This question is for all of you portrait photographers out there! Amber, Sarah?

How do you determine your pricing for multiple sessions? Do you discount the sessions, or include extras?

For me, specifically, I'm trying to provide a client a price for maternity, newborn, 3, 6, and 12 month sessions.

Jess

I offer a "Watch me Grow" package that includes maternity & 3 more sessions throughout baby's first year. I'm also starting to include a coffee table album at the end with shots from all sessions. My session rate is $275, for all 4 it's $900 ($225 per).

This package has been way popular! I did a Baby Expo and sold more of these than just regular packages.

Good luck....these are great because you really build a relationship w/ the family

Thanks so much Mariah.

Is your fee going up when you add the coffee table book? That's where I feel it gets tricky. I want to add and show value for the client, but I also want to be able to offer more specialty items. I'm on the fence about whether to include an album or do it a la carte.

Nope, I actually just raised my prices. So, I'll be throwing the album in. I didn't add it as a selling point...I just thought it would be way cool to have an album showing your baby's first year (& before). I have a local printer that makes them for about $20.

I think your images are enough value in themselves if you don't want to deal w/ package items. I looked at your site and you photograph kids really well (that's the only gallery I looked at). But, I sold so many "Watch me Grow's" because the clients saw the benefit of buying all at once (the discount). So, doing discounted sessions really helped my bookings (I didn't have albums included then).

Hey! I am just going to copy the text from my Lifestyle Baby price list into this box Forgive my laziness.. I've gotta birth photography session that i HAVE to get on the blog, ASAP!

Package A - One on-location photographic session 6 times during the baby’s first year, a minimum of twenty proofs uploaded to Pictage per session, proofing with Pictage PicBooks, a custom-designed 30 page 10x10 coffee table album, $5500.00

Package B– One on-location photographic session six times during the baby’s first year, a minimum of twenty proofs uploaded to Pictage per session, proofing with Pictage PicBooks, $3500.00

Package C- One on-location photographic session six times during the baby’s first year, with a minimum of twenty proofs uploaded to Pictage per session, $2400.00

I have a question for all of you doing these kind of packages... what all are you including? Amber made it clear because she copied her package list, but I offer this as well and have been debating a change.

All my packages come with 20 4x6 prints, online gallery & full res dvd of all final images. So, the multi package includes all that + a coffee table album at the end (or maybe a storyboard, instead). I haven't actually decided what little extra I'm going to throwing in at the end yet. I'm not advertising anything but the prints & dvd so when they get it, they'll be surprised

Thanks for sharing everyone! For me everything is basically a la carte (no files, and online proofing). My prices just went up, but really only to include a "starter" print credit.

Amber, if I understand correctly then there's really no discounting for your packages, or are your packages based on the $600 session?

I like the idea of adding proof books.

BTW...just had to jump over to your blog to check out the birth session. Great job! I love the shot of the siblings reaction.

Anyone else want to chime in!?

I have two "story of a year" collections. The first includes four traditional sessions for $850 (regularly $250 each). Each session gets a $75 print credit and at least 20 proofs. Unlike my regular sessions, I include the cute little 5x5 proof books for just $50 extra too. I haven't been doing it long enough to have lots of clients who have gone all the way through, but those that have all choose to get an album or coffee table book at the end.

The second addressed all the requests I was getting for the files, and is 4 "digital" sessions for $2200 (normally $750 each). It includes up to 20 high res files for each session and $50 print credit. I honestly put that collection up to deter those who were asking for the files, so I had an easy answer to the question. "Sure! That'll be $2200." To my surprise, someone already booked the thing!

"Baby planners" also get small discounts on the a la carte goodies as a sort of thank you for their repeat business.