Wedding Shoot Plus DVD Pricing - POLL

I work with a wedding photographer and although we have 3 packages that include DVD's, Albums, Prints etc. We are finding more and more that wedding clients in this economy are not wanting these, in fact the majority of them that visit us want just a DVD with printing rights.

What we would like to see is how many photographers charge for the shoot and also charge for the DVD, as opposed to a set price than includes everything.

This would be a starter package if you will.

Thanks

I couldn't really answer you poll as you don't have my model there.

I charge for the wedding and then a separate price for the digital picture. They can buy a single digital picture or buy the entire gallery and anything in-between. They get their digital pictures by downloading them at my SmugMug site. On top of buying digital pictures there is also a charge to create a CD/DVD for them.

I prefer them and their friends and families going to the site as it also funnels some impulse purchases of prints.

We have three different packages with a different amount of hours included and prints/albums. With those, you can by DVD of all the images for a set price. We just added a new package that includes more prints and the DVD to make it more appealing for people to go with a more expensive package. They always get the DVD anyways...

Its just that we wanted to whittle it down to just the DVD and nothing else as that appears to what clients want these days?

sydneyshooter

who says we are failing to meet our customers needs, we still have 3 packages that are loved by our clients, its just that we are noticing a slight shift just for the DVD and nothing else and to suggest we are losing business is incorrect, in fact what do you know about our business?

If you are noticing a shift in requirements why does it matter what others are doing? Make a decision to suit you business and supply it. If it doesn't work change to doing something else. The great thing about this business is you can change your packages and prices whenever you want.

Generally speaking clients will want (and you will sell) what you show them. Are you sure it's not the fact that they're only shopping on price rather than style and product? Show them great sample albums and they'll want to buy an album. I doubted this when I was first told it but having taken it on board it definitely works.

Albums and Prints do work and we sell them, even slideshows with special effects sell very good.

It seems the younger crowd on a budget just want a DVD, we explain that years from now CD, DVD's and Blu-Ray are ancient history they can always open up an album and look at photos.

Some clients just want the digital stuff hence the poll.

picworx wrote in post #16183899
It seems the younger crowd on a budget just want a DVD, we explain that years from now CD, DVD's and Blu-Ray are ancient history they can always open up an album and look at photos.

Trying to educate the client in general is a pointless task. Today's albums are digital. Everyone carries them around with them in their pockets (phones) and accesses them online.

The newer generation see digital as the space where things are stored. If you have clients wanting it, and you are prepared to sell it then just do it.

I know this slightly OT but one of the first things to decide is what market segment you want and if the disc only couples are in there you need to research what others are offering and work out how to make your offering unique for that market.

In the UK I am finding there is a trend back to albums. Then again I have adjusted my target market in an upwards direction.

Locally, it seems that DVDs are an additional price except for the highest package, which a DVD is included in cost.

We recently got a "fairy" portrait done of my daughter. It included one print in the cost of the shoot. I chose to purchase the prints on CD as everyone I gave them to put them on their phones, tablets, PCs and digital picture frames. Not one person wanted a physical copy.

I think this is just the way the world is moving. I guess I have a duel perspective because I'm trying to get into wedding photography full time, but am also a recent bride. When I was searching for photographers and on a limited budget (which MOST people are these days)-- I wanted to spend all of my money on the best photographer I could possibly find. I could always order products later when I had more money, but I could never go back and hire a better photographer. I didn't want to spend 1/3-1/2 of my photography budget on products, seriously cutting down the money I had to spend on the actual photographer.

That's why I include DVDs in all of my packages. Of course, I'm also new and trying to build my business. Once I have a bit more experience and positive reviews under my belt, I plan to raise my prices and offer the DVD as an add-on for a flat rate (probably for the lower packages, I think it will still be included in the highest priced package).

In most cases Rachel people don't go back to order albums some time after the event. Just doesn't happen except in rare circumstances - certainly in the UK.

You sell what you show is the general rule to follow.