YOUR average client, package and more. Please contribute!

I've noticed many new wedding photographers grace this wedding forum and thought it would be informative for all to share intel about the average client, successful & popular packages and their contents, most sought after styles of shooting and processing, etc. and - if you feel like it - popular price range information for your location.

I realize the pricing discussion is very location driven and probably not very helpful overall, but I thought it would help those who are new to the business with ideas of what is working package-wise and what is not. I also realize that many of us offer different types of packaging (digital vs traditional) and I think that this related discussion can really produce a very informative thread as far as possibilities that some have not yet thought of.

We've all shared some of this information in various threads throughout the forum and I thought it would be nice to have a centralized thread relating to the subject. I began to make a poll and then came to the realization of just how many different possibilities there really were. However, as a discussion, this is an attempt to help each other become more successful and offer even better services to our clients based on actual successful results from fellow photographers.

So, please share what you can about your business without sharing any private info you do not wish to. Please share things like your most popular packages, popular price ranges for your location, client's generally interests and requests, client's favorite styles and more. Share anything you like that might help others become successful!

(if you haven't figured it out yet, I like to create threads that promote growth and improving one's skills and chance for success )

I placed this in the "wedding forum" as I would like it to relate to wedding photography rather than "typical business".

I can only speak for my area and the weddings that have booked me.

Wedding #1
4 Hours of coverage
High Res CD
$695

Wedding #2
4 Hours of coverage
High Res CD
Bridal Session
High Res CD of Bridal Pictures
$895

Wedding #3
5 Hours of coverage
High Res CD
Bridal Session
High Res CD of Bridal Pictures
$995

In my area no one wants a print credit or a wedding album. The style of shooting that every bride is asking for a candid and photojournalistic. Then they happen to like cross processing, lomo, and black and white effects on some of the images.

The price range for my area can be from free to $10,000.

I won't contribute as information from my end of the world isn't very helpful. We did a survey of about 30 local photographers, old and new, at my last local NZIPP meeting, that's what motivated me to put my prices up.

tim wrote in post #4216210
We did a survey of about 30 local photographers, old and new, at my last local NZIPP meeting, that's what motivated me to put my prices up.

That reads very much like price fixing.

tim wrote in post #4216210
I won't contribute as information from my end of the world isn't very helpful. We did a survey of about 30 local photographers, old and new, at my last local NZIPP meeting, that's what motivated me to put my prices up.

mizuno wrote in post #4216242
That reads very much like price fixing.

Would it not be more helpful to survey the audience? How do you know they're offering what people want? We did a recent market segment survey of 80 people (all over NZ - as part of a business management course) and that gave us a very good indication of what our prices should be in all markets.. This included what people were prepared to pay for what etc. Also what kind of products they would like to see offered and what type of packages etc..

I think contributions from all areas of the world, in all price ranges and all types of styles are helpful...one never knows when some tiny tidbit will be the thing that makes a lightbulb go off for someone.

I'm still working on my initial packages, so have little in real world experience to offer at this stage.

I am usually very happy to share info but when people tend to post threads asking for info whilst not bothering to share anything of their own it kinda turns me off contributing to that particular thread.

I have operated a sports photography business for a year and a half now, and have just gotten into wedding photography this past summer. I've 2nd shot about 8 weddings and am now advertising for full-time wedding photography starting next summer.

After MUCH thought, research and chatting with folks (many from here), I have decided on the following for my fiscial year, to get buzz/word of mouth going about me and my business:

- E-Shoot
- Unlimited Coverage (up to 12 hours)
- Online Photo Gallery
- Online Web Slideshow
- Slideshow at the Reception
- Disc(s) of Digital Negatives
- $1500

The guy that I work for, his most popular package is the £1300 platinum package, actually, just checking his site, his prices have gone up

The Platinum

Storybook album - 100 various size images
200+ different proof images
16x12” Engagement Portrait
Coverage as required (multi venue)
CD Slideshow
3 10x8” prints
Custom made proof album
£1395

Wow, Bryan - that's way lower than I would have expected you to come in at!

I should have some base ideas to contribute by early next week, but without album choices as I haven't decided what I want to offer just yet...but as I haven't done any myself yet, it will be a bit of a hail mary contribution!

kja wrote in post #4221348
Wow, Bryan - that's way lower than I would have expected you to come in at!

First year packages. I need to start somewhere, do you know what I mean?

Once I get the word of mouth and the buzz going, I can up the packages to where I would like them to be. I need to get that happening first though.

I just had a wedding book me for June and this is their package:

6 hours of coverage
2 locations
high res disc
"out takes" disc
$995

Then they are thinking about adding on a 2nd photographer for $300 and they might go with a Graphi Studio wedding album.

Chauntelle, let me be the first to say the you are worth SO MUCH MORE!

My most popular package is the following. Most people will either upgrade the album or end up buying more pages. So there is usually about $500 on top of the $3290 price plus prints. So - around $4000 AU all up ($3600 US).

Whole Day Package with Album - $3290
• Whole day (maximum 8 hours - additional hours can be negotiated).
• Attractive proof album with proof sheets of all photos (small size) taken on the day.
• 3 x DVD slideshow of all photos taken on the day (non-printable).
• Photoshop work to all final prints.
• 2nd Photographer for four hours.
- A $1100 album - includes everything in the Art Album Package + upgrade to a wood cover or $500 worth of prints.

bcap wrote in post #4221496
First year packages. I need to start somewhere, do you know what I mean?

Once I get the word of mouth and the buzz going, I can up the packages to where I would like them to be. I need to get that happening first though.

Weddings are primarily word of mouth. One of the biggest word of mouth features is prices. You will have future customers asking why your prices went up. It's not impossible to work with, but it does get annoying. I've seen photos posted from you before, no reason to sell yourself short.