{CLICK ABOVE} for a post about how I learned to price my products & services
Hands up if you’re a photographer who gets these emails regularly: “Ooooh your photos are too expensive. Any chance we can ‘do a deal’?” My hand is up. Way up. And my poor heart sinks every time.
When I encounter these clients, I just have to remind myself that at one time in my life, not even that long ago, I too thought that photographs were nothing more than paper and ink. Before I finished portfolio building and set my current (permanent) prices, I would have easily wavered and bended with every wind of client complaint. In the process, I would have been underselling my work, underestimating my value as an artist, allowing my artistic esteem to be demoralised and slaughtered each and every time. Now, I kindly respond to their emails with the following gentle guidance…
Dear ________,
Thank you so much for your feedback on the results of your session. I really enjoyed photographing ________ and it seemed they enjoyed it too :) Regarding my prices, us photographers get that a lot. We find that consumers commonly base the value of a photograph merely on the paper and ink to print it. But so much more goes into producing lasting images for you and your family. Each image produced during your session represents hours of preparation and work before, during and after the session, many sleepless nights spent in education to learn the craft, many thousands of pounds (or dollars) worth of equipment to make the images, edit and store them and time spent away from my family to serve my clients with the utmost love and care.
Unfortunately taking these factors into consideration, I don’t alter my prices. But again, I’m so happy you love your photos and I look forward to knowing which ones you choose! :)
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Halford, Glacier Cake Photography
Who can say no to that? There are a percentage of clients who will be offended and not respond. But don’t get desperate. Desperation draws cheap skates like flies to honey and they’ll bring all their cheap friends with them. Stand your ground, know what your work is worth and be confident that you are an artist who doesn’t have to be a starving one.
P.S. Please check back throughout the next couple weeks because I’m going to be posting about expectation management. How to prepare your portrait or wedding clients for how you work, what you offer and what they will be paying for it.
