Most popular package . . . .

[wrdm]

I'm just wondering, for portrait photography, what is your most popular package?

I'm re-designing my pricing at the moment as I have 6 packages and I think it is very confusing for customers, and also I think I'm too cheap

[lonni]

I think it varies depending on location. Have you looked at local photographers packages and prices to compare? it migt give you a better idea than we can.

In my area packages are not so popular, it is too pixi photo, those travelling portrait booths at shoping centres. People like to pay a sitting fee and then choose products from a price list.

I have seen part of the shooting fee offered as a rebate to be used for prints.

I am in country australia though, HTH

[autofocus]

We don't do packages..all ala carte has worked out best for us. Plus it allows the customer some non traditional options such as fine art watercolor prints, (giclees) canvas wraps, and gallery blocks, etc. I think when you sell only packages, you may be less likely to sell some of the higher priced options, and you just may be limiting your chances of up selling.

[wrdm]

I'm a fairly new business and had packages such as;

£50 (which included sitting fee a 2 - 7x5 and 2 - 8x10)
£75 (which included 9 prints)
£125 (which included 9 prints and a dvd slideshow)
£150 (for a CD)

my wife (who jointly runs the business) think that they are fine, however I disagree so much I'm revamping the whole thing.

I reckon al la carte is the way to go as we offer a lot of the Loxley Colour products too. I was thinking of a fee of £50 which includes 1 8x10 print then Clients can buy as they please.

In Perth (Scotland) there are a few new photography business kicking around, 1 charges a basic fee of £45 for your session and all images on a CD, then her prints start from 60p each (this is done at a photo shop in town, not a lab), another offers "boxes" which start at £70 and includes 5 prints upto £155 whici offers 13 prints, 2 framed prints, a keychain and a 10 spread storybook, this company always seem to be busy.

That made me think that I had to compete at their level, however, the seasoned pro's up here tend to charge £50 - £75 and include 1 free print

Not an easy business we are in haha

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by wrdm

I'm a fairly new business and had packages such as;

£50 (which included sitting fee a 2 - 7x5 and 2 - 8x10)
£75 (which included 9 prints)
£125 (which included 9 prints and a dvd slideshow)
£150 (for a CD)

my wife (who jointly runs the business) think that they are fine, however I disagree so much I'm revamping the whole thing.

I reckon al la carte is the way to go as we offer a lot of the Loxley Colour products too. I was thinking of a fee of £50 which includes 1 8x10 print then Clients can buy as they please.

In Perth (Scotland) there are a few new photography business kicking around, 1 charges a basic fee of £45 for your session and all images on a CD, then her prints start from 60p each (this is done at a photo shop in town, not a lab), another offers "boxes" which start at £70 and includes 5 prints upto £155 whici offers 13 prints, 2 framed prints, a keychain and a 10 spread storybook, this company always seem to be busy.

That made me think that I had to compete at their level, however, the seasoned pro's up here tend to charge £50 - £75 and include 1 free print

Not an easy business we are in haha

Martin, every marketplace is different, from city to city, state to state, and certainly country to country. What works for us, or you, may not work well for others. I think it's generally agreed that offering "cheap" prices will only de-value your services as a professional. And it's probably a hard thing to recover from once you set that precedent. From our experience, setting a higher price point will attract a more affluent clientèle customer base..which is always good.

[karen_s]

I'm not a pro so I can't speak as to a most popular package, but I am a consumer and have an opinion I am just one person though so take this for what it's worth ...

1. When I'm surfing and sorting though pricing information, I seldom look beyond three options. I have even left some sites when I saw a fourth. (This is not a conscious thing I do, it happens when I get useless info overload.) I also have done this in stores when it comes to seeing too many options or talking to a salesman that starts rambling about the inner workings of 720p vs 1080p (or what ever). I am busy and I just want to know if the set will work with my home made antenna and if the picture will be better than what I currently have.

