I used to give prices. I thaught I would switch it up and state I will work with anyones budget and only charge what you can afford. Was it a bad idea to switch to that? I mean I am not getting calls now like I used to, but ythen again it is a slow time right now. Please give me your thaughts and feel free to like at my cite http://www.joshuayountphotography.com
2007-10-14 19:43:24 · 4 answers · asked by John 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
By your website, you are advertising yourself mainly as a wedding photographer - so I presume that is mainly what you do. I do see some portrait work there too.
Wedding and Portrait work is often based on Package Deals with some Ala Carte. If you are a potential customer shopping around, would you feel more comfortable with someone who has set prices or not? Pricing low is a sure way to put yourself out of business. You never want to be the lowest price. It means you will work yourself to death and reflects to the potential customer that you aren't that good, just cheap.
If you've ever attended any workshops and seminars, they clearly push package deals for many reasons. Do some research in this area. You can augment that with Ala Carte, if you like.
Quotes only work for commercial type of work and maybe for some corporate events, not for the type of work you are doing.
On a side note, I notice you are a heavy flash user, which is fine but it's very glaring in your images. If you are not diffusing it, you should - do more bounce flash and use a diffuser such as Stofen or something similar.
You are also taking photos in very harsh lighting conditions, which is causing major shadows. Move out of the direct sunlight and into shade.
What are you using for post-processing? You need to get your images more balanced.
Are you a member of PPA or WPPI? I would highly recommend you get hooked up with a professional association right away. You will learn a lot more there then you will ever learn from Yahoo Answers, both in the craft of photography as well as the business of photography.
Good Luck!
2007-10-15 03:32:25 · answer #1 · answered by DigiDoc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sliding scale is not a good idea, as you will have NO way to verify someone's ability to pay. A client may be well able to pay full price, but tell you he has a limited budget.
If you want to stay in business, you much charge what YOU can afford, in order to pay your expenses and still make money.
Photography is only a very small part of my business, but, I make it a habit to charge an hourly rate and only offer an ESTIMATE of what a job may cost. And, I ALWAYS pad my estimate by a factor of two, in case there are problems. (and there are ALWAYS problems!) In most cases, the projects come in well under the estimate and the client is usually pleased to pay the balance.
By the way, if I incur any up front costs, such as travel expenses, I always collect a deposit, to cover these costs.
If a client cannot afford to pay MY expenses and a little profit, then I cannot afford to have him as a client.
2007-10-16 09:57:27 · answer #2 · answered by Vince M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Set a price. Why are you punishing the ones with money? If you shoot a wedding and it's a standard affair. Other than the lavish flower arrangements.. a wedding is a wedding. Why should you charge me more for the same work you are doing for broke Joe just because I happen to work harder than him and make more money. Does that seem fair to you?
From one wedding photographer to another, I wouldn't hire you knowing that you were going to prey on me and make up for the money you lost on the last wedding.
If a couple comes and you know they are down and out, tell them you are running a special and help a person out every now and again, but don't advertise to the world that you are ROBIN HOOD and are going to steal from the rich and give to the poor, that's just bad business.
On your website, you need more images in your portfolio, it didn't convince me you could do the job. Also, get someone to proof read, there are misspellings and typos and grammatical errors, which you don't want on there. It doesn't instill confidence in your services. Play up your abilities a little more in your about me page, you have to sale yourself. You are the business.
2007-10-15 05:51:00 · answer #3 · answered by tan0301 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is much easier to set a price but it is much more interesting to quote.
A set price means that whatever they want you will have to do. Period. And believe me, they will wear you out.
To quote a price is much nicer for you. And do not worry if things are a little slow right now.
People become much more interested if they believe that they have hired a genius.
Make 'em believe.
Things will pick up.
2007-10-14 19:55:58 · answer #4 · answered by Temple 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