Services/price page - yes or no.

Hi guys,

I'm wondering over an option if to create services page on my website where to list services and some sort of guide to pricing, for more standard photography.
I'm asking this because I've noticed lots of photographers they do not have such page, but maybe they may be working for agencies or something like that. On the other hand, from SEO point of view I think it will be really helpful creating such page as it could be a very good platform to accommodate some text, which on photographers website is sort of deficit.
Thanks,
Nikolay.

If you just put the price out there, you have no chance to communicate with the prospective client and build value. I much prefer to have them contact me so I can sell them on value and build rapport.

Who's your target audience?

High school seniors? Sure, having a few pricing options helps them establish if they can afford you.
Weddings? Again, having a few packages as 'ideas' so they know if you fall into their budget isn't a bad idea.
Head shots for actors / realtors / etc? Sure, most of these types of buyers are very price conscious.

If you shoot anything outside of those 3, having a standard price list could corner you on negotiations.

Pricing on there is a good idea.

You want to focus on clients who will be booking with you. You don't want to be wasting time with people who cannot afford you. Pricing on your site shows you price range and in most cases it will prevent clients whose budget falls below that from contacting you and taking time away from doing other things.

It might just be me though, I don't have much time to devote to clients at this time, so I'd prefer to put my effort into getting clients whose budgets fall into my pricing, instead of having to respond to a bunch of emails asking if I'll do an all day wedding for $200.

Sure, you might get the odd client to book with you when you are above their budget, but chances are you are not going to convince someone whose budget is $500 for a wedding, that they should spend $3500 on it instead, just because they called you to inquire about pricing.

We do weddings and have pricing on our website. That away when someone contacts us we already know they can afford at least out cheapest package. Why waste time talking to people that can not afford you.

We also have a boudoir company again we list prices and packages for the exact same reason.

Depends on your genre. I've always had pricing on mine for domestic genre work.

Me, as a possible client...if I don't see some pricing guidelines on a site...I go onto another site. I don't have the time to phone or e-mail the photog just to learn they are not within my price range.

When you go onto the b&h site...are you happy to see their prices?

Nothing peeves me off like shopping online and seeing an item say, "add to cart to see price".

the flying moose wrote in post #17731902
Nothing peeves me off like shopping online and seeing an item say, "add to cart to see price".

+1 ^ ... or "email us for a quote"

Woohoo - just realised that was my 100th post.
Now I'm annoyed I didn't say something more monumental ...

I think it depends how good you are and what your prices are.

Are most of your clients other purchases of the "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" level, or are they more down to earth?

Thanks for the feedback guys.
It seems like I will go with creating such page. I'm still in the stage where I take on almost any jobs like events, portrait, commercial etc. So for this sort of photography is quite strait forward in term of equipment used for the job, time and post processing, so it is sort of easy to define some sort of package. I guess if I reach a point where I will be doing only advertising and some high profile portraits, perhaps through an agency, then the price/packages option won't be very appropriate. Costumers here in UK, at least in my experience, do not appreciate photography as business, everyone who eventually will get in touch says that don't have much money to spend. It is some sort of carnage here, that is why I was hoping if I create some packages orientated to some sort of industry standard prices for an area such as London, it may help me connect with the sort of customers who like to see the exact thing.
Now for advertising, or photography where there may be some more creativity and equipment involve, also location or probes etc. there will be the need of getting in touch with me for quote.

the flying moose wrote in post #17731902
Nothing peeves me off like shopping online and seeing an item say, "add to cart to see price".

That is a way around MAP (minimum advertised pricing) that manufacturers and distributors sometimes require. You may be missing a lower than MSR price by not checking.

AceCo55 wrote in post #17732106
+1 ^ ... or "email us for a quote"

Woohoo - just realised that was my 100th post.
Now I'm annoyed I didn't say something more monumental ...

That there is some serious Title Fairy material!

[QUOTE=Hogloff;1773183​7]Me, as a possible client...if I don't see some pricing guidelines on a site...I go onto another site. I don't have the time to phone or e-mail the photog just to learn they are not within my price range....QUOTE]

Same here. You could at least say something "prices vary with client's desired scope but base package usually starts around $xxx."

I think it boils down to knowing what type of clients you expect to attract.

Most private/retail clients will expect to see a pricing page.

If your work (and reputation?) are of the caliber that you're already attracting high-end retail clients who will pay whatever you want to charge, then you can probably skip it.

If your work is of average quality, then a pricing page will at least weed out lowballers who want you to do a full-day wedding for $200.

If your clients are mostly commercial, not retail, then you might be able to skip a pricing page.