OMG! Senior Picture Packaging

[britt777]

I have been researching it seems like for months on package pricing for Senior Pictures. They all vary so much! Grrrr. Can I please get some tips on the best way to come up with some resonable package pricing. The sooner I get these tips the better. I just did my first Senior session and don't really know what to charge. Thanks so much.
__________________

[dreamcatcher23]

The quick answer:

If the spread is so wide, perhaps it doesn't matter so much?

A slightly longer answer:

Find prices for photographers of similar calibre to yourself working in similarly affluent/poor areas and use their pricing structure.

longer answer:

Work out your costs, overheads, profit margins, equipment insurance, replacement, depreciation, yada yada....

[sapearl]

Dreamcatcher offer some excellent advice Brittany - but keep an eye on your costs and make sure you make a reasonable profit. The key is place yourself correctly in your local market and price according to your talent and services.

But I need to ask - if you've already shot your first commercial package, what did you tell the client about their pricing?

[britt777]

I charged an up front sitting fee for my time and travel to each location. I am now going to edit photos and post online for their viewing and selection. In the mean time I am trying to come up with the packages.

[britt777]

Dreamcatcher offer some excellent advice Brittany - but keep an eye on your costs and make sure you make a reasonable profit. The key is place yourself correctly in your local market and price according to your talent and services.

But I need to ask - if you've already shot your first commercial package, what did you tell the client about their pricing?


Don't have a huge photography market where I'm at. I think thats part of the problem.

[sapearl]

Well, that may actually work to your advantage, with minimal competition.

If you're pretty good at what you do and offer excellent quality and service, then you could charge a higher rate and not worry about being undercut.

Don't have a huge photography market where I'm at. I think thats part of the problem.

[britt777]

Well, that may actually work to your advantage, with minimal competition.

If you're pretty good at what you do and offer excellent quality and service, then you could charge a higher rate and not worry about being undercut.

I posted this a while back. These are of my daughter. I am very new to the portrait side of photography, but looking to get better. Feel free to have a look and tell me what you think.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=685518

[tonyr0584]

Hi Britt, When you say you have been researching.... Do you mean you have answered some of the following: Do you know what your cost of goods (COG) is? Do you know what your overhead is? Do you have a business plan?

or have you simply been seeing what other photographers charge?