Introductory rate for new wedding photographer?

[bluehiro]

Thanks so much for the additional information Slugger.

I've been having some luck since I made my original post. I had a wedding gig fall into my lap and it went really really well. So I'm feeling much more confident about how much to charge.

So far I've held back on any aggressive advertising until I get into the new year, family commitments have been pretty rough of late (wedding, funereal, birthdays). I will definitely take your advice regarding the wedding websites. I'm hoping to start my advertising push in the new year, basically doing everything you recommended!

[bluehiro]

Hi everyone. Well I've been surprised at the amount of response and impressed with the quality of responses that this thread elicited.

I continue to see people visiting my site from this thread so I figured I should give an update. I still haven't booked many weddings, so this is not a "oh wow look how successful I am" sort of post. But I did, finally, finalize some pricing and so far I have been getting a good response. Based on everyone's feedback, a lot of thought, and some basic math I came up with the following packages.

Sweet - $900
(just enough to satisfy)
5 hours of wedding day coverage
$150 dollar print credit
*High resolution, edited, images on disc with printing rights

Delectable - $1500
(a little bit more can't hurt)
8 hours of wedding day coverage
Engagement Session
$300 dollar print credit
*1 Enlargement of Engagements for reception
*High resolution, edited, images on disc with printing rights

Indulgent - $2250
(can't have too much of a good thing)
All day wedding coverage, unlimited locations and event
Engagement session
$500 dollar print credit
*3-4 Enlargements of Engagements for reception
*2nd Photographer to help capture every moment
*High resolution, edited, images on disc with printing rights

I then added the line below based on some excellent advice from a friend (since my availability is somewhat limited)
"A limited number of wedding commissions are accepted each year, please contact me to see if your date is available"

I hope this helps anyone who stumbles across this in the future.

[ajax_andy]

Hi,

Sorry I can't be any help regards pricing etc, but just wanted to say that i think the photo's on your website are of an excellent quality. If I was looking for a photographer and came across your website (which is also very well done) i'd definately consider your services.

I know that's not much help when it comes to the question you posted, but I think when branching out and doing weddings/shoots professionaly its good to know that people think your skills are up to the job

[jamespaulcorreia]

Did the craigslist suggestion work for getting clients for wedding photography? I'm considering it myself.

[bluehiro]

@Ajax_Andy Thanks Andy! I really appreciate your comment.

Figuring out if I'm "good enough" has been quite an ordeal. I'm pretty self-critical of my work, but it's so much fun to see it get better. So far it's proving to be a journey more than a destination. I'm glad you think my website is well-done, I sometimes worry that it look cheap.

@ JamesPaulCorreira

I got a couple of wedding gigs towards the end of 2010, but it has totally dried up in Jan and now Feb. Posting on craigslist hasn't been a gold mine, but it has gotten me some gigs.

I do see more click-throughs to my website for my craigslist wedding ads than I do for my family ads, so I know that people are looking at my wedding portolfio. Most of my photographer friends are saying that things are very quiet this time of year. So I'm chalking up my current dry spell to that. Still it's possible that my pricing and/or portfolio are turning people off. I continue to view this as a work in progress...