help me please?!!

[DivineMrsM]

i want to gather unbiased opinions on a pricing scheme for my photography business.

right now, i charge a flat rate of $80. for that, they get the session, location of their choice, and at least 50 pics on a full resolution cd. i'm starting to rethink it. i fully edit all the pictures and i have yet to take pictures for someone and not given them at least 100 images. i just feel like i am giving my stuff away. i spend an entire day editing, so at least 6-8 hours. at that rate, i'm hardly even being paid minimum wage for just the editing alone, not to mention the 2 hours i take per session.

so i was thinking of this:

$50 session fee. then i upload all the pics to a website, and they can choose as many pics as they want for $2.50 per full res digital image on a disc.

i can give them the option of choosing either package A ($50 sitting, $2.50 per image) or package B - flat fee of $100.

what do you think??

[Apple Girl]

How much experience do you have? Do you have a degree in the fine arts? Are you located in an expensive or low cost of living region of the country?

I am thinking that's fairly cheap for a professional photographer in my area. Most charge at least $80 for sitting, plus extras for prints or digital image packages. Even more if you do editing. Total packages start at around $150-$200 (includes sitting fee and images).

But, your level of experience and credentials (along with your portfolio) will affect how much people are willing to pay.

ETA - I see you're in Canada. Not sure how the market is different there. But, in my area of the States, you would be considered grossly underpaid.

[vbactivist]

I agree - i don't think you're charging enough. I think both new packages sound better. I would even consider a $70 session fee or $75, and 2.50 per image, or a $150 flat fee. But I am in a pretty expensive area.

[abi&ben'smom]

I like Package A. Plus I think that people will spend more money because they won't be able to resist the cute pictures!

[DivineMrsM]

thanks!!

i'm still new, that's why i am starting out kinda low. i took 2 courses in college, but i don't have a degree. i don't know if i know any photogs in my area that do, actually!

but i still don't think i'm charging nearly enough. i'm really good!! and i give a TON of pictures. i just kinda feel that with a flat fee of $80, i'm just giving my talent away.

[cristeen]

Cheap. I had my maternity photos this weekend - sitting fee (at a park, so no studio rent) was $120, which included 1 - 8x10 photo. She'll put the photos up when she's done processing them and anything I want beyond that is a per-photo fee... don't remember what it is right now, but I can pull that out for you later. The CD with the full shoot on it was something like $500.

[DaughterOfKali]

Where I am, professional photographers charge between $500-650 for a full package. That includes the sitting fee and all digital images on a disk. If you want any of those images printed, that is a separate charge.

[Drummer's Wife]

I also think you should charge a lot more. Especially if you are offereing up a CD.

[MadiMamacita]

$2.50 per photo is great. my wedding photog. put the pics on a site where the prints (4x6 mind you) were $15 a piece!
my concern for the idea of a $50 sitting fee and then 2.50 per image ordered is that you are going to find cheapskates (like me..) who will only pick out a few images to purchase and then you are still stuck editing all those pics with little payoff.
What if you did a sitting fee of $60 or $70, including 10 or so prints, and then above that the price per pic is 2.50?

[DivineMrsM]

Originally Posted by MadiMamacita

$2.50 per photo is great. my wedding photog. put the pics on a site where the prints (4x6 mind you) were $15 a piece!
my concern for the idea of a $50 sitting fee and then 2.50 per image ordered is that you are going to find cheapskates (like me..) who will only pick out a few images to purchase and then you are still stuck editing all those pics with little payoff.
What if you did a sitting fee of $60 or $70, including 10 or so prints, and then above that the price per pic is 2.50?

that's not a bad idea! i think i'll give them the choice. flat fee, or $60 sitting fee, 10 images, then $2.50 for each additional image.

thanks!

[SuzyLee]

Even if you take 100+ pics, you don't have to offer them all to the customer. Just pick the 50 or 60 best ones, and leave the rest un-editted.

Either way I would up your prices though.