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DPChallenge Forums >> Business of Photography >> Prices to list or not to list?
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01/18/2007 07:22:07 PM · #1
From another thread concerning my site:

Originally posted by Ristyz:


Get rid of the actual prices on the website. Do state there are several packages to choose from. You want them to come into the studio for a free consultation. That's where you show them the prices. It's like getting them to test drive a car once they're in it chances of purchase increase 10 fold.


So, what are your takes, should I or should I not list prices?

As a forerunner, I am not a sales person, I don't have the personality to be pushy.
01/18/2007 07:26:33 PM · #2
ooops, there are some typos in that site...'recieve and thier' should be receive and their..
01/18/2007 07:27:27 PM · #3
Leave them as they are,if couples are browsing they are likely wanting to compare prices as well as the type of style you do
01/18/2007 07:28:27 PM · #4
Originally posted by heatherd:

ooops, there are some typos in that site...'recieve and thier' should be receive and their..


Thanks, yeah, I'm still in production stages... not ready for GP :-)
01/18/2007 07:30:47 PM · #5
I don't show prices on my website. That way I have the freedom to make changes as needed. BUT - that said - when the clients come to my studio for an interview I hand them a professional-looking printed copy of my prices so they never feel like I'm just calling numbers off the top of my head. I don't like "selling" either, so I spend time asking them questions about their wedding while they look through a few Shutterfly books of samples, then when they're at ease we start talking about the different packages (I only offer 3). I don't try to price my packages "to suit any budget" - the fact is budget weddings can't afford to hire me. But I offer all of the bling for the price - leather wedding albums, parents albums, a proof album, online gallery, etc.


01/18/2007 07:36:18 PM · #6
I would think leaving them on the site would be better. Especially with out of town business as couples from neighboring towns/counties would be less likely to drive 45-60 (or more) minutes just to get prices in person. They're looking at your website as much for prices as anything. If they aren't there they'll probably just click to the next site.

Good looking site, btw.
01/18/2007 07:38:10 PM · #7
Originally posted by idnic:

I don't show prices on my website. That way I have the freedom to make changes as needed. BUT - that said - when the clients come to my studio for an interview I hand them a professional-looking printed copy of my prices so they never feel like I'm just calling numbers off the top of my head. I don't like "selling" either, so I spend time asking them questions about their wedding while they look through a few Shutterfly books of samples, then when they're at ease we start talking about the different packages (I only offer 3). I don't try to price my packages "to suit any budget" - the fact is budget weddings can't afford to hire me. But I offer all of the bling for the price - leather wedding albums, parents albums, a proof album, online gallery, etc.


What she said.

High End Weddings use you for WHO you are as much as the images. (and who's Weddings you'e shot... it's all about the Joneses ya know) When they call you should invite them for a free consultation so they can see what you have to offer (this means some sample books and a sitting area) plenty of pics on the wall. Dont need to matte them but do frame them. When they come in you are not pushy selling, you are answering theri questions. They haven't been in a wedding before and are usually looking for tidbits of advice but not too much. You have to be freindly and answer questions. Knowing how to lead them to questions a little is good too. They need to know you CARE about them as well as getting the pics. Not so much hard selling as being patient and personable with them.

Edit to add: When they call you, you can tell them the prices over the phone. But I will warn you after years of watching the biz from the inside, the people that want the prices up front are not the high end buyers


Message edited by author 2007-01-18 19:39:45.
01/18/2007 07:38:43 PM · #8
Speaking as a customer/client/consumer:

if I don't see prices, I figure it must be bad news or that they have something to hide.
I have better things to do with my time than to have to GO to someone, just to find out their prices are ridiculous, so I won't.

I will consider phoning or emailing for a pricelist if I am desperate, but I'm not happy about that, either.

In MY opinion, being up-front and showing prices is a MUST.
01/18/2007 07:47:46 PM · #9
I'm not exactly set up to do a high-end showing for potential customers, not at my home anyway.

I'm not sure these prices are high end either (but significantly higher than my old prices). I am debating on a package in the $6,000-$8,000 range, but have to wait on that one.

