Am i charging too less? Am i allowed to charge more??

[PIXI_666]

Hi Everyone

I haven't been into the Wedding Photography for long, and i have mainly only been doing friends and family weddings, so i usually don't earn a lot for ALL the time i put into it, because i always give off mates rates, and then for my brother's wedding i told them it's our gift to them!

My first clients wedding is in a month, i charged them $475, proof book, CD and DVD inclusive, plus all she wants me for is 3-4hrs so i couldn't really charge a lot for only wanting me for a short amount of time.

I guess i under estimate myself really...
I figure because im not a Pro that i can't charge higher amounts? DO you think i am just kidding myself, as in the last few weeks i have "heard" things and thought that maybe i should charge more for my work, because im hardly making a profit.

I do make a profit in copies and enlargements though....

I do have a quote written up and it comes to about $700, but do you think i ever use it? I guess people now know me as a cheap photographer, so if i give them the big quote, i think they are going to just go "Nah too expensive".

Im a little worried i will get a name for myself, and i don't want that...because people think "You get what you pay for" but i honestly think they get that plus a really hard working woman just trying to make their wedding photo's perfect.

Equipment isn't cheap, and i have NEVER made a profit from doing this yet, im always so busy buying other equipment...

What do you guys think?

I also have the same problem with portraits etc. I don't have a set rate for that.

Del

[CyberPet]

Del, don't sell yourself short! And yes, if you don't start charging what you're actually quoting, you will be known as the cheap photographer and will only get those types of jobs. I don't think you would be out on thin ice to charge $700 USD (or is that aussie dollars?) Anyway, it's time to decide what type of photographer you want to be and how much time you are spending not really getting paid.

I have an hourly fee that I work from, the first hour is always higher than the next hour, so when I quote for my work, I charge let say $100 an hour, but the first hour will be $150 (these are *not* my rates, but an example how I calculate). Then I have them choose images on Ala Carte, i.e. they decide if they want ONE image or 100 images and pay for the prints according to a set price list for different formats.

If you don't feel ready for this just yet, set a price list after say mid 2006 with the new pricelist, and go from there. If you get referrals and they are wondering why you suddenly charge the double, you just say that you've got to make a profit at one point and your learning period is over. The trick is to dare to take the "oh, well that's too expensive" and not lower the price. Next time you'll get a couple that will love your work and your new price list and will then refer others to you.

[PIXI_666]

Thank you for that...i guess i just need some re-assurance that what i am going to do is right. And an hourly rate (On the spot) is something i was thinking of, sometiems i can do a wedding for 3hrs, another goes for 14hrs!!

I guess i should make some pricelists, and if people want mates rates i can take 30% or so off?

And yes its AU dollars

Thanks again!!!!!

Del

[CyberPet]

I do mates discounts on a very impulsive matter. Luckily I've only shot one couple yet that were my friends. This summer I'm doing a huge wedding for a friend, she's charged a little less and she'll get more hours than she'd normally would if she were to pay full price. She doesn't even know what I have up my sleve for her, this is a gift that she's not prepared for yet - but I'm going to do some special stuff, mostly for my own sake to try things out, but also because it's a great gesture and something to have in my portfolio.

But not all friends gets these type of generous offers - LOL!!! Hubby's cousin is getting married next year and have booked me. Problem is, it's in Canada and I'm in Sweden. So I hope we can get some help with the plane tickets and they then only pay for the prints, since I'll still go to the darn wedding.

[PIXI_666]

Oh OK...great tips here, im writing stuff down as i go...and i have also just quickyl written up a bit of a pricelist...ill psot it here for suggestions..

I haven't done Hrly rates as yet, i guess the more weddings i do then i can figure this part out later? (But i think $100 1st hr, $65 every hr after - when i decide to do this?)

