Should I or Shouldn't I??

[wrdm]

I'm completely revamping my pricing structure and the way I run my business.

Before I offer packages and gave too much away for a low fee. That's now gone! Also, so are the days of proofing online, I need to do this face to face from now on to try and increase sales. I'm going to use Proselect to try and wow clients!

I'm offering a flat sitting fee and then products al la carte. I'm toying with the idea of dropping loose prints though and only offering a fully finished framed product.

What does everyone think, good idea or bad??

[Niresangwa]

if you know for sure your current client base will accept it, and won't have a backlash against having less choice and convenience, it will be a great plan.

it's a brave move to be going in exactly the opposite direction that the industry is headed in (more consumer-wants driven) however.

you have to make sure however that the quality of your work can command such an elite business model, and that's not for me to comment on.

[andyw]

I'll preface this with, I don't shoot portraits and weddings. I do commercial work, so any comments are not from someone in the same line as you are.
I guess more of an if I was a customer viewpoint.

I don't like packages and never have, they have always struck me as being one of two things.
1. here is what I offer, take it or leave it
or
2. I just want you in and out as quickly as possible and won't take the time to "personalise" my service to you.

Before any of the many P&W snappers bite my head off, I stress that is just my opinion.

I would much rather return to the studio (or have a home visit) and have the photographer go through the images and the options in terms of sizes, framing etc. with some examples either physical or on a pc.

If I want 2 large canvases, 4 framed 8 x 10's and some unframed 5x7's or whatever then that is what I want.
I will pay the price for them - I would expect some discounting on large purchases though !!!

Now, for the business side of things.
Not all customers are like that, many want to buy unframed and buy cheap and nasty frames from the 99p stores etc.

I think if you are totally changing your pricing and what you are offering then you have to really know what sort of client you are going for, and in fact if you have that type of client in your area.

The way you are going is more "upmarket". You are likely to lose business initially but if you do it properly then you should actually gain in income.

I know a couple of guys who went a similar way and they went from about 10 portrait sittings a week to 5 but virtually doubled their income.

Probably not much help but just my own views as a customer.

[wrdm]

The thing is I'm almost losing money the way I'm running just now. I'm sick of doing all that work to only sell a couple of 7x5 prints. It does not represent my work IMO.

I am going to do in person "ordering sessions" before the images are loaded online. Whats the point in being so thorough and in control of the other parts that make up a shoot then just leaving it to chance with a online gallery and password. I've come to the conclusion that it looks lazy, gives the client the chance to look at photos any time they please and does nothing to generate sales!!

[wrdm]

The other option is of course to be the first photographer in my area to be a minimum order requirement on loose prints!

[candleman]

I agree with Steve.

Personally, I'd say keep it as simple as possible and do it the way you would prefer to buy if you were the customer.

You attract clients like yourself, and If you aren't 100% convinced your model is right... they probably won't gel with it either.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by wrdm

The thing is I'm almost losing money the way I'm running just now. I'm sick of doing all that work to only sell a couple of 7x5 prints. It does not represent my work IMO.

I am going to do in person "ordering sessions" before the images are loaded online. Whats the point in being so thorough and in control of the other parts that make up a shoot then just leaving it to chance with a online gallery and password. I've come to the conclusion that it looks lazy, gives the client the chance to look at photos any time they please and does nothing to generate sales!!

Seems to me your current set up is flawed because there's no imperative on the sale, but it goes much deeper than that. How are you going to sell this model as being superior, because that's the only way you can justify giving the customer less choice?

How are you going to deal with the fact that you're making your product more exclusive, when the industry is making the customers role more inclusive?

To make that work you have to be offering something absolutely no one else is offering. Please take this in the spirit that it's meant when I say that going off of your website, I'm not sure you can really lay claim to an out and out superior product (the caveat being that I don't know what else is being offered in your area). The portfolio is limited in scope, and content is (in my opinion, as who is always scoping out my peers work) pretty pedestrian.

If you're beating off clients with a stick, thats one thing. If you're already feeling like business is slow, what's the rationale behind your move? The chances are this will slow you down for sure in the short term, with no guarantee that it will pick up other than a hope and a prayer.

I don't know if this is your main job, if you have a studio or rent space, or what your overheads are, but can you absorb a huge hit in income while you essentially rebrand and redesign your business? Can you do it for a lengthy period of time, like 12-24 months?

With such a huge leap and an uncommon approach, how do you plan to market this, to not only regain the ground you're going to inevitably lose, but essentially find a whole new clientele?

[Dajuan]

Just because many photographers have (dare I say) business models where they give away everything doesn't mean you have to participate in their ill conceived path. Plot your course in business and grow your skill as a craftsman. Be your own trend setter. Just because the guy next door doesn't treasure his art doesn't mean you have to suffer his same fate.

[GTAltman]

Originally Posted by wrdm

The thing is I'm almost losing money the way I'm running just now. I'm sick of doing all that work to only sell a couple of 7x5 prints. It does not represent my work IMO.

I am going to do in person "ordering sessions" before the images are loaded online. Whats the point in being so thorough and in control of the other parts that make up a shoot then just leaving it to chance with a online gallery and password. I've come to the conclusion that it looks lazy, gives the client the chance to look at photos any time they please and does nothing to generate sales!!

Again, since wer'e throwing out ideas....

You're looking for more business, or more to the point, more business from your business.
Raise your prices...
Yup...get 'em up there.
Where you shift gears is build in the cost of the prints and whatever else as credits.

Say you charge a $150 sitting fee, add on $100 in prints, for a $250 session.

They can spend on 1000 5x7's or one 20x40 canvas. Who cares what they spend it on. You got the money up front.

Now you just have to word it in a way where they won't try and have you dump the $100 extra charge. You'll have to hold firm.

Again, you make it what you need it to be (obviously!), but you'll dictate the terms. They decide on the product.

All the best.

Gary