New prices plan for 2011... does it make sense?

[meganhurtphotography]

So for the first year (2010) of my portrait photography business, I've been charging a flat rate of $75 for an hour of shooting and one location, with 50 edited images, as a start up price at the recommendation of a fellow local photographer friend. I don't offer the rights to my clients, instead I have been letting them pay as they want for prints with no mark up from me.
Well, now that 2011 is here, I have changed the way I am running things. I am planning on offering packages based on the type of portrait you need with the recommended prints included in the price, then offering a la carte items separate with a slight profit for me because I am switching from Mpix to WHCC for my printing needs and WHCC has more expensive prices, but better quality.
So I finally have my price sheet made up from Indesign, and I want some insight if you guys think the prints included in the packages make sense and also what you guys feel about my package prices. (Going rate for most local photographers in my area is around $200 for a basic portrait package.).
I have already done all the math and on each package the client is saving between $50-$100 instead of paying for the services and prints separately.
Here is the link to my Price Sheet PDF (And I just noticed the typo on the Portrait word on the bottom of page 3 ). http://www.scribd.com/doc/46220404/M...aphypricesheet
Thanks, Megan

[AnneWynne]

I think your a la cart prices could be higher. You are using a much better printer and your quality will be higher. I was also wondering if you had figured in the cost of shipping in with your a la cart pricing.

[filemanager]

Thinking as a potential client, it looks a little complicated and confusing... and your prices are a little low I think.

[Jim Poor]

Holy crap! Way too many packages just to have fancy foo foo names when most of them can be rolled up into one or two categories for the sake of simplicity.

Common wisdom is THREE packages to choose from TOTAL (I actually break that rule).

Your prices are CRAZY low. Your 8x10 should be about 10 times what you're charging a la cart. With those prices, you'll be operating at a loss.

[filemanager]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Holy crap! Way too many packages just to have fancy foo foo names when most of them can be rolled up into one or two categories for the sake of simplicity.

Common wisdom is THREE packages to choose from TOTAL (I actually break that rule).

Your prices are CRAZY low. Your 8x10 should be about 10 times what you're charging a la cart. With those prices, you'll be operating at a loss.

Holy crap I must have missed the a la carte page... WAY too low!!!

[ARKreations]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Your prices are CRAZY low. Your 8x10 should be about 10 times what you're charging a la cart. With those prices, you'll be operating at a loss.

I agree - your listed a la cart print prices are slightly less than the discount rates I give (only) to my immediate family. Mark them up by at least 8-10x And your wraps and standouts should increase by 2-3x.

[meganhurtphotography]

Thanks for the advice about the prices... It's a lot of insight and help and I will raise the a la carte items.
But Filemanager brought up an interesting point... should I really chuck the different packages for different categories and just offer 3 or 4 packages that are generic for any kind of portrait session? As it is now, I am recommending the client choose the package for their type of session.
My problem is in 2010 I had offered 4 sessions to choose from ranging from an hour/ one location at $75 to Three hours/ unlimited locations for $300 and out of all the clients I had this past year NO ONE chose anything but the $75 one. And I did every kind of session type.
I don't want my clients to all choose the lowest package, so I thought giving packages based on the session type would help that since I am recommending a package for their needs. And we can all agree an hour shoot with a toddler is a whole lot more work than an hour shoot with an adult. I figured this would also help me get paid for the effort based on a session type.
Any other thoughts on the current packages vs. generic packages?

[Jim Poor]

There are a couple ways to approach this.

First, I'd recommend a flat creative fee with prints and packages sold separately. You could add a bit extra for the more difficult sessions, but I'd price for those and have the extra $ for the "easy" sessions be gravy.

The way to keep people from buying your lowest priced package is to make it unattractive in comparison with your next level up. Make the "small" difference in price from package 1 to package 2 seem like chump change for what the "upgrade" gets you.

That said, if you price your lowest package at an appropriate level, then it doesn't "hurt" you to sell that package. You can do that and still make package 2 seem more attractive.

Originally Posted by meganhurtphotography

Thanks for the advice about the prices... It's a lot of insight and help and I will raise the a la carte items.
But Filemanager brought up an interesting point... should I really chuck the different packages for different categories and just offer 3 or 4 packages that are generic for any kind of portrait session? As it is now, I am recommending the client choose the package for their type of session.
My problem is in 2010 I had offered 4 sessions to choose from ranging from an hour/ one location at $75 to Three hours/ unlimited locations for $300 and out of all the clients I had this past year NO ONE chose anything but the $75 one. And I did every kind of session type.
I don't want my clients to all choose the lowest package, so I thought giving packages based on the session type would help that since I am recommending a package for their needs. And we can all agree an hour shoot with a toddler is a whole lot more work than an hour shoot with an adult. I figured this would also help me get paid for the effort based on a session type.
Any other thoughts on the current packages vs. generic packages?

[inlina]

It is a lot of different packages, but if you feel they are providing value to specific markets then it is up to you. You may need a contents page so people can see the range of packages.

If you could simplify the packages and give them generic names with an example of what type of session they could be used for then it would be easier. You may also then be able to have 2 packages that suit any given job....eg. Package B & C could both suit senior portraits and you can upsell from one to another.

Also, you offer a "One 5x7 50 images Brag Book" as part of the packages which then if offered as a "One 5x7 50 page Brag Book". Does that mean that they are getting 50 prints in a book as part of the package? I am assuming it doesn't, but it could be misread.

[kathiemt]

My first thought? Far too many packages. Keep it simple and as uncomplicated as possible. Clients facing too many choices just don't make decisions.

I understand why you've done what you've done but I feel you need to think it through a bit more. And good luck with it!