How do you handle pricing for multiple poses? I have a very simple 'a la carte' price list...and only do a couple sessions a *ummmm* year. (did 4 kids school pics last year and a couple toddler xmas shots)....Its school season and I know I will have repeat customers plus a few additions.
Last year (for my cousin) I took Gavin's pics. I did the shooting for free...and she simply had to pay mpix's prices to have them printed....BUT, she loved them all and ordered nearly something from everyone of the proofs...all 40 of them...I had to crop and post process every shot and some poses she only ordered wallets!...
How would you handle this? I wouldn't want to discourage a bigger order, but also not do all that work.
Do you have a flat fee for processing each additional pose?
ok...I was thinking something like
single pose 8x10 $10.00
additional pose $12.00ea
or
verbage to say, 'prices for single pose selection, for each additional pose ordered a $3.00 processing fee will be added.'
Way too cheap. You need to determine how much you are willing to accept as wages and access how long (on average) it takes you to process an image. Then double that.
Edit to add:
The biggest mistake you can make for your career is to try to compete with Walmart, Sears and others as far as price goes. They pay shooters minimum wage to snap off preset cameras and predetermined poses and do LOTS of volume. You can't (nor would you want to) do that.
If a client is coming to you instead of them, they want something different than Wally World is offering and are willing to pay more.
If your time is worth $60 an hour, then $3 is 3 minutes of that time. Can you clean and PP another pose AND crop to the various sizes in 3 minutes?
No....but my PP is not professional...so toss me an idea HawkeyeLonewolf....what would you suggest for this dilema....I don't want to go too high because my clients have been all friends/family. but want to have something ready for that first referal....(actually did just get one..so my first non-family shot I want a price plan in play). If I go too high, she will simply go to Walmart which is where she was heading.
my 'newbie' price plan is:
$20.00 sitting fee
11x14 - 15.00
8x10 - 10.00
5x7 - 7.00 or 2 for $10.00
4x6 - 5.00 or 3 for $10.00
wallets (4) - $3.00
OK...thank you both....I guess I don't value my 'skill' still at hobby phase...and they can get some nice shots from me....but have a difficult time charging.....
Well... if you don't feel comfy charging "pro" prices yet... at least get a model release (parental release) for the photos, so you can use them later for whatever you desire.
I do a lot of TFP for models (work for free) for both my portfolio and stock images. I don't get paid for that work directly, but get benefits from it. So, not everything is about how much you charge.
As you get more experience gradually increase your prices.
Well... if you don't feel comfy charging "pro" prices yet... at least get a model release (parental release) for the photos, so you can use them later for whatever you desire.
I do a lot of TFP for models (work for free) for both my portfolio and stock images. I don't get paid for that work directly, but get benefits from it. So, not everything is about how much you charge.
As you get more experience gradually increase your prices.
But, TFP is Time for Print ... TFCD Time for CD. Basically, I will shoot for free, if you'll model for my portfolio/stock photos.
Funny thing happened a few weeks ago. I asked an amateur model if she'd do a TFCD shoot. She said she had started getting paid gigs and was getting too busy for "free" shoots. I responded with "Fine, let me introduce you to my $175 "portfolio builder" package. I'm shooting her Friday.
But, TFP is Time for Print ... TFCD Time for CD. Basically, I will shoot for free, if you'll model for my portfolio/stock photos.
Funny thing happened a few weeks ago. I asked an amateur model if she'd do a TFCD shoot. She said she had started getting paid gigs and was getting too busy for "free" shoots. I responded with "Fine, let me introduce you to my $175 "portfolio builder" package. I'm shooting her Friday.
I have set my print prices to about where I'm feeling like I getting paid appropriately for my work (the amount of time necessary to do a specific print). And then, for friends and family, I simply tell them my regular price and then give them discounts so that realize the value of what they are getting.
So, for example, I charge the following rates:
4x6 = $6, 5x7 = $10, 8x10 = $18, 11x14 = $35, 16x20 = $60 (there are other options like canvas, stretched canvas, gallery wrap, etc, but you get the idea)
Then, for friends, I offer an immediate 25% discount on those prices. For family, I offer a 50% discount. That way, family feels like they are getting a "real deal" when they can get an $18 8x10 for just $9.
I've also been known to "spot" a few 16x20s here and there.
Basically... if I feel it is to my advantage to do so, I'll offer either a really cheap (or even free) 16x20 if they promise to hang it in a prominent place in their home.
Of course, once they do that... their friends and family that see the picture on the wall have to ask "Hey that looks great, who's your photographer?". And now I start picking up customers who are NOT the same as my "friends and family" and whom I can charge full prices to and not feel bad about it!!!
Another point... I don't edit anything that isn't purchased. So if I had 40 shots of a kid, I'd post them all as proofs, but none of them would get any more time from me than the time it takes to convert from raw and post online unless the picture was purchased. Then, depending on the size of the print that was purchased, I will spend more or less time editing the image (a 4x6 needs almost no editing, a 16x20 requires a lot just to ensure image perfection).
Anyway, those are some ideas that I think you can use, regardless of how "professional" you feel you are. You can set whatever price you feel is appropriate. But by having pre-planned discounts for friends and family, it'll let you increase your profit while still feeling good about yourself!
thank you to everyone.....you have given me very good advice!!
dwterry, thank you for your time in explaining 'your' plan.
It looks like I was on the right track....I was thinking of not having 'packages', but offering a free 8x10 based on the order amt...
I will work in a 'discount' plan as you suggest.