01/18/2007 07:48:42 PM · #10
Leroy knows a bit of my history, but I'll qualify my experience.

I worked for the top wedding and portrait photographers in the city I used to live in for 3-4 years. I was the custom printer (darkroom style) and I helped in the studio wehn needed as well. The people I worked for also offered their lab service to other pro photogrpahers, mostly wedding. 3-4 high end and a bunch of regular ones too.

I'm only talking wedding here. Keep in mind that 90% of the high end brides I saw would come in with either their mother or fianceƩ for a photography consutlation. Most visited 2-3 photographers this way. The people I worked for had a 1-2 year waiting list and people would schedule thier wedding based on their avaiabillity sometimes. They also would refer people to other photogs more along their wedding party's budget or if the date was already filled if it wasn't working out with this studio.

They also offered theri price list at wedding shows. Their prices were not a secret but they were not listed on the website either. (and still aren't)
01/18/2007 07:50:24 PM · #11
Barbara Warren Weddings She lists a base price only.
01/18/2007 07:51:15 PM · #12
Originally posted by Shakalaka:

I'm not exactly set up to do a high-end showing for potential customers, not at my home anyway.

I'm not sure these prices are high end either (but significantly higher than my old prices). I am debating on a package in the $6,000-$8,000 range, but have to wait on that one.


It's never an overnight thing to get high end. Certainly wasn't for my employers but they got there. If you keep doing quality you could end up there. Just think Quality and get that portfolio and then the Studio not in your home.

You can travel to them for consutlations as well.... take some books and you prices and stuff with you.
01/18/2007 07:52:40 PM · #13
Wow Leroy! You only charge $300 for a full res CD? That's a steal!

I charge $1500 for that! ONLY because they have the right to print elsewhere and on a wedding, you make alot of your money on prints and albums. They could just pay for you to shoot it and then buy that CD for $300 and then go get pictures done at the drug store. And that, could make you look bad. If the prints are not that great, it could look bad on you. If you charge a higher price, you're covered for all the print sales you will lose AND less people will buy them - resulting in more and higher print sales for you! :)

Just my advice! :)

Edit to add - Right now I charge between $950 and $2500 for a wedding. Next year however... I will be raising my prices by $1000 - $1500. Weddings are alot of stress and I don't want to do as many as I did last year. Not only that, but they take so much time! I feel that with 16 weddings under my belt by 2008... I will be well worth the price increase. Dealing with the lower end clients, I have found that I have more problems. People dilly dally around with paying, people book me as a last resort and so on. I want to be booked because of my work! I want my prices to reflect my talent and what I am worth! :)

Message edited by author 2007-01-18 19:58:39.
01/18/2007 08:02:38 PM · #14
Good point, just jacked the CD price up :-) I overlooked it in my price increase.
01/18/2007 08:10:11 PM · #15
Like I said in the other thread, I understand from a professional viewpoint that prices aren't listed, and why. However, as a consumer, I still don't like it. At least give me a base to see if I should even waste my time (and yours) to contact you.

That said, I haven't been a wedding photographer consumer for almost 10 years, and I don't plan on being one again (at least until my kids get married). I don't know if I was considered "high end" but we paid a lot (Technically, daddy paid alot.) The Internet wasn't even an option at that point. :)
01/18/2007 08:11:44 PM · #16
Originally posted by Beetle:

Speaking as a customer/client/consumer:

if I don't see prices, I figure it must be bad news or that they have something to hide.
I have better things to do with my time than to have to GO to someone, just to find out their prices are ridiculous, so I won't.

I will consider phoning or emailing for a pricelist if I am desperate, but I'm not happy about that, either.

In MY opinion, being up-front and showing prices is a MUST.


