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02/05/2008 03:18:03 PM · #1 |
So, I've done a few freebie shoots for friends now, and am trying to get the wedding side of my studio going. my main question is - what do you include in your packages? Do you include prints, books and DVDs? do you sell your rights to the images (this idea gives me the willies)? i've done a survey of what people in the area are offering, and it seems to run the gamut of all possible variations. so, what do people here do?
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02/05/2008 03:37:45 PM · #2 |
In my packages, I sell albums on the upper end, but individual photos on the low end. I include a set of photos no matter what, so that the couple has something they can walk away with and not just the satisfaction of paying me for my time.
I almost always show a slide show at the reception, which I've always charged extra for *if* they want a copy of it. (I figure displaying it at the reception is advertisement for me, so I don't charge for that, but if they want a copy of it, then they have to pay for it) Trouble was ... only about half of the people purchased the DVD. So this year, I decided to raise my prices on the higher end and include the DVD as one of the benefits. :-)
As for what to include in packages ... my philosophy is to include the things that YOU like to do the most.
I used to sell everything ala carte. But that meant that I very seldom got to do engagements or bridals. And I *love* shooting engagements and bridals. The engagement shoot gives me a chance to get to know the couple. And bridals are very rewarding to me. So I do the engagement shoot for free and include the bridals in the package. Now I do engagements and bridals on just about every wedding I shoot.
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02/05/2008 03:41:40 PM · #3 |
Hi there :)
Feel free to view my site if you like to get some ideas. You need to be able to be competitive with your local businesses and try to offer something the others dont. I do sell the rights to the photographs on DVD. I decided to do this because I was losing business to others that did do it. PM me if you have any specific questions :) and good luck!
weddings and events |
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02/05/2008 03:47:23 PM · #4 |
terry, your bridals are superb. do you shoot them before, on or after the day of?
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02/05/2008 04:07:12 PM · #5 |
I've waffled on weather or not to offer CD's as well... at the moment I've settled on a 'low res' cd (4x6 max size). but I hate calling it low res... if it helps you can see what I offer on my site
Message edited by author 2008-02-05 16:24:25. |
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02/05/2008 04:20:29 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by xianart:
terry, your bridals are superb. do you shoot them before, on or after the day of? |
I try to do the bridals about 3 weeks out. That gives us time to get the picture selected, printed and framed in time for the wedding. I've started doing my own printing and framing now, so I can really cut it short if necessary.
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02/05/2008 04:27:26 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by dwterry:
Originally posted by xianart:
terry, your bridals are superb. do you shoot them before, on or after the day of? |
I try to do the bridals about 3 weeks out. That gives us time to get the picture selected, printed and framed in time for the wedding. I've started doing my own printing and framing now, so I can really cut it short if necessary. |
Just curious... what do you charge for a typical package |
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02/05/2008 07:30:41 PM · #8 |
You can go into this blind or not - knowledge is power so go get some knowledge.
Go to some local bridal shows and see what your competition is offering in their packages, for how much money, etc.
Since BRIDE magazine and the like say a photog should cost about 10% of the whole wedding, and the catering should run 50%, call some halls and find out what a wedding dinner costs for 100, 150, 200, 250 people.
Do you care about the above two items? You should! Why? You should know more about your business than your customer does. A bride will have read bride magazine, shopped other photogs, and know all this stuff before they meet with you.
For my area...
150 to 250 is the normal size range of weddings around here, and the average reception is $9-11,000. Total weddings run $25,000 ish.
The bulk of the wedding photography business is in the $1500-2000 range, but you don't have to give a lot (10 side 8x10 album makes most of them happy, and printed proofs). I want to average more than that, and want my work in bigger albums, so I've upped my prices trying to average $2400. It's more work to get the clients as fewer will pay the price.
Here, that is. Where you are may be different.
Most of your profit is in the album, so IMO you MUST sell them. To shoot a wedding and PP the images to proof stage totals about 12 or 13 hours of time. You might get $1200 for that here, but $900 is more like it. So tops, $100/hour.
With an album I can get $2000 for the whole deal. The album costs me $200 for materials and 4 hours of time. That's $800 to $1000 more net profit for only 4 hours work - or $250 hour.
shoot only: $1000
Shoot w/ album $1800 (net).
Mom will pay more for photography that if they couple themselves is paying.
Here there are a good number of out of town couples coming back here to get married - they moved away for jobs. To them I am a bargain and so they generally buy higher end packages compared to the locals.
I want to be chosen on my ability -my images, my albums, my personality. I don't want to sell on price alone - because someone is always cheaper than you, and you can't win a low-bidder war.
What YOU do is up to you.
Message edited by author 2008-02-05 19:39:55.
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02/05/2008 10:14:39 PM · #9 |
excellent advice, chris, thanks very much.
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