for sure but I’m glad photography is a hobby for me and not my livelihood.

]]> By: Speed http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/comment-page-1/#comment-20210 Speed Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:58:23 +0000 http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/#comment-20210 The lady who runs the school is giving the photographer an exclusive "license" to photograph the class and sell pictures to the proud parents. I hope you mention to her that the photographer should be paying her for this opportunity. The lady who runs the school is giving the photographer an exclusive “license” to photograph the class and sell pictures to the proud parents. I hope you mention to her that the photographer should be paying her for this opportunity.

]]> By: Walter http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/comment-page-1/#comment-20139 Walter Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:46:33 +0000 http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/#comment-20139 Further insanity: remember not to take pictures that are too good or you may not be able to get them printed! http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/06/05/05pogues-posts-2/ Further insanity: remember not to take pictures that are too good or you may not be able to get them printed!

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/06/05/05pogues-posts-2/

]]> By: Brave Tech World http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/comment-page-1/#comment-20125 Brave Tech World Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:17:32 +0000 http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/#comment-20125 <strong>Pro Photographers: A broken business model...</strong> I read this morning Hillel post on his daughter ballet pictures.       It is a very interesting coincidence that I share the same feelings as he did about professional photographers being stuck in a dead business model.      Two weeks ago me... Pro Photographers: A broken business model…

I read this morning Hillel post on his daughter ballet pictures.       It is a very interesting coincidence that I share the same feelings as he did about professional photographers being stuck in a dead business model.      Two weeks ago me…

]]> By: Ben http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/comment-page-1/#comment-20110 Ben Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:43:40 +0000 http://www.jacksonfish.com/blog/2007/06/04/the-cultural-divide/#comment-20110 I with with you Hillel. Consumers want to pay photographers for their time, and photographers want to be paid per print. Most people ignore this conflict, but it frustrates me every time I run into it. Even the photographers who do digital sometimes only send JPG, and won't give you RAW. If you want RAW they will print it for you. That link you sent me is hilarious. Welcome to the invisible hand. I with with you Hillel. Consumers want to pay photographers for their time, and photographers want to be paid per print. Most people ignore this conflict, but it frustrates me every time I run into it.

Even the photographers who do digital sometimes only send JPG, and won’t give you RAW. If you want RAW they will print it for you.

That link you sent me is hilarious. Welcome to the invisible hand.

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