Wedding packages - Portrait Units or Print Credit

[snyper77]

I need your help please. I am trying to create 3 wedding packages but having a hard time deciding on what should be the ingredients (Coffee table book, leather book, etc.) I live in the poorest part or the poorest state in the USA, the Mississippi Delta. Therefore, (on average), people here cannot afford $2000+ packages. I was considering something like a $995, $1295, and $1595. I know that some people offer "Print Credits" of say $200 in a pakcage, and some people offer "Units", say 200 units, where an 8x10=10 units, 4x6=1 unit, etc. I had a good photographer tell me it's best to NOT offer dollar amount (credits) because people clearly see that you are charging $4 for a 4x6 and they know that they can get 4x6's at CVS Pharmacy for 19 cents. That makes good sense, but I've found that "Portrait Units" can be very confusing for customers. Could you all please throw some package ideas my way? Thank you.

[tim]

Units are just an alternate currency system, they add confusion and achieve nothing worthwhile IMHO. They have to have a unit to dollar conversion chart anyway. I'd use credit.

[snyper77]

Units are just an alternate currency system, they add confusion and achieve nothing worthwhile IMHO. They have to have a unit to dollar conversion chart anyway. I'd use credit.

Tim, thanks for replying. They don't really have to have a unit to dollar conversion chart.... I would simply offer them 200 units in a package... then give them a "print size = x units" chart. Kinda like:

11x14 = 25 units
8x10 = 10 units
5x7 = 6 units
4x6 = 1 unitThen, if they picked 10 8x10's (100 units) and 100 4x6's (100 units), then they are all used up.

My main concern is trying to explain "units" to people. Not everyone in this world understand simple things. LOL

Thank you again for taking the time to reply. I greatly appreciate you.

[tim]

What if they wanted more prints? You'd have to say "that 11x14 and five 6x4s is 30 units, that'll be $2500 please". And when you get into online ordering units are meaningless and confusing.

Do yourself a favour and use dollars. It keeps things simple and seems less like trying to get money out of people by confusing them.

[SuzyView]

I think Tim has a point. My Smugmug account is by dollars. I don't like packages. People just order what they want. But then again, I don't make money either. :(

BTW, nice to see you, Tim. Busy?

[tim]

BTW, nice to see you, Tim. Busy?

Hi, i'm here a lot, where've you been?! :p It's winter here and i'm averaging one wedding every two months, but I have 25 weddings booked for summer. Until then i'm doing as little as possible :)

[SuzyView]

I don't want to go too off topic, but I wanted to say that packages are based on how business is done. If people are poor, it's a good call to do many weddings, giving less time, small packages. So, tell them they can have you for 3 hours total for $1000 and throw in a bunch of photos & DVD, etc. If you get 2 weddings a week, that's pretty good. If you charge too much, you won't even get a bite. Maybe even do a 1 hour for $250 and prints extra. Be generous to start, giving the pictures away to get your name out there. Poor people just can't afford pictures, so help them and help yourself.

[snyper77]

Tim, you're absolutely right. Never thought about "what if they want more prints". I would still have to give them a price list (in dollars).

One more question, please: In regards to buying additional prints, should you list your individual print prices with your package info?

[tim]

One more question, please: In regards to buying additional prints, should you list your individual print prices with your package info?

I would. When I meet customers I give them a nice folder of information. Page one is a cover page, page two is the first page of my packages (deluxe, standard, and basic), 2nd page is extras (proofs, proof books, parents albums, print prices). Next is a sample of my contract, along with the NZIPP standard terms and conditions. Finally I have the NZIPP code of ethics, signed by me. NZIPP = New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers.

[snyper77]

Awesome information. Thanks a million!