I am an amateur photographer and have just started my own photography business. I am trying to figure out how much I should charge for my sessions and what should be included. Any advice would be very helpful. Should I give the client a cd with their photos as well, or just have them order prints though me?
The session I need pricing advice for are portraits, small events, engagement, maternity, and small weddings. Thanks!
Fishmeister – yes, I have started a photography business, but it is not up and running yet. I am currently in the process of getting a website set up and figuring out my prices. I have taken many photos for friends and family, and yes, they like my work. It would have been nice for some real advice or encouraging words instead of tearing down a fellow photographer. Don’t judge before you know all the facts next time.
It depends. Mostly on the quality of service you’re offering and what you’re offering to the clients.
Offering CDs with all the images on is becoming increasingly common, but that doesn’t mean you have to. It can obviously hurt repeat business. Perhaps offer a "social networking" package, which would include images at a reduced resolution that can be uploaded, but would be harder to produce good quality prints. Make sure this is explained to people buying the package.
I would think about $50-$150/hour for location work and maybe slightly less for studio work, depending on what the quality of the studio is. Many people will see this as overcharging, but these people are people who will never be happy with the service you provide.
Charge for prints on top of the hourly rate, though you might want to include a minimum number of prints to begin with. For example, the first 3 prints at 6"x4" are free, but there is a charge for a larger print or for more prints.
Always be conservative with the number of usable photos you’re offering from a photoshoot. 30 from an all day event gives you the opportunity to select only the very best and not the ones that anyone could’ve taken. This helps to differentiate you from other photographers too. Explain your reasoning for this and add that they may be lucky and get more pictures than they expected.
Aim to be providing a high-quality professional service and price yourself accordingly, and you’ll get repeat business. Remember you’ve got to make enough to make equipment investments and the time you’re spending worthwhile.
4 Responses to “What should I charge for my photography business?”
It depends. Mostly on the quality of service you’re offering and what you’re offering to the clients.
Offering CDs with all the images on is becoming increasingly common, but that doesn’t mean you have to. It can obviously hurt repeat business. Perhaps offer a "social networking" package, which would include images at a reduced resolution that can be uploaded, but would be harder to produce good quality prints. Make sure this is explained to people buying the package.
I would think about $50-$150/hour for location work and maybe slightly less for studio work, depending on what the quality of the studio is. Many people will see this as overcharging, but these people are people who will never be happy with the service you provide.
Charge for prints on top of the hourly rate, though you might want to include a minimum number of prints to begin with. For example, the first 3 prints at 6"x4" are free, but there is a charge for a larger print or for more prints.
Always be conservative with the number of usable photos you’re offering from a photoshoot. 30 from an all day event gives you the opportunity to select only the very best and not the ones that anyone could’ve taken. This helps to differentiate you from other photographers too. Explain your reasoning for this and add that they may be lucky and get more pictures than they expected.
Aim to be providing a high-quality professional service and price yourself accordingly, and you’ll get repeat business. Remember you’ve got to make enough to make equipment investments and the time you’re spending worthwhile.
References :
Ok, Ok, where to begin?…..
So apparently you have already "started" this business, yet you have absolutely no idea about pricing, nor any idea how the customer will order or recieve the images?. This is very basic stuff that you should already have worked out months before declaring your business as open. Without knowing prices to charge and how to present the finished product to the customer, how will you know what your profit margin is?, how will you know that the profit you make will cover your living costs?., I’ll give you your answer, you have not even considered it at all!, the fact you are asking these questions is proof of this. You appear to have absolutely no business sense, and without a good business head your little "business" will fold as soon as it has started. I’m going to take an educated guess and day that you have recently bought a DSLR, a friend or member of the family has said they look good, and now you think you can start a business.
Based on the information you have already given me, I can not see this little business if your starting for at least another year, and has as much chance of surviving as a jellyfish in a blast furnace.
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There are phases to setting your pricing schedule.
1) survey the local photographers who supply the same services you are able to provide.
2) write a business and marketing plan and have SCORE look them over.
3) build a P&L spread sheet. Include all your expenses; fixed, variable, periodic and capital expenses. Those costs (other than the capital investments) will show you what kind of cash flow you will need to just break even. In order to support your family, you will have to add to your fees what it will take to provide that extra income. Don’t for get to include the taxes you will be paying both as a business and as an individual.
That will give you a good start.
Remember to add into your investment plan, replacing your camera bodies every three to five years as well as new computers about every three (office desktop and traveling notebook) and programs like Photoshop, Lightroom, Photo Mechanic, Noise Ninja and others specifically written for working pros.
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proFotog
From a creative standpoint allow me to ask you these questions:
1. Are you in full understanding of how to use your camera?
2. Do you understand what ISO, aperture, and shutter speed are and know how to use them to get the shot you want?
3. Do you understand lighting know how to work it to your advantage?
4. Do you know how to read your meter for the correct exposure?
5. Do you know how to get a shot right in camera so you can spend as minimal time in post as possible?
From a business standpoint:
1. Are you capable of dealing with the ups and downs of a struggling industry?
2. Do you know how to deal with demanding clients who can be rude, arrogant, picky, annoying, etc?
3. Do you know how much all of this is going to cost you in equipment and other business costs?
4. Do you have a business plan put together detailing every bit of what you intend to do?
5. Do you keep on the latest business trends and read sources such as PPA (Professional Photographers of America), WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International), Black Star Rising, etc?
I am not trying to discourage you but these ARE things you have to think about. Pricing is only one element of the equation. An amateur starting a business right out of the gate is foolish thinking and short sighted at best.
Get some experience under your belt, practice regularly, and perhaps in a couple of years when you have mastered your equipment, understand what you are doing, and have done your homework on starting a business, then maybe you’ll be ready.
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