I am just getting started in the Senior Portrait business and wanted to ask some more experienced photographers in this field a question.

Do you offer ala carte pricing or do you offer package pricing, or both?

Just trying to come up with the best plan possible, obviously.

Thanks in advance.

No packages for me. People like a la carte. I base my sessions on minimum purchase. For example, if I shoot a senior indoors and outdoors (about a 2.5 hour session), the session is $475, up front. They get $400 credit, to spend however they want. So there is a $75 session fee "built in," and it avoids me doing several hours of work to have them only buy 3 or 4 5x7s and scan them.

For my last shoot i charged $120 for the shoot itself, i priced it this way because $120 pays for a full set of inks on my Epson 2400.And then i have set prices for prints
-Jim

I don't have pkgs or ala carte

I charge them what I think my time is worth, and based on prints they buy.

Pfiltz wrote:
I don't have pkgs or ala carte

I charge them what I think my time is worth, and based on prints they buy.

So when a customer calls and asks prices what do you tell them? I charge you what I'm worth? They don't want anything more specific? Also if your price is based off prints they buy you must have a formula or unit price of some sort, so in essence you do sell ala cart? My customers typically do not know what prints they are going to order until they see the proofs =). If I understand you correctly you give no pricing until after session and proofs are presented? My customers would never do this, small town, they want to know exact cost before they book. If you don't mind the question, what is the average amount your customers spend?

Mel.

When moms call me, we usually have a lengthy dicsussion. Money is a small part of the discussion. I just tell them my prices run from 300.00 to 600.00.

I tell them that I'm charging them for my eye behind the camera. Working with their seniors on posing. My editing time. And finally Prints. They know they're going to get proofs -vs- online purchasing, or sitting in front of a viewing station, to be pressured to make impulse sales..

They've usually already have spoken with other Moms about my work, and pricing. So they pick up the phone and call.

Just my take on it. I make it simple for them. I don't like units, or formula's. I don't like sitting fees. They seem to see things the way I do.

As long as they keep calling and coming, I'm good with it.

I have a large feeling it depends on the area you live in.

If you have a lot of serious questions and are looking for more specific answers I'd suggest checking out Digital Wedding Forum. The name implies weddings, but it's got loads of info and photographers with portrait businesses.

Pfiltz wrote:
Mel.

When moms call me, we usually have a lengthy dicsussion. Money is a small part of the discussion. I just tell them my prices run from 300.00 to 600.00.

I tell them that I'm charging them for my eye behind the camera. Working with their seniors on posing. My editing time. And finally Prints. They know they're going to get proofs -vs- online purchasing, or sitting in front of a viewing station, to be pressured to make impulse sales..

They've usually already have spoken with other Moms about my work, and pricing. So they pick up the phone and call.

Just my take on it. I make it simple for them. I don't like units, or formula's. I don't like sitting fees. They seem to see things the way I do.

As long as they keep calling and coming, I'm good with it.

Makes sense and I really wish I could operate in a similar matter. Unfortunately my area is a very small town and the economy has hit it HARD. I have many calls saying they would love to have me but I am too expensive, and my base package is only $200, which is too little for the work I do. Anyhow I am glad it works for you, wish I could do the same.

Mel.

I tried the pkg thing, then ala carte. I never could warm up to it. Nor could my customers. I'm after two things.

More referrals and more of my competitors customers.

Thanks for the feedback and thoughts of how you price your images.

I'll also go check out that wedding forum for more information.

I am charging a session fee, but right now am only doing ala carte pricing with Zenfolio, an on-line lab. Only have shot one Senior Session so far using them. The mom hasn't purchased anything, yet. Lets hope she does.

Pfiltz wrote:
Mel.

When moms call me, we usually have a lengthy dicsussion. Money is a small part of the discussion. I just tell them my prices run from 300.00 to 600.00.

I tell them that I'm charging them for my eye behind the camera. Working with their seniors on posing. My editing time. And finally Prints. They know they're going to get proofs -vs- online purchasing, or sitting in front of a viewing station, to be pressured to make impulse sales..

They've usually already have spoken with other Moms about my work, and pricing. So they pick up the phone and call.

Just my take on it. I make it simple for them. I don't like units, or formula's. I don't like sitting fees. They seem to see things the way I do.

As long as they keep calling and coming, I'm good with it.


I like this concept. There are too many people who will waste your time, buy a few 5x7s and scan the crap out of them. Good plan. I'm in!!

Gun...

