Comments on: Race Photos are Too Expensive

By: Michael Chadwick

Michael Chadwick — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:30:44 +0000

A couple of ideas I have had which I am working on to battle this problem include:

1) Getting the organization hosting the event to cover a “base” or a guarantee of a certain amount of photo sales income, if the photographer sells the photos at a lower price.

2) Getting the organization hosting the event to convince a corporate sponsor to cover a base in exchange for the photos being provided at no cost to the runners, if the company name is on the photo (such as “Photo provided by ABC Company” in the lower right)

3) Getting the runners to agree to a higher race fee in exchange for a lower photo cost.

I’d be interested to hear feedback on these ideas. For what it’s worth, I only charge $20 for high resolution photo downloads, and $10 for lower resolution. : )

By: Jill Will Run

Jill Will Run — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:54:50 +0000

I appreciate you weighing in on the subject. And I can totally appreciate your point-of-view. I experience the same thing in my line of work (web developer) and do understand that quality costs. It just seems like there has to be some way of making it balance out so both parties don’t feel screwed over!

By: Michael Chadwick

Michael Chadwick — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:20:49 +0000

As a race photographer who is also a runner, I’m constantly irritated at how much the race photos cost, BUT… I also know you’re not just paying for the photos. I carry over $10,000 of photography equipment when I shoot a race. I also carry insurance for that equipment and for liability. I also have to pay for my education (still paying off those student loans) and for my business expenses.

What photographers charge runners is so frequently a source of tension and frustration, and I hate paying money for photos of me running when I’m a photographer myself and know their shots aren’t as good as mine! ; )

What I can say is, before everyone gets too upset about it, please bear in mind just how expensive it is to be a photographer and pay for the equipment, viewing gallery sites, etc. Also, for every hour a photographer is on the course with you, he/she is spending multiple hours in the digital darkroom of their computers, processing and refining the photographs and prepping them for upload and purchase. When you break it all out, it’s actually barely minimum wage. So please, bear that in mind before you get TOO upset about what is being charged. Yes, it costs $.21 to produce a print. Yes, a download is free. That’s not what you’re paying for.

By: ~moe~

~moe~ — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:21:39 +0000

I actually just purchased a bunch from our local place for the races I participated in because I wanted something to remember them by and at those I didn’t have anyone else to take my photo. My last race I took my BF along and made him bring his camera so I wouldn’t have to take it in the wallet after pushing my way along the 26.2 mile course. That’s my plan for any future race. I can’t afford it.

Oh and the kicker…our local race planning site wouldn’t let me go from race to race and have on big cart full of photos. I had to order from each race separately and was charged separate shipping. BUT they sent the photos in one big package anyway! AND then they sent them twice! So now I have doubles! sheesh.

By: trialsoftraining

trialsoftraining — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:42:05 +0000

ah, the prices are ridiculous!! The only reason I have *any* is because my Dad gets a huge kick out of them and has ordered photos from two of my half-marathons. It’s endearing, on his part, but I’d never pay for it..haha!

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:53:24 +0000

Hi, I found your blog and well….loved the name as it’s close to mine .

I think race pictures are outrageous also, especially the $6.95 to ship it when it clearly costs them about $.95. I do buy them on occassion IF the race holds a special meaning to me (Boston for instance) or if I just had a great experience overall. But it’s pretty rare. What annoys me is that a year later, you still get an email from that race wanting you to buy and rarely are the prices reduced. Just so crazy!

I will enjoy reading your running journey and sharing the road with you! Thanks!

By: RunningLaur

RunningLaur — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:50:41 +0000

Too true. If the digital copies were around $15-$20 then I’d consider forking over the money for them. Unfortunately, the photos of my recent race are $45 before tax for just the digital low quality ones, which is completely unmanageable with my budget. I think the photo companies would make more overall if they offered a cheaper digital version – people who want the higher quality commemorative photos will pay the price either way.

By: kilax

kilax — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:28:25 +0000

I agree – I cannot afford them, and they usually are not that good anyway! I think your internet option is a great idea.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:53:23 +0000

So is this a new idea for us? Inexpensive race photos? hmm

By: lindsay

lindsay — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:48:09 +0000

i agree! i have purchased some photos before but i would DEFINITELY purchase digital copies if they were reasonable. it’s ridiculous what they want for print or digital! like $20 for a 4×6. PLEASE i know that costs like .20 to print, .45 to mail (or however much a stamp is these days). give us a break brightroom, etc.!!

great post jill – maybe they’ll stumble across this and utilize your idea!