Opportunity to shoot 1st senior - need advice

I have mainly been shooting youth sports team and individual pictures, although I've shot about five weddings and a few family portraits in the past.

I have been hoping to get an opportunity to start shooting some high school seniors and a parent from an upcoming youth soccer team shoot wants her son's senior pictures taken also.

Since I have never done any senior photos before I am trying to figure out how to best approach this. I haven't discussed it with her yet and I will be shooting the team stuff on Saturday.

Should I just lay my cards on the table and tell her that I've never done any seniors before and maybe have no sitting fee and a nice discount on the price?

Or

Offer no sitting fee @ regular price?

Don't mention my past experience if it doesn't come up?

i know this is kind of vague but any suggestions are appreciated from anyone who has to work through a similar situation.

Thanks

Since you have been able to handle the pressure of wedding photography,A senior portrait should be easy Keep in mind that they approached you. This means they have seen your work, like what you do, feel that you're competent and have confidence in you. I think that you should charge a sitting fee if you need to travel to a location and considering what you may have to bring with you. Be careful about giving a large discount. It's possible that they are just looking for a cheap photographer and if that's the case, you will have a hard time charging regular rates to others.

I shoot action shots for a HS softball tam and two days ago, I was told that that have been using the same photographer for a few years to take the T&I. They said that she was very reasonable but they want a quote from me. While putting together package prices. I gave them prices that are slightly lower than what they pay on line for my action shots. ( I won't have to pay my site fee of 10%) However I didn't low ball on everything just to get the job. I offered a lower price on the team photo compared to everything else because I feel that I only have to spend time editing and uploading one, regardless of how many copies get ordered.
I learned the hard way. I had a customer that requested a special price because she wanted over 200 shots of her kid. I feel that I lost on that one because of the amount of time it took me to edit and upload them. Now I feel that if I lose a job because of my prices, It's really no loss.

What I would do is if the sitting isn't to far don't charge for one, keep your regular prices. If the pictures didn't work out or you don't like doing it, then there is no money lost from the parent. If they do turn out OK and the parent just didn't buy them well you just got your first course on high school senior shooting and consider it a learning experience. If it's a piece of cake and you can do it then go forth and start charge a sitting fee.

Thanks guys for your input.

jdouglas003 wrote in post #5394703
I have mainly been shooting youth sports team and individual pictures, although I've shot about five weddings and a few family portraits in the past.

I have been hoping to get an opportunity to start shooting some high school seniors and a parent from an upcoming youth soccer team shoot wants her son's senior pictures taken also.

Since I have never done any senior photos before I am trying to figure out how to best approach this. I haven't discussed it with her yet and I will be shooting the team stuff on Saturday.

Tell her the price, do not behave as if there is anything wrong with the price. It is a statement of fact, not an asking price. Remind the person what they will get and why the price is great! Sell, start with what they will receive, draw them into the conversation, get them to make suggestions, explain how you will deliver, give the price.

Should I just lay my cards on the table and tell her that I've never done any seniors before and maybe have no sitting fee and a nice discount on the price?

NO. Find something possitive and in common with the shoot that relates your experiece to the shoot.

Or

Offer no sitting fee @ regular price?

Don't mention my past experience if it doesn't come up? Only if it helps you

i know this is kind of vague but any suggestions are appreciated from anyone who has to work through a similar situation.

Thanks

These are my thoughts