Budget Wedding:
*Getting Ready (Bride & Groom if close by, if not just Bride)
*Full Ceremony
*Pro Shoot 1 location
*No Reception

$550

Standard Wedding:
*Getting Ready (B&G)
*Full Ceremony
*Pro Shoot 2 locations
*Reception - 2hrs (Mock Cutting of cake)

$780

Full Wedding:
*Getting ready (B&G)
*Full Ceremony
*Pro Shoot 2 locations
*Full Reception (Including all special moments)

$1100

Included in packages:
Proof Book
CD (Of small images to view)
12x18 Enlargement of your choice

Extra's - Wedding Album $400 (Not sure of this price yet) might be able to include it in Full Package but have to add more $ to the final price?


So does this sound fair, and is there anythign else i should add in the packages All Australian Dollars too

Thanks!!

Del

[tim]

I don't think there's any harm charging only a little when you start out. Sure you get known as cheap, but once you improve enough put your prices up and start marketing and go for higher end customers.

I offer one package with up to eight hours work, if they want less time I don't reduce my charge, because I figure there are at least a couple of hours overhead, plus post processing.

[PIXI_666]

Oh and depending on travel id have to charge at least $100 on top of those prices right? (I live 3hrs from the nearest city etc) and i have clients from here wanting me to travel to Perth for them...

[tim]

It's often difficult to cover both the bride and groom getting ready, since it usually happens at the same time, in different locations. The guys take about 15 minutes, the girls take about 4 hours...

[PIXI_666]

Hi Tim

These prices i will probably put forward after i do my 3 weddigns in the next 2 months, ill still charge the peopl ei have the prices i told them of course, but maybe will make a change int he financial year By then im sure id have enough experience to put forward a better price for myself?

Del

[PIXI_666]

Yeh that's what i thought, the last wedding i shot was in my town so VERY easy to get both things happening, i shot the girls hair and make up and champers in backyard, then iw ent to groom and got them putting on their ties etc. I was meant to put in there "If close by"

[tim]

My business plan says my first year is to gain experience, not make money. For the first year I don't mind if I spend every cent of profit on improving my skills, my infrastructure, and my products. My aim is to provide better customer service than they could reasonably expect, and photos than make them say "wow".

[CyberPet]

I was yelled at by my mentor for not charging enough for the prints. I was thinking "hey, I edit an image and they want 35 copies to send out to friend and family, they shouldn't have to pay full price for all 35". WROOOOONG! My mentor said "that's where your profit is, so charge full price, no 50% out of 50% or whatever".

I think we all have to set our pricing after our own head, but both use common sense as well as setting a price we know we're worth. I'm still lots cheaper than my mentor on everything, but I'm still in learning. I plan on raising my prices from my current price list for 2007. Not sure how much, but I'll have a chat with my mentor and I know he wants me to charge close to the same as him. My aim is to go for those who wants nice portraits and shots from the ceremony (since we don't do much pre and after wedding stuff) and my aim is to get to the income group I myself belong to. Middle class Swedes.

[PIXI_666]

Well i have been quite happy to do all these weddings for cheap, my first was 2 years ago, since then i have done other thigns liek portraits etc, and these 3 weddings are all in the next 2 months, i also have another in October which i will keep the same quote i gave them. But i think anything from June onwards i might start upping prices...

[tim]

I give discounts on large photo orders, and I charge slightly less for multiple copies of the same print. I didn't used to but my new online ordering system makes it easy so I decided I might as well, at least for now.

[Philco]

I'm getting married in July. Our photographer has a minimum fee of $3,700 US for up to 6 hours coverage. Add'l coverage is $500 an hour. This includes
an engagement shoot @ 1 hr and 100 proofs of the wedding.

An album will cost $1,500 add'l and will include digital files.

Our photgrapher is one of the best in our city, but she's still not charging as much as a few others who also have great reputations, who start at $6k.

It kills me that I my photographer will be shooting with the same camera I have, but the difference is she has an assistant and they'll be slinging five 20D's with a bunch of L glass....and plus she has a wonderful eye. She told me that she's never owned a film camera and she started doing weddings three years ago....and she's done 40+ this year. So- it can be done! She said that her customers have become far less bossy as her rates have climbed...they are paying a lot and expect that she knows what she's doing.

Cheers