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Question: What should I charge for wedding album design!?
My husband and I own a full time photography studio!. However, we took a huge hit with Hurricane Ike and were also without power for 27 days!. We feel that we need to close the studio since we will not be able to dig ourselves out financially otherwise!. My husband is now employed elsewhere but that leaves me!.

A large portion of my work was wedding album design!. I do the digital design in Photoshop for the storytelling style albums that are then published in leather hard cover!. My problem is, I know what my cost is and what I charged as part of a wedding photography package but I am now targeting the brides who get the printable CD from their photographer but not an album!. I will design and print for them with their images!.

My question is this: What do I charge for the design!. As a photographer I was selling my images and the design time!. However as a designer I have no idea!. I don't think it can be by the hour since some just fall right into place and others take more thought!. What about by the spread (two pages)!? I have no idea what the going rate for something like that would be!. Any suggestions!?

Here is a link to one of my albums:
http://www!.hollowaysgallery!.com/SirockaD!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
From my experience as a Wedding Photographer, I would say charge by the album!.
After all, if a design just falls 'right into place' it's because your skill and experience make it do that!. It's not simply the amount of time spent designing the album I would be paying, for but the many years you spent in aquiring those skills and developing those talents that allow you to do just that!.
I deal with an album company in the UK and their charge for design seems fair; so, using this as a base, I would suggest charging the cost of materials, plus $200 for the design - more for a particularly lavish or intricate layout!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I don't have a clue what to tell you, my daughters albums were just plain leather bound with picture after picture, nothing as exciting as what you make!. I wish she had something like this to remember her special day!. YOU DO VERY BEAUTIFUL WORK!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.good luck to you and hope it works out!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.every bride deserves one of your albums!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.have a great dayWww@QuestionHome@Com