The term "Investment" on websites

I've noticed few businesses offering portrait photography has the term 'Investment' used for pricing and rates.

Is this a common thing nowadays or did I miss something? I'm just wondering how clients looking for a service feel about that term "Investment" opposed to Pricing, Rates, Fees, etc.

Just trying to gauge what your thoughts are and what you use or would use.

I think it is super dumb and clients can see right through it. they know it isn't an investment. photos of themselves will never have a potential return. it's just something to buy.

I am not saying it will cost you business if you use the word investment, but it will make you look like everyone else that is trying to build up the value of their service from the wrong direction.

It makes it appear that the seller knows the product is overpriced and needs to pre-justify it in some way. However, if you do it you might go full out and describe in glowing terms the non-material gains one might have on the "investment".

The term investment is used loosely in the higher quality markets. How often have you heard of "investing in yourself" or "go invest in a nice suit or watch".

I think what people are trying to say is that there are some things that you dont really need them but having them adds value to your style/life/whatever in that the returns are not monetary but purely recognized by the one investing.

Personally I HATE IT!!!!!

Personally, I don't really care. You can call it "investment", "pricing", "costs", "pay me" or whatever you want. It's just totally up to the person.

I think it's similar to whether you call you portfolio "portfolio", "gallery", "photos", etc. It's up to you.

sounds stupid and pretentious to me. If I'd be looking for a photographer I'd leave the site once I see that word, totally off putting.

Wrong too, as it is NOT an investment per definition. Unless one is a celebrity and plans to sell the photos to People Magazine or some such. For a profit.

I'm seeing the term used a lot with portrait photographers and while I'm not a pro to judge, I just see it more often with photographers that seem like they aren't exactly experienced?

Now I could see if we're talking serious fashion photographer or someone that just wows you with their work that their pricing does in fact represent a large investment of money.

I'm just gauging response from community like this as well as people that aren't photographers. I'll probably end up skipping the term.

phantelope wrote in post #16321609
sounds stupid and pretentious to me. If I'd be looking for a photographer I'd leave the site once I see that word, totally off putting.

Wrong too, as it is NOT an investment per definition. Unless one is a celebrity and plans to sell the photos to People Magazine or some such. For a profit.

Actually it is an investment by definition.

The proceeds don't have to be money in order to get a return. Returns can be mental health, happiness, better quality of life, etc. By calling a persons services an investment it means that you are getting some sort of benefit (i.e. wedding day pictures that you will look at when you celebrate your 50th anniversary.) other than just the cost of the medium it comes on. The product "adds value" to your life.

You bet your ass that when I am old I hope to look back on pictures of my entire life. What else do you do when you are old?

edit: that being said i would never use it in marketing but if someone did I would not hold it against them. If I am buying services I have a price in mind and a quality in mind. If the person meets those criteria then I don't care what they use do describe their work.

Pretty much what Benji said - it's meant to be more of an investment in your family history, and documentation of a milestone in your life - not to produce a monetary gain. The idea is that they will increase in [EMotional] value as you age. Using words like "cost," "price," and "rates" implies that photography services are a commodity rather than a luxury. As for me, my pricing page title is "value".

I guess that's a point Benji, and stated very funny, LOL!

I still think it's goofy and out of place on a photog's website.

Good thing is, defining investment your way makes me quite an investor in camera gear and books, I had not seen myself as such

While I agree with the overall context, that people may very well spend money on family heirlooms (i.e. pictures), I don't see this as an investment by definition. Investments are stocks, real estate, 401k, IRA's... photography is just products and services.

Just because a purchase makes you feel good, doesn't make it an investment. I hired a plumber to perform services once... after he fixed the problem I felt better about the situation, but I'd never consider it an investment; nothing was gained, although worse situation was prevented.

My wife can go to the salon and have plenty of services done (hair, nails, makeup, etc)... she feels great after. However, my bank statement doesn't show any signs of 'investment'... actually just the opposite!

phantelope wrote in post #16321772
I guess that's a point Benji, and stated very funny, LOL!

I still think it's goofy and out of place on a photog's website.

Good thing is, defining investment your way makes me quite an investor in camera gear and books, I had not seen myself as such

I guess I'm a great investor as well!

Caters to a different end of client.

You are investing in me to create art that will last generations for you.

drvnbysound wrote in post #16321982
While I agree with the overall context, that people may very well spend money on family heirlooms (i.e. pictures), I don't see this as an investment by definition. Investments are stocks, real estate, 401k, IRA's... photography is just products and services.

Just because a purchase makes you feel good, doesn't make it an investment. I hired a plumber to perform services once... after he fixed the problem I felt better about the situation, but I'd never consider it an investment; nothing was gained, although worse situation was prevented.

My wife can go to the salon and have plenty of services done (hair, nails, makeup, etc)... she feels great after. However, my bank statement doesn't show any signs of 'investment'... actually just the opposite!

At the very basic terms an investment is when you put something in and expect to get more of something back. "I am going to invest some time in learning to speak spanish". you expect to spend 2 years learning it but know it for the rest of your life.

The plumber and the haircut are not investments as you get out what you put in - in essence an even trade. You thought the value of a new pipe was $140. So you still have your $140 just in the form of a pipe - that will now lose value over time. Same with the haircut.