Just curious, how many weddings have you booked for 2008? How many do you consider to be "enough", "time to raise my prices", and "too many"?
I am booked for 27 weddings so far. My goal was 15. At 25, I decided to raise my prices in order to only get booked by those clients who really really really want me. I think that I'll stop at 30, but it depends on how spaced out they are. Currently I have August through October completely booked, I mean even Fridays and Sundays sometimes. I could go up to 35 weddings if I get them in March or April or December.
27 weddings...you need to raise your prices. Is the $1400 the raised price? Anyway I did 27 last year and quickly realized that was too many for me. We raised our pricing, to curb the bookings. I also seemed to be booking 9 out of 10 meetings and for me that was a good indicator that my pricing was too low. So we have 17 booked for 2008 at almost double the price we were at in 2007.
But if I was you, I would raise the price...that's just me though. If you are happy with shooting 30 weddings at $1400, then by all means do it. But for me personally I would rather shoot 15 weddings at $2800 and have more more time to edit and enjoy life
Anyway congrats on far exceeding your goal and have a great 2008.
$1500 that's before the raised price. This was my first year advertising and I honestly didn't expect this many bookings I'm definitely raising my prices for next season!
We were at your price with very similar offerings as you, and shot something like 8 in 06. We bumped up the price to $1800 and shot 14 last year (some were at $1500 though). This year, we're adding another package to include an album, which we've found seems to be the running theme. We've lost a few bookings because we didn't do albums, so we're adjusting. We're doing the show at the double tree hotel in Henrietta this Sunday, so we'll have an idea of the impact. Where are you doing your advertising?
My partners were basically at their limits at 14, as they work full time. I'm looking to do this full time, so the more, the merrier! I'd be happy shooting 3 weekends in a row, but wouldn't mind having 1 off every now and again.
When you have all that you want, raise the price way up. If you're still booking them, then you were way under-charging in the first place..
For the research I've done, the median Roch wedding photog seems to be around $2k. Anything above included an album and took away the dvd/rights to print. The sub $1k were the shoot&burn folks and offered very little to nothing (and for the few I saw, didn't offer quality either). You're right in the middle, so you have some room to raise your price and still be competitive in the market.
Wow, I wish I had 27 weddings booked so far...I'm definitely still in the root stages of my business though, so I will give it a couple more years of experience. I am right in the middle of moving to a new town, and am curious about advertising. What do you do for advertising? What do you find is most effective?
Figure out how much money you want to make and how much work you want to do - its the FIRST step in a any business - planning. Get too busy and you'll choke and screw your reputation.
Rule of thumb is you should book about 80% of your meetings. If your booking more then raise your prices. Booking less, the lower them (or increase what your giving them a little bit).
If your plan is to book 15 weddings, then when you get to 13 or 14 raise your prices. I try to do it the other way - offer incentives to get booked up then sit on my prices till next year's changes. I find it easier to offer incentives to weddings I want and not to those I don't, offer killer bridal show deals to get booked up early, etc.
Like so far this year I'm booking more dates for 2009 than 2008. So at my bridal show next week 2008 brides will get an extra something.
The bridal mags say the photography should run about 10% of the total wedding budget. The reception, 50%. So call some reception halls and find out what they charge per place ($75? $90?). How many guests are coming to the weddings you've booked? (Always ask!). 150 people at 75 or 350 at 90? Changes their budget quite a bit, but more importantly it gives you an idea of the cost of a typical wedding in YOUR area. Here it's $25,000. So a typical photography package is $2000-2500. It's up about 15 ot 20% in the past 2 years!
Hi Brian I'm advertising with the Rochester Wedding Magazine. I had my ad on their website for three days before I booked my first wedding through them. Every wedding I've gotten since has come through the magazine, in addition to some referrals from previous brides. I'm happy (And no, I don't think I'll be going to the shootout.)
Anyway, back on topic... Still curious how many weddings people have so far for 2008.
Jadyn Welch wrote:
Wow, I wish I had 27 weddings booked so far...I'm definitely still in the root stages of my business though, so I will give it a couple more years of experience. I am right in the middle of moving to a new town, and am curious about advertising. What do you do for advertising? What do you find is most effective?
