To Package or Not to Package??

I was approached by a parent of a senior shoot this afternoon who asked if I had any packages available of if her only options were a-la carte prints. I have not responded to her yet because i'm not sure which direction to go.

The senior information that I presented to her only included a-la carte prints and no print packages. My theory on offering only individual prints is that no 2 seniors are alike and no 2 seniors will order the same amount of photos, ergo, they can create their own collection.

Any feedback is appreciated!!

I do not run my own business yet but if I was ordering a senior shoot I would expect packages. Anything less and I would assume that my photographer is being lazy. Honestly, many people just don't have the imagination to create their own collection. That's why furniture magazines design scenes with their products inside a nicely decorated home. Giving a list of their products would not be nearly as effective in selling. Buyers like to see the product layed out in an appealing way.

If you offer packages then you are servicing your customer like you are supposed to. Your customer doesn't have to spend an hour hand picking each individual print. When you offer a package, it gives them the feeling of getting a better deal (buying in bundles SHOULD be a better deal than a-la carte), where as if you make them pick out each print they can feel the $$$ adding up and they probably won't order as much. Packages give more control over how much you are going to get paid.
Make your packages with the customers in mind. Senior pictures are going to be displayed at home, given to Grandma in an 8X10, and sent to multitudes of various other family members in smaller sizes. With either the middle or higher costing package, consider offering a set of Graduation Party invitations with one of the photos printed on it, or other "gift" or incentive to buy the higher costing package.
A-La carte can still be offered to fill in the needs of the client that the package didn't cover. (Large extended family, etc).

Bottom line: If I was your customer, I would be slightly offended at having to create my own collection from scratch. You are not walmart.

Packages are good as a starting point. Choosing prints can be overwhelming without them. I have packages that people like quite a bit, and they're encouraged to swap out sizes to make it perfect for them.

My packages are also designed with divorced parents in mind. It's sad, but people appreciate it.

Also, when putting your packages together, make sure they're logical. Each package should be a slightly better deal than the one below it, but not better than any above it.

@ModestJo: Thanks for the quick response. Looking at it from a different perspective(being professional v. being walmart, I agree 110%.

@cdifoto: I took some combinations of 8x10's, 4x6/5x7's and wallets and have come up with 4 different options and 4 suttle price points. I took the a-la-carte totals and reduced them by 15% and then rounded down to the nearest 5 dollars. I don't lose $$ and I save my client a bit more as well.

@ canonguy14: Your welcome. That's what this place is for! It's such a great resource to have people willing to show you what you may have missed, and with your best interests in mind. Have fun

cdifoto wrote in post #12642109
My packages are also designed with divorced parents in mind. It's sad, but people appreciate it.

smart. very smart.

Yes, this is what I do. Packages with options.

Most people--especially seniors--will also want to know "what does everyone else get?" They will want to position themselves somewhere among their peers--at, above, or below the average. If you can say, "Most people get this...." it makes their own choices much easier and quicker.

You can also subtly set your average pricing this way by building "good, better, best" packages. If they don't ask "What do most people get?" they will still want to know "good, better, best." Make sure your "good" is still a worthwhile profit.

Set up your packages and options smartly--packaging should be either simpler or more profitable for you--preferrably both--than ala carte. Yes, you can set up packages so that they are less expensive for you to produce while at the same time being less expensive for the client than ala carte.

Some options will naturally be more profitable with some packages than others, and in some cases you may even want to vary the prices of the options.

For instance, an option may be more expensive if added to a lower package; the same item might come standard with a higher package and cheaper if another copy is added to that package.

For another instance, adding options to a lower package to make it equal a higher package should be more expensive than buying the higher package.

cdifoto wrote in post #12642109
My packages are also designed with divorced parents in mind. It's sad, but people appreciate it.

I also shoot this way...subtly. I don't tell them that's actually what I'm doing, of course.

We use print credits. Each package price buys so many credits. The larger the package price, the more the credits and the better the deal. Each print, float wrap, gallery wrap, metal print, etc size is assigned a credit value. We are new to the business but so far they love the flexibility of ordering whater they want and just subtract the credits. So far, it works great.

I offer three packages with different photo sizes and pricing. I also give the option of additional a la carte prints.