I agree with Beetle, speaking from a customer standpoint. The thing is, there's nearly always more than one person who can provide certain services. If you want to play games with me about getting your prices, I'll just move on to someone who doesn't. I'm sure there are high end customers for whom price makes no difference and maybe they don't care, but I'm not in that bracket. :)
01/18/2007 08:16:35 PM · #17
Offer your three "basic" package prices on the site and keep the "premier" package "consultation only, as services vary to your needs". Or something like that. :)
01/18/2007 08:18:37 PM · #18
Originally posted by error99:

Offer your three "basic" package prices on the site and keep the "premier" package "consultation only, as services vary to your needs". Or something like that. :)


That's exactly where I am thinking about putting the $6,00 to $8,000 package that I mentioned earlier :-)

Message edited by author 2007-01-18 20:18:59.
01/18/2007 08:29:35 PM · #19
Originally posted by Beetle:

Speaking as a customer/client/consumer:

if I don't see prices, I figure it must be bad news or that they have something to hide.
I have better things to do with my time than to have to GO to someone, just to find out their prices are ridiculous, so I won't.

I will consider phoning or emailing for a pricelist if I am desperate, but I'm not happy about that, either.

In MY opinion, being up-front and showing prices is a MUST.


That's interesting. If I don't see prices then my immediate reaction is based on the quality of work I see on the site. If it's just ok then I'll assume they are overpriced but if the work is outstanding then I'll assume it's because they are expensive but not overpriced. If my prices were high I wouldn't post them either as that's not a selling point.
01/18/2007 09:05:21 PM · #20
I'm learning more and more that simple is easier. Two packages perfect, three maybe. I also would not promise so many 4x6. Id just state that a proof book with 4x6 included. If you say 300 minimum 4x6 prints, I as a customer would expect them to be fully processed and final prints. Do you really want to process and finish 300 4x6 prints? I've done it, never again unless they are being bought as enlargements. I think prces shows that you are above-board and honest. Don't be embarrased, advertise with full disclosure, your clients will be happier.
01/18/2007 09:22:10 PM · #21
When I was shopping for a wedding photographer (6 years ago) we were very much on a budget at the time and if they didn't list prices I didn't even bother. One, because I was getting married in another state and didn't have the luxury of going to "consult" with someone so their website was really all I had to go on. And two, because, well I probably wouldn't do that anyways as time was not something I had alot of. Someone compared it to car dealers & test drives but who really looks foward to dealing with car dealers. Not me. :)

We did get very lucky with our photographer. She was very reasonable, very friendly, professional and the photos were beautiful. She could have (and probably should have) charged twice as much as she was for the quality she produced. She was even nice enough to mail us our proofs and then our album afterwards (again because we lived in Atlanta and she was in Nevada) for no extra charge.

This basically goes for other services as well. If they don't list prices, I usually move onto the next one. But that's just me. I'm not one to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on photos. :)
01/18/2007 09:26:11 PM · #22
Maybe a good compromise on the post or not post would be to post a few of the packages, mention that there is a premier package and it's customizable and comes with consultation. but don't put the prices on the first page.... portfolio comes first. maybe have a link to a complete pricing page for the weddings and a second pricing page for the other studio stuff.
01/18/2007 09:40:48 PM · #23
Originally posted by Ristyz:

Maybe a good compromise on the post or not post would be to post a few of the packages, mention that there is a premier package and it's customizable and comes with consultation. but don't put the prices on the first page.... portfolio comes first. maybe have a link to a complete pricing page for the weddings and a second pricing page for the other studio stuff.


Yeah, that sounds good to me. Working on the portfolio pages.

01/18/2007 09:51:21 PM · #24
As a recent consumer, I appreciated photographers that didn't hide their prices. I just skipped over those that didn't have prices. What I looked for was a good composition/price combination. So, those websites that not only listed their prices, but also posted sample photo albums are the ones I paid attention to.

Hope this helps! =-)

Helio
01/23/2007 10:45:38 AM · #25
I would think the question may well boil down to where we are in our evolution as a business. In the beginning, if there is little track record, the customer is taking a risk. It is a common practice for any business starting up offer attractive pricing to build a customer base and start a buzz regarding the name. I do not see how a photographer starting out who has limited experience and portfolio can posture themselves in the same position as a photographer with years of experience and many jobs under their belt. My own goal is to show prices, hold them down, get experience and build a track record and evolve my pricing and position regarding many things as my business builds.
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