Runworks
Welcome, Guest      Blog      Forums      Calculator
     Log in  


Some links below may be affiliate links. BMOW may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these.

As an Amazon Associate BMOW earns from qualifying purchases.
 
Return to topic list
 
<< core strength exercises New Training Tool: MapMyRun.com >>
 Cost of Professional Race Photos?
mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367
Cost of Professional Race Photos? Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:49 pm 
So I got yet another e-mail from Action Sports International today telling me I have one last chance to order my photo(s) from the Vermont City Marathon (on May 29th). I've probably received half a dozen e-mails over the last couple months urging me to order photos. I'm used to getting these e-mail since a a lot number of NYRRC races I run in are photographed by one of these professional photography companies (usually Brightroom) and so I'm familiar with how expensive these photos are.

I recall that only a few years ago a photo package that included only a single 5x7 (the cheapest package offered) was about $8. Now the price is $14.95 plus $5.00 for shipping. Yikes! It makes it hare to justify purchasing one of these photos.

Well, after much waffling I decided to go ahead and bite the bullet and order a photo of me running in the Vermont City Marathon...UNTIL I saw that Action Sports International now wants to charge an additional $5.00 LATE FEE. This blew me away. I don't understand the reason for a late fee. If anyting...after this long, they should be offering discounts to entice people to purchase from them.

So, I changed my mind and cancelled the order before submitting it. I sent the company an e-mail to express my dissatisfaction. I'm eager to see their reply.

I'm sure many of you have run in at least one race that was professional photographed. So do you feel the prices for these photos are too much or are you happy with the value of these photos?
Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157
Re: Cost of Professional Race Photos? Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:56 pm 
Yeah, the prices do seem ridiculous, but I don't think they're too far out of line with wedding photos or other professional photography. They small number of people who do buy photos have to bring in enough money to cover all of the photographer's costs. Maybe if they could somehow make the photos more interesting or compelling, more people would buy them, and the price could come down.

I'll admit, I did buy my finish line photo from my first marathon, but nothing since then.
mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367
Re: Cost of Professional Race Photos? Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:54 pm 
Yeh, I've bought photos from different races I've run (NYC, Boston, Manhattan Half-Marathon, etc.) when the price was more like $8 for a 5x7. But at current prices I'm more hesitant to buy. I would have bought more if they had kept the price at $8...and I bet many more people would too. But my biggest problem in this case was the LATE FEE they wanted to charge me.

It's kinda of like going to your local running store to buy your favorite model of shoe and being told that it's about to be replaced by a newer version and won't be available anymore after this week, and because you waited this long to decide to make a purchase they are going to increase the price by $5. It's as though the store isn't interesting in dropping the price to get rid of old inventory but wants to capitalize on your late decision to purchase.
BGibbsLMT

Southington, CT
Joined: 12 Dec 2004
Posts: 68
Re: Cost of Professional Race Photos? Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:25 pm 
The best race photo i ever got was of me chugging up a hill in the NipMuck Trail Marathon. It arrived with my race results, free. The Escarpment Trail run also sent me a photo of me finishing. Again it was free. Something about trail races maybe?
kurt

Boston, MA
Joined: 21 Jul 2005
Posts: 3
Re: Cost of Professional Race Photos? Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 7:42 pm 
yeah it's crazy. you'd think their overhead wouldn't be that bad. i bet the time consuming part is identifying all of the race numbers & categorizing photos. although it can't be THAT much time because i've been at races with 1000s of participants and the photos are ready to go the next morning. i'm with you though. i'd buy too if they were cheaper.
-k
Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157
Re: Cost of Professional Race Photos? Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:03 pm 
Last year's Des Moines Marathon had thousands of runners, but no race numbers. I guess they figured that since they used chip timing, numbers weren't actually necessary. They gave everyone a blank bib to write their name on instead. I thought it was a little sad myself. I don't think the race photographers were too happy either.
View posts:     


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1
 

Copyright © 2014 Runworks. All rights reserved.   Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group

Questions or Comments  Privacy Policy