you’ve finalized your brand colors and logos, your website is up and running, and you’ve got an appointment to meet with a potential client. all that’s left is one thing (and you’ve been putting it off).
your prices.
like most entrepreneurs, learning how to price yourself as a wedding photographer is one of the most important aspects of your business, but it’s also one of the most difficult! that’s why i’ve put together tips to help you set your prices competitively and as painlessly as possible.
here are 4 tips for how to price yourself as a wedding photographer:
1. figure out what each service base- price should be.
first things first, you need to figure out a base pay (or as I like to say…the price that’s worth leaving your house for). at a bare minimum, your basic packages need to be worth your hard work and effort. a base price is not the cheapest on the market or a ploy to get any and all clients! you need to make sure what you are charging is right for both the client and your business.
if you’re having a hard time coming up with a base price, you can “back into” the numbers that work for you. For example…
decide what you want to make hourly and multiply that price by how many hours it takes you to do the project. (i always tack on an extra hour just in case something takes longer than you think, and then that’s my package price!)
2. understand your ideal client so you can price for them.
not everyone is going to be your clients. every photographer has their own style, personality, and price point, so it’s important to identify who your ideal client is. are you on the search for young couples on a budget? do you prefer to shoot high-end locations? are you willing to travel?
narrowing down the type of client you want to serve will not only help you find the right fit for your business, but it will help you gauge the price point for package prices, a la carte services and sitting fees (and who will be willing to pay them.)
3. keep it super simple and easy to understand for your client
when developing your packages and setting up your price list, it’s important to know that you don’t need extra things in every package to make them look exciting. if you do, your client can get overwhelmed with options!
while it’s tempting to make sliding scales and varying price points for unique situations, in the end, they take away more than they give.
stick to clean, clear, and concise package pricing where potential clients see the value in each of the available packages, without getting confused.
4. create a la carte items to help your collections have value
can you say “upsell?” to further avoid confusion, consider setting up a la carte items that work as easy add-on options!
a la carte options allow for specific client requests that may not be common and would otherwise confuse potential customers. they are also an easy way to find clients who may not need an entire package but would definitely pay for an individualized service––which makes them feel valuable!
another perk to a la carte options is the ability to see your clients’ purchasing patterns. if enough of them purchase one item, you can use that data to adjust your packages and pricing going forward. (thank you, easy marketing research!)
if you’re still on the fence about how to price yourself, i’d love to help! i started a mentor program for photographers just like you! in the program, i take my business expertise… meet your business right where it’s at, and help you transform it into the business of your DREAMS that you’ve wanted all along! click here for all the info.