I'm a simple fella. I'm not trying to screw my customers, and they understand that. They honestly feel like they're getting a fair price for what they receive from me. Not only in prints, but my overall work ethic.

It works for me, and that's what counts.

Your mileage may vary.

Per Mel Boonstra: Makes sense and I really wish I could operate in a similar matter. Unfortunately my area is a very small town and the economy has hit it HARD. I have many calls saying they would love to have me but I am too expensive, and my base package is only $200, which is too little for the work I do. Anyhow I am glad it works for you, wish I could do the same.

I can definitely relate to that! My studio in small town, South Texas, also hit hard by economy, had similar aspect. When they had to choose between buying milk for the baby and an 8x10, it pulls on your heart strings. It also makes you choose between selling them an 8x10 for practically cost and buying groceries for your family!

Tough place to do business! My empathies to you and your clients!

I do a fixed price for a specific number of photos, all retouched and adjusted. After that I offer special prints on canvas, metal, group wall samples etc. Usually square shapes or long rectangles that are unique. It is not a hard sell, its more like you have the 8x10 so why not do something really decorative for your home and give the relatives the basic prints. I even give the finished images on CD. They can make copies for friends if they want. Few have the resources to do anything unique with them. Does not hurt my extra sales and they like having a digital image for facebook etc.

Thanks for all the replies and tips.

Anyone else care to add anything?

Feel free to do so. I'm trying to learn.

If you want to make sales Never show your photos from a online order site. You take the image from being something unique and special to just another photo that is worth less money.

Photovision is offering a $4.00, 2CD package that talks about selling and would be worth the price. The CD's seem to be somewhat continued from previous versions but the information is still good. It also had some very basic infomation about outside lighting that many on this forum could learn from also.

I went to projection and it increased my sales dramatically from just putting them on an online proofing gallery. It made a lot bigger impact and they seemed to tell more people about it too. Im just getting fed up with all the Uncle toms and harrys that many people are ok using for photos. They think they are going to get killer shots from newbies that claim to be pros and then it back fires on them after the fact. I think that is going to be an ongoing interference to work around unfortunately.

it does vary greatly depending on town size, local economy, your clientele, and the "type" of business you are doing... boutique, or volume, etc.

pricing for one studio in one town might work great, but be terrible for someone else.

Mel Boonstra wrote:
Pfiltz wrote:
Mel.

When moms call me, we usually have a lengthy dicsussion. Money is a small part of the discussion. I just tell them my prices run from 300.00 to 600.00.

I tell them that I'm charging them for my eye behind the camera. Working with their seniors on posing. My editing time. And finally Prints. They know they're going to get proofs -vs- online purchasing, or sitting in front of a viewing station, to be pressured to make impulse sales..

They've usually already have spoken with other Moms about my work, and pricing. So they pick up the phone and call.

Just my take on it. I make it simple for them. I don't like units, or formula's. I don't like sitting fees. They seem to see things the way I do.

As long as they keep calling and coming, I'm good with it.

Makes sense and I really wish I could operate in a similar matter. Unfortunately my area is a very small town and the economy has hit it HARD. I have many calls saying they would love to have me but I am too expensive, and my base package is only $200, which is too little for the work I do. Anyhow I am glad it works for you, wish I could do the same.


so sorry to hear this mel. your work rocks, and you deserve every penny you charge!

your going to have to go through a season or two to find out what works best for you and the area you are in. I am going into my second season now and am going to be making changes. I still have to be careful to not overprice myself I feel though, and at the same time not let myself get screwed over too. Its going to be a fine line. last year i used photobucket for proofing and they all loved the online proofing. i also gave printed proofs. My mistake was giving too much and assuming that when i selected the option to not allow downloading that no body could take my work. Wrong. I have my own site now and use adobe flash. its very secure. I've also learned how to block downloading without the flash player on my site. Next mistake, not charging any fees. I know Pfiltz does this, but also think that he charges them to take printed proofs out of his studio. Its got to be one way or another because people will go to wal mart and scan and print. I cannot and will not let this happen again. The wal mart scanner and printer would make ansel adams work suck. I'm not sure how i will go about it yet, but i will either go on and charge a session fee, or get money for them to take the printed proofs. I'm leaning more towards the session fee now because people here expect it. That way, i get paid for some of my time right away. I also need to come up with a way to get them to not wait right up until the last minute when they need those wallets to go out in the graduation announcements. They always can't wait to see the proofs, but then they just about all bombarded me at the last minute for orders, some that the shoot was taken three months earlier. It seems like once they feel secure knowing that they have the shots done and ready to order that they will sit on it.