When you started...pricing

[DangerouslyMoody]

When you guys first started out trying to make a name for yourself and getting into the business...how did you do your pricing? I have done some stuff for friends free just for practice and to get some experience but now I am actually having friends of friends and other people wanting pictures...I don't know really what I should charge as I don't feel comfortable charging what an experienced professional would but I don't want to give it away free anymore...thought about not charging for the session but having them go to my website to buy the pictures...is that how many of you normally start?? Any ideas or suggesitons would be appreciated! Thanks

[12stones]

Autumn, it probably wouldn't surprise you that this question's been asked quite a lot. Look at this thread and scroll down to the lower middle and it'll point you in the right direction.

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=72578

[bondarnes]

My suggestion would be to set your prices where you would like to be someday, let's say an 8X10 for $50.00. Then if you are not comfortable charging that much now then offer an introductory 50% off for the first few sessions. Then drop that down to 33% off, then 25% off. I would also suggest that if you don't charge a session fee that you have a minimum order of say $200.00.

[dtscds]

We are in the same place you are right now--trying to decide how to price ourselves. We went to a wedding seminar with Mike from Belle's in Abilene and he had some great advice:
1) There is a value in your image. If you are the same price as WalMart, then you value is seen as the same as WalMart. If you do top notch work but price yourself like a fly-by-night then you will seem to offer the same quality as the fly-by-night.
2) As Don (and Mike too) said, price yourself where you WANT to be. (When two guys that have made it in this business say the same thing you MIGHT want to listen!!!) Mike said you can always find a reason to give a "discount". You want to eventually charge $2500 for a wedding? Set you price there. Then, when you meet with a potential client, find some reason to bring your price down--I have that weekend free, you are a friend of a friend, I'm running a special today only... By pricing yourself where you WANT to be, you can give yourself the image you want and there is no surprise when you tell the potential customer what your "real" price is. You don't want someone who paid $1 to refer a friend and then you tell the friend your price is $2--"But the price for my friend was $1!!"
So, in summary: do some research and find out what you local market is supporting. Don't be afraid to charge for the behind the scenes work that you will be doing. Don't set your prices too low--you may regret it someday.

[DangerouslyMoody]

That is great advice!! I will start thinking about pricing and looking around to see what I find in the area...

Thanks for the link as well...I knew there was one somewhere I jsut didin't know what words to type in the search box LOL Thank you!

[Disney Chick]

That's great advice from Don. I used coupons a lot at the start. Even so, I started out charging too little, and now I'm paying for it. It's hard to raise prices once you have established customers. They have expectations.

[HotHolly]

What Don and CD said. lol. Price yourself where you want to be.

Part B: You must have enough confidence in yourself to tell people you're that price. You can't be all looking at your toes talking all uncertainly. Being insanely brazen is part of being in business. lol.

I'm the brazen one who says it cost $XYZ - how would you like to pay? Mike's not so good at that part. btw - its learned. When you learn that they will not pay you unless you tell them you want to be paid, you learn quickly. I have a little more finesse than Mike, and hell, Id buy everything if it was me buying, so its easier for me to make a sincere sale. lol. And Im brazen.

[12stones]

Hey Holly... are you brazen? :D

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by 12stones

Hey Holly... are you brazen? :D

I also have a 101 fever and tend to repeat myself a lot when I have a 101 fever. PS- I dont think Im brazen - Mike does. So, I guess that makes it true. When people pay you, who cares?

[12stones]

Originally Posted by HotHolly

I also have a 101 fever and tend to repeat myself a lot when I have a 101 fever. PS- I dont think Im brazen - Mike does. So, I guess that makes it true. When people pay you, who cares?

Hope you feel better. But you're right, if they're paying you... who cares?

[Disney Chick]

I have a reputation for being brazen as well, but for some reason it doesn't come through in my business. I hate asking for the check.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by Disney Chick

I hate asking for the check.

You gotta get over that.

I noticed one of my interns had a very painful time when the payment part came around. She'd typically made it a long awkward financial request. People feel they can respond yes or no if you are asking whether or not they should pay you. If you tell them it cost $XYZ, how would you like to pay for that? you are asking a different question. You both are assuming you are going to be paid, its just a matter of how. As soon as the client senses that payment is flexible/negotiable, you're screwed.

[abril1127]

Holly,
Thanks for what you said. It was a total lightbulb moment for me.
I need to build my confidence. I need to raise my prices.....need to find customers.....need to build my confidence....hmm seeing a circle here. LOL (I just moved to Texas from Florida, I'm finding it very slow to build a client base in a town that you know no one. )

One guy at a conference I was at last year said. "tell them your prices and then SHUT UP!" He's totally right, we talk ourselves out of our prices like they have to be justified.
Hope you get to feeling better BTW

[C!LLY]

I used to work at sears portrait studio and I'm going by what their prices were at the time that I worked there and adding my own personal touches to them. My husband and I have actually been discussing it today.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by abril1127

Holly,
Thanks for what you said. It was a total lightbulb moment for me.
I need to build my confidence. I need to raise my prices.....need to find customers.....need to build my confidence....hmm seeing a circle here. LOL (I just moved to Texas from Florida, I'm finding it very slow to build a client base in a town that you know no one. )

One guy at a conference I was at last year said. "tell them your prices and then SHUT UP!" He's totally right, we talk ourselves out of our prices like they have to be justified.
Hope you get to feeling better BTW

I probably already said this, but confidence goes a looooonnnggg way. Its the difference b/t assuming people wont want to pay you, and that people will want to pay you top dollar. Fake it til you make it, girl! If you lack confidence, act like you have lots. Eventually you will. Repetition also lends to confidence. The more often you do it, the easier it becomes.