pricing help?

[mike_311]

I am just starting to get set up to start charging customers, website is being built, so i just need to finalize a few things before i go live:

it seem that I have two methods of pricing to choose from, being mainly family and individual portrait shooting, not sure what would be the better pricing model. The major difference being where i should include my editing/processing costs.

1. charge a lower sitting fee and high markup on prints, with a minimum purchase required.

2. charge a higher sitting fee and low markups on prints, no minimum purchase required.

in theory both models would generate the same income for me, however I'm not sure if one offer a benefit over the other in term of generating business or revenue.

Option 1 would probably draw more people to a sitting with me, but i would probably have to offer quite a few prints and photo packages to make up the time editing and processing the photos. the photos would be marked up say 1000% or more and requiring a minimum purchase to make sure I get reimbursed for my time.

Option 2 would pay me upfront for my editing/processing time but may scare away potential customers with a larger initial cost, but the costs of prints would only be marked up 300-400% with no minimum.

I'm leaning toward option two, since i plan to process the images before i show them and i dont want to not get paid for editing images my clients dont want. however option 1 seems to be the preferred method for the photo-chain stores and some local photographers i have come across.

Another thought would be to choose option 2 and included say 1 - 8x10 or some other package, to know let the customer know they aren't going to get gouged having to buy a lot of additional prints. in both cases i would have to be upfront with my printing costs.

I'd also like to hear thoughts on whether one model is preferred over the other for some reasons i haven't thought of.

[Ephur]

Disclaimer: I'm in not in the business at all! I just shoot for fun (and free when asked).

It seems to me you charge a higher sitting fee but waive it with a minimum purchase of X or Y package. Also, getting something for 'free' the sitting fee in this case is always alluring, and could even be turned into a package deal.

[emmaandnate]

I'd probably go in the middle. Charge enough so that if they only ordered the minimum it would still be worth your time. But don't mark up the prints so much that its totally unreasonable. Price compare if you can for your area. I think the biggest thing, and something I struggle with too, is that you're so eager to make it and just get off the ground that you're willing to make a deal, throw in this or that and what you're really doing is devaluing your work. If you take good pictures, charge for good pictures. The people who get it will come to you. You don't want the people who don't because they'll always be looking for the bargain and there is always someone who will do it cheaper than you.

I have a set pricing but I have "mini" packages that are more for the customer whose experience with pictures is the mall portrait studio. They're smaller and more affordable, but my value isn't compromised. I offer a special occasion package where I do just a mini session and the idea is they use them for birthday cards or holiday greetings. So like 5-10 final images. A couple options like that. Its a good way to show people who want a deal just a taste of quality and they'll likely buy more prints and come back for a bigger session next time.