Visual E wrote:
Do you need 12 models, with one image of each then?

Your minimum expense of $7-10,000 includes what?

Minimum expense includes some lodging and mainly printing cost.  Figure a buck a piece is cheap probably two bucks cost each for quality.  12 models would be wonderful but 6 would probably do if I mixed the themes up completely

Robert James Imaging wrote:
Minimum expense includes some lodging and mainly printing cost.  Figure a buck a piece is cheap probably two bucks cost each for quality.  12 models would be wonderful but 6 would probably do if I mixed the themes up completely

You are grossly underestimating the cost.  I would suggest you go get some quotes from a few good printers before you make the $2 assumption.  Even Hong Kong (the offset printing capital of the world) cannot do it at that price for a 12 month 12' x 12' full-bleed, CTP calendar, let alone here in the US.  As for $20 a piece?  How did you come up with that price?  You have some serious competitions.  Calendars are cheap.

You have also forgotten the cost of makeup artists, stylists, permit fees, travel, marketing, ad costs.

It's not that it can't be done, it is simply extremely stressful and most people crash and burn without careful cost management and marketing.  Remember, by doing nude calendars you have automatically ruled out any mainstream distribution, namely calendar kiosks (controlled by only a few giant conglomerates).  You are in direct competition with Playboy, Penthouse, Maxim and FHM, who all sell their calendars for less (I believe).  You can't beat their volume so your printing cost would be much higher.  Judging from the fact that you said you are new to this and your images, I don't think you can compete with their offerings in terms of quality either, even if they sell for more.

You may also just barely make it to produce one for 2007 if you start now.

Good luck.

Robert James Imaging wrote:
So, the infamous question.  What is appropriate pay for calendar shoots.  I have an idea for a calendar that I am pretty certain would go over well and will surely sell copies.  How many copies I don't know.  I am envisioning an inital press run of 5000 calendars to be marketed via internet.  If those sell out I get more printed depending on time of year and estimated demand.  Minimum price of calendars would be $20.  My minimum expense before modeling fees and time will be @ $7000-10000.

Some shots would be topless and the market would be nationwide because they would be marketed on the net.  Shots would be tastefully done (rule out the sketch factor now) and this could, if it goes well, be a re-occuring venue.  I would only want to be fair to the models with compensation but I would not want to dig myself into a huge hole financially if this thing doesn't fly like I would expect.  If I make good money I would want to share the wealth, but I do not want to do a royalty setup due to accounting headaches. 

Am I nuts?  Any success stories?  Crash and Burn?  Models, what is your take?  I won't launch this if I don't have a good shot at success.

You need to do some more research before going forward with this project.

I was a staff photographer, for eleven years, for the spring break calendar at www.classmateusa.com. The calendar is published by Starwest calendars in CA.

To get good calendars, at decent prices, you have to go through a printing broker. They deal with printers in India, China and Korea.

This is the printing broker that did the Classmate calendar. I shot the cover on their 2001 swim suit calendar sample.

http://www.asianprinting.com/calendars.html.

I am not connected with this company. Read the FAQ's and get a quote from them on the printing. This will give you some ideas on cost.

Classmate USA does not pay any of their models, and never have since the calendar was started,  over twenty five years ago. The models pose for the great exposure. A few of the models do get traveling expenses, food and lodging.

I recruited some of the models for the calendar in 2004, and 2005. Some were former playboy models, but most were just pretty and in college.

There was never any profit in the 10,000 calendar sales. The calendars sponsors made up the loss difference.


Good Luck.

Chili wrote:
ive never seen calenders making a profit, generally they are give aways and the costs are made up by the sponser (i.e. rigid tools) and most calenders sell for less than $12 each

How about giving the calendars away and selling advertizing space inside the calendar... hmmm.. I think i'm onto something. How about a local irish pub to advertize on the March 17th block, a local gift shop to advertize on Dec 25th, a lingerie store to advertize on Valentines day, pizza place on Superbowl Sunday, etc... Then have an extra 2-3 pages with coupons in between every 3-4 months...

A bit of advice. Don't be Mr. Moneybags when it comes to the models. You want to get your product for as little as possible.

Robert James Imaging wrote:
So, what are you guys paying the models for this type of work?  Models, what would you expect for a shoot like this?

Pay them as little as they will accept. I would start by offering $150-$200/shoot. Most of them will accept. Some won't accept, but don't let that fluster you. For every model that declines, 3 will accept your offer. Some models may counter-offer. Just negotiate from there. Since you are the one taking the risk, you should be the one to reap the rewards. Don't try to be Mr. Nice Guy and offer too much money.

Robert James Imaging wrote:
I am hesitent about the risk.  That is exactly why I am posting here.  I think that the niche market will pay.  I checked and the subject was Googled over 6million times last year.  Calendar for 2006 and Calendar 2006 was 22million combined.  I wish it was easy enough to ask for 10000 of those sales at $20 each but I know that is the risk.  Believe me I am worrying about the garage full of calendars.  The shoot wasn't that much fun if it costs me that much money.

You might want to think about doing a 2008 calendar, not 2007. The spring break calendar is shot two years ahead of time.

This would give you more time to seek out sponsors, and the best models possible. Most calendars are finished and sold before July first, for the next year.  It is possible to shoot in March and have a finished calendar by June, but its hard.

The right sponsor, like a boat company, might buy enough calendars to pay all of the production and printing cost, and still leave you with several to sell. If a sponsor would do this, the printing deadline date could be as late as Nov 1.

Posters are less risky, and can be sold longer.

Ebay is a good place to see some great calendars. There are also some nice ones coming out of Russia

Robert James Imaging wrote:
Maybe '08 but I can get this thing done for '07.  Sponsors really aren't critical.  If you have a tangeable product it will be easier to sell next year.  I just found a source for people who subscribe to magazines.  So you can market the niche markets easier than I thought.  Still researching, opinions would be great.

The largest seller of calendars in this country is "Calendar Club".

They set up in malls all over the USA in the fall and around Christmas.

One of the hot USA calendars is the "Dream Girls" calendar, published by StarWest.
It use to be the old Harley Davidson calendar, before the feminist movement got it stopped. 

Star West, the publisher, (Win Products), is the big importer of motorcycle parts in the USA. (Lots of their calendars are sold through motorcycle shops, and parts outlets, so they have a market.

Pamula Anderson, and my former model, Amanda Swisten, have been on this calendar.  Google Amanda's name, or do a search for her name on ebay.

If you can get models as good as Anderson, and produce a calendar as good as "Dream Girls", it might sell, but the safe bet is a deep pockets sponsor.

Your printing company could be the sponsor, and give the calendars away to show off their printing quality.

Good Luck.