2. I prefer bullet lists with specifics when it comes to pricing info, not several creatively written paragraphs telling me about my "investment". I'm not against creatively written content, (for print or web), just don't like it when it comes to pricing. If pricing is bulleted and concise, I am more open to perusing a few more options.

3. Creative names of packages have a way of confusing me. It can be done, I just think the names have to give some sense of the size and cost of the package. They need to be relative, memorable, and connect to your customer.

I found this article from the American Psychological Association that might give you a bit more insight into how options affect consumers buying habits ...

Consumerism--Too many choices?

In the end, your packages need to be driven by your consumers preferences and balanced with your ability to make a profit. A survey of past and present customers might help you form a package structure that works well for both you and your customer.

And I like the al a carte idea. If I was able to pick TV channels al a carte, I wouldn't need that home made antenna. I just can't justify paying for 50 channels when I want only one.

[Ambrosia76]

I am in a slightly different business, dog grooming. We have tons of little hole in the wall shops that charge next to nothing. I would not be able to survive if I kept my prices level with theirs as I am not willing to cut the corners on supplies and quality they are.

Charge what you think you are worth you may lose a few to the cheaper places but people who want quality will pay for it. I can't count the number of times I have heard 'well so and so down the road only charges $25-$30' then go get you a $25 haircut,because I don't offer those. I have people who drive up to 6 hours from several states away just for me to Groom their dog and they pay full price.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by Ambrosia76

I am in a slightly different business, dog grooming. We have tons of little hole in the wall shops that charge next to nothing. I would not be able to survive if I kept my prices level with theirs as I am not willing to cut the corners on supplies and quality they are.

Charge what you think you are worth you may lose a few to the cheaper places but people who want quality will pay for it. I can't count the number of times I have heard 'well so and so down the road only charges $25-$30' then go get you a $25 haircut,because I don't offer those. I have people who drive up to 6 hours from several states away just for me to Groom their dog and they pay full price.

.....amen!

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by karen_s

I'm not a pro so I can't speak as to a most popular package, but I am a consumer and have an opinion I am just one person though so take this for what it's worth ...

1. When I'm surfing and sorting though pricing information, I seldom look beyond three options. I have even left some sites when I saw a fourth. (This is not a conscious thing I do, it happens when I get useless info overload.) I also have done this in stores when it comes to seeing too many options or talking to a salesman that starts rambling about the inner workings of 720p vs 1080p (or what ever). I am busy and I just want to know if the set will work with my home made antenna and if the picture will be better than what I currently have.

2. I prefer bullet lists with specifics when it comes to pricing info, not several creatively written paragraphs telling me about my "investment". I'm not against creatively written content, (for print or web), just don't like it when it comes to pricing. If pricing is bulleted and concise, I am more open to perusing a few more options.

3. Creative names of packages have a way of confusing me. It can be done, I just think the names have to give some sense of the size and cost of the package. They need to be relative, memorable, and connect to your customer.

I found this article from the American Psychological Association that might give you a bit more insight into how options affect consumers buying habits ...

Consumerism--Too many choices?

In the end, your packages need to be driven by your consumers preferences and balanced with your ability to make a profit. A survey of past and present customers might help you form a package structure that works well for both you and your customer.

And I like the al a carte idea. If I was able to pick TV channels al a carte, I wouldn't need that home made antenna. I just can't justify paying for 50 channels when I want only one.

Haha, Karen, based on my old Wilson Sales Training, you are a classic driver social style. As they used to say on Dragnet, "just give me the facts, mam."

[Ambrosia76]

Also we had the same issue with too many options and it confused people. So now we have a base price that includes the basics. We have one add on package that people can customize to fit their need and the rest is al a carte. I believe this would also work in photography.

Such as have
1) sitting fee that includes one 8x10
2) print package for x amount that includes a choice of x amount of prints.(The company my friend works for does this as $xxx gets you 5 sheets. 1 sheet is 1 8x10, 2 5x7s, or 8 wallets)

then let them add whatever else al a carte.