Jadyn,
I was in the same situation, moving to a new town, didn't have any brides who could refer me... Started advertising with the local wedding magazine, started booking like crazy. My magazine gives me an internet ad, a printed ad, bridal leads (I have contact info for any and every bride who has signed up with them), my printed postcard ad gets sent to those who request mailed information, and it also gets placed in every bride's goody bag when they attend bridal shows. There was a bridal show here January 6th, which I didn't even remember, and I got 8 bookings out of it - without even being there! So my advice for you is to find a local mag (go to the library or grocery store, they will be together with the rental guides and other free magazines and newspapers), email or call them, meet with them, and see what they offer and for how much.
I was in the same situation, moving to a new town, didn't have any brides who could refer me... Started advertising with the local wedding magazine, started booking like crazy. My magazine gives me an internet ad, a printed ad, bridal leads (I have contact info for any and every bride who has signed up with them), my printed postcard ad gets sent to those who request mailed information, and it also gets placed in every bride's goody bag when they attend bridal shows. There was a bridal show here January 6th, which I didn't even remember, and I got 8 bookings out of it - without even being there! So my advice for you is to find a local mag (go to the library or grocery store, they will be together with the rental guides and other free magazines and newspapers), email or call them, meet with them, and see what they offer and for how much. ...Show more →
last year I had a target of 20 and had 16 booked and finished by the end of the year. At the time I also decided that 24 would be my maximum for this year - I then found out I was pregnant! Obviously I knew my maximum would have to drop, especially as baby is due at the end of Feb, so that's 2 months gone to start with.
Strangely I've got the most bookings for April (6 weeks after baby is due - I must be mad!) and so far have 12 booked, and another 4 pretty much booked apart from deciding on the packages. I'd be happy if I had 16 again this year, and if I get any more it'll be a bonus.
I have 11 book but two of those are shooting as a second shooter. I would really like to book around 50-60 this year. Sounds crazy but that it what I want to do.
How would you manage 50? Have you ever shot anywhere close to that? Are you planning to triple book the weekends? Or will you use associate photographers and double book the day so you can shoot one and a different photographer can shoot another?
Right now 24 for 2008, and 3 for 2009. But 15 of the 24 are in July & August (thanks to my northern locale) so next year we'll put a surcharge on those two months.
I think 30 is a good number if you can spread them somewhat evenly over the year.
letenele wrote:
How would you manage 50? Have you ever shot anywhere close to that? Are you planning to triple book the weekends? Or will you use associate photographers and double book the day so you can shoot one and a different photographer can shoot another?
doing 50 in a year isnt that hard to do by yourself. You may want to kill yourself. If you work friday and saturday most weekends you wouldnt have any trouble. But be dead tired come sunday.
We have 31 booked so far this year. I dont want to book anymore this year but will if they are higher paying weddings. Maybe $6000 or more.
letenele wrote:
How would you manage 50? Have you ever shot anywhere close to that? Are you planning to triple book the weekends? Or will you use associate photographers and double book the day so you can shoot one and a different photographer can shoot another?
50 really would not be that hard. Lots of people around here have weddings Thursday-Saturday so it would not be that hard to book 50. I want to book that many so my portfolio is huge and then jack up my prices so I can book half that next year and still make the same amount.
Man... I only have 5 booked, and they're all with last years cheaper prices. No one's booked this year yet with my higher prices and albums, and I can't even get my first meeting done yet. Just got a call at 9:45PM from the mom of tomorrow meeting and they're going with someone who is a pro, who shot they're friends wedding.
The girl does great work, I commended her... thanked her for her time, bit my lip until it bled and said goodbye.
I just want to MEET... I've been fairly lax. Now that my studio albums are in, I'm taking the gloves off. I'm a darned good salesman, and I enjoy it, and this whole series of events has ticked me off.
I started January with 6 potential brides... I'm down to 3, if I'm lucky. I NEED them.
Good job to everyone else. Anyone need a 2nd? =o)
BTW - I did 23 weddings last year at my cheaper rates 800 - 1400, and I've more than doubled that price range. I'm getting compliments, just no commitments.
Thanks for listening... and good job to everyone else.
I'm advertising with the Rochester Wedding Magazine. I had my ad on their website for three days before I booked my first wedding through them. Every wedding I've gotten since has come through the magazine, in addition to some referrals from previous brides. I'm happy