Does anyone require a face to face meeting to discuss pricing and such?

So many people give the price on the net. Does anyone actually sell by requiring a face to face meeting with the potential customer to discuss what they want, show them their portfolio and discuss pricing/ booking in person?

I'm seriously thinking this is a better way, but I dont know too many people who do it.....

If someone can't afford my fees, why should I demand that they meet me before they find this out ? That sounds like a waste of my time and their time.

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #16228007
If someone can't afford my fees, why should I demand that they meet me before they find this out ? That sounds like a waste of my time and their time.

I think what he means is to not show your fees online and then discuss it in person with the potential client.

I personally show my fees and if they want to move forward and discuss about the wedding, then we'll meet up. Like Christopher said, it's a waste of my time and their time for them to like my work, get together, and then find out that I'm out of their budget and end up not booking me.

I give them a basic price list, but leave it open for more customization, which will impact the price slightly. I think just about any photographer will at least provide a starting price point upfront before a meeting.

I too dislike wasting my time and energy on someone who is unable to afford my services.

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #16228007
If someone can't afford my fees, why should I demand that they meet me before they find this out ? That sounds like a waste of my time and their time.

Everyone can afford it, for the most part. Long ago I stopped buying into the whole "cant afford it". If people have cable, a smart phone, video games, SUV, nice clothes, internet, etc they can afford it. It's just a matter of what htey want to buy. Now yes there a few people who dont have cable, dont ahve a tv, dont have a smart phone or video games or any luxuries and drive a very old car adn truly cant afford it, but by and large the average person can. Did they go on vacation this year? How much did that cost?

Thus my question of inviting them in to show them an example of prints, canvas, etc to convey value. It also lets you meet them and build rapport, which I feel is an important part of closing the deal.

It's also my experience from hearing various complaints and the barrier to entry being nothing into this market that hte people don't really know what is a "quality" photographer vs someone who just picked up a camera. They dont know what to look for, etc. By giving a price, they have little to compare on ohter than price. And if they arent educated to make pick quality over price, they might likely pick price. This is my thought based on the # of threads about "lost cost" photographers, etc. I am not bashing them, this is just a general impression that if you give people nothing to compare you on but price they will pick the lesser, esp if they arent educated as to whats better and how its better.

Speaking as a client, I just want a price. If you treat me like we are at a car dealership, I'm running the other way. i.e. "So what do you want for the v6?" "Let's go inside and run the numbers" That just means you are trying to squeeze me.

If, e.g., you're shooting portraits at absurdly low prices, then isn't your price a good selling point for you ? If so, it seems to me that it benefits you to have them public. [Sorry: this doesn't bear your second comment in mind].

I think this question really does end up dividing those who are eager to sell themselves, convince a client that they need a product, from those who don't want to sell at all. I fall into the latter category. It sounds like you're in the prior.

Withholding your rate sheet until you have a face to face requires a certain arrogance that your competence needs to live up to. By that I mean, its offputting to many clients, but if your portfolio is good enough that doesnt matter. If your portfolio isnt good enough then its a bad move.

tkbslc wrote in post #16228109
Speaking as a client, I just want a price. If you treat me like we are at a car dealership, I'm running the other way. i.e. "So what do you want for the v6?" "Let's go inside and run the numbers" That just means you are trying to squeeze me.

Or trying to educate you.

Want to buy an Album? The term album is as generic as car.

Would you pay $1000 for an album? Well, don't know. Are we talking about a press printed POS from Shutterfly or some other consumer company or are we talking a Musee' from Queensbury?

Would you pay $5k for a car? For an AMC Gremlin - not a chance. For a shiny new BMW M5, in a heart beat.

You run the other way from wanting to meet, and you are probably just wanting a shoot and burn anyway and I am not going to sweat it.

^ But Thomas, do you not include some kind of ball park in terms of pricing on your site / via email for the very reason of deterring those prospective clients who want shoot and burn pricing ? As you suggested, you don't really want to meet with these folks anyway.

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #16228141
Or trying to educate you.

Want to buy an Album? The term album is as generic as car.

Would you pay $1000 for an album? Well, don't know. Are we talking about a press printed POS from Shutterfly or some other consumer company or are we talking a Musee' from Queensbury?

Would you pay $5k for a car? For an AMC Gremlin - not a chance. For a shiny new BMW M5, in a heart beat.

You run the other way from wanting to meet, and you are probably just wanting a shoot and burn anyway and I am not going to sweat it.

This was my point: before I was "in" to photography I didn't realize the vast difference in product options or quality. I believe the avg cust is like I was: just doesn't know.
As you mentioned a huge difference in just albums exists.

Requiring a face to face meeting doesn't imply a hard sell. I require face to face meetings at my gym. Not bc of a hard sell but bc I'm mot gonna have a 30 min phone call answering all your questions if you won't even come meet me and get to know me, and show up. Many times when people come in I never hard sell them, I don't have to.

There's more to business than just product (ie images) it's customer experience , etc. someone can have good images and be an a-hole or vice versa. I believe it's the whole package. That's why I'm leaning toward face to face, or at least asking about it.

In regards to gonzo I agree with you but I don't think the avg person fistinguishes closely enough in good great elite or even shoot and burn. They see a nice pic and to them that's all they see. And we can prob agree quality among the field varies greatly. I don't think the avg person knows the difference. Hence so many moms with cameras getting biz

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #16228141
Or trying to educate you.

Of course. I always get a lesson on why the undercoating and extended service plan is absolutely vital.

^lol

tkbslc wrote in post #16228109
Speaking as a client, I just want a price. If you treat me like we are at a car dealership, I'm running the other way. i.e. "So what do you want for the v6?" "Let's go inside and run the numbers" That just means you are trying to squeeze me.

You are talking about negotiating prices. I'm not.
I'm not talking about lowering price or running the numbers. I get many emails and I ask people "what type of product are you looking for in terms of prints"
Answer always the same "I don't know"
How can they place any value on the price if they don't know?

By your example it's like someone calling for a car
"We'll what type of car do you want "
"Oh I don't know"

Ok it's "$30,000"

Uhhhhhhh