[/color]When I was getting married, I was on a VERY limited budget. Now I am a wedding photographer and I stuggle with financially wanting the high end weddings, but morally want to take care of the budget brides. How do you deal with this? i have a hard time charging enough for my pictures on Pictage, I have a hard time charing more (when I am told I should) for my packages. I am torn...I feel so blessed that God has allowed me to be apart of a business that I absolutley LOVE. I dont want to take advantage of this blessing by allowing it to be all about money, but I also know that I HAVE to charge to stay compeitive and have it be worth my time. Does anyone else stuggle with this? Do I have to just get over it! If so, how do I do this?

Melissa[color="#800080"]

melissa, i have struggled with this too. when i started, i told people that i didn't want to charge what i myself couldn't afford.

but as i have gotten into the business, i have seen how the little things add up...pictage fees, print prices, packaging materials, taxes, business licenses, stationary, website, slideshow software, computer, hard drives, dvds, press kits, mailers, postage, album samples, product samples, framing, seminars, the list goes on and on. oh and equipment, storage, bags, repairs, lenses, and more.

it is not cheap to be self employed...you end up paying so much in taxes...insurance...etc. you will lose money if you are not pricing your work above the "budget bride" level.

that's what i have found anyway.

not saying i didn't start there, but i am saying that i found out quick that i couldn't stay there or i would go under.

Your heart is in the right place

Here's a suggestion: you have a value and should charge accordingly. Having crazy low prices can hurt the industry so your prices need to be competitive; that will ease your mind about charging too much (because you're being competitive, not unreasonable).

For the budget bride you could run a contest (Jessica Claire did this recently) or chose a bride or 2 to 'give something back.' I don't know your situation but maybe a completely free wedding wouldn't work but how about no-charge for package and only charge for prints for the winner of the contest. Maybe not even do a contest but advertise that you chose 1 or 2 brides per year to help if they're financially burdened (aren't we all though?).

Don't sell yourself short... everybody has a budget; some are just bigger than others.

I felt the same way, and started out with the same feelings you have right now. I still feel empathetic toward budget brides, and when I encounter a situation where I can really help someone, I do.. sometimes even for free... but as a business person, I know I can't do that ALL the time!

I agree with Alison. There comes a point in your business where you decide that in order to do this full time, you HAVE to charge more - not because you want high end brides - but because you NEED a certain level of income to survive. Some people open large studios and have a lot of associates working for them who are just starting out and they can charge less because their photographers are making less or only working part time while they do something else. If this is something you want to commit to full time, and it is your only source of income, you need to take a hard look at the minimum income you need in order to live comfortably, and then base the rest of your business and pricing decision on those figures... rather than on what you think a bride should be able to pay. There will always be start up photographers doing this on the weekends who will take care of budget brides, and that's OK.

You have to decide where photography fits in your life and what portion of your income is going to come from photography as well as how many clients you can reasonable handle, and then charge accordingly. Your clients want you to be happy and successful, and if you're struggling just to get by because you're cutting all of them a huge break, than you're eventually going to resent them and your work. So... don't worry about the brides.. they'll sort themselves out and they'll still be able to find budget photographers even when you decide that's not who you want to be anymore. Take care of yourself first, because no one else will.

I agree with everyone.

You need to charge what you're worth - you cannot survive and provide if you give everything away - God does not want that either.

(This is not a shameless plug btw)
You should check out this idea that came to me a few days ago.
I call it The Mosaic Group, and it's a way for us photogs to give back without breaking the bank by doing it.


Charge what you're worth and give God the glory through your images.

I believe Jessica Claire had a contest and is doing two weddings for free. You can view her announcement here.

I think some of the responsibility has to lie with the budget bride, too. I get requests from brides who want the moon, but want to pay for only cheese.

I'm not rolling in moolah, and as a 30 year old woman in a great relationship, I think about what I do for our wedding if the tide turns that way. I wouldn't expect to be able to invite everyone I know, nor have an amazing expensive venue. I wouldn't expect as many flowers as I'd like, or a designer dress. I'd have a small wedding and a big party. I'd get married at the beach in the afternoon instead of the ballroom at midnight. I'd carry daisies instead of roses and wear a simple white gown, but I wouldn't expect a fairytale wedding for $2000. And for me, if a bride is spending buckets of money on her dress and her venue, but nickel and diming the photographer, her priorities are at odds with mine and the event will be a difficult one.

The best advice a photographer friend ever gave me was this: "Sara, you don't have to be able to afford what you charge. You're a luxury, not a warehouse." So I walk the line between my head and my heart by welcoming the little intimate weddings. If the bride is willing to make sacrifices in size and venue but still wants amazing images, she can have both for under a grand. But only if she has really limited the hooplah and embraced small and simple.

If a bride really really wants me to photograph their wedding but really can't afford it, I offer them an engagement or bridal session with me so they have the opportunity to have the photos of themselves they really want made separately from the wedding day, or I offer to cover just a small portion of the event and recommend an up and coming amateur who would relish the opportunity to photograph the reception. It's all about being flexible and it doesn't have to be all or nothing, really.

This is a really good topic. Thank you for posting it, and thank all of you for your replies. They are helpful and motivational.

I love that answer! And you guys (can you tell I am from Minnesota...I just did a wedding in HAwaii with a family from Memphis and I am always so aware of my accent when I am with them!!Ok...back to subject) are great. THe thing is that I KNOW that I have to charge. I wouldnt go get my hair done or to the doctor or get my hair fixed and wonder why they are charging me. I think because we have had alot of financialy stuggles in the past several years that my heart goes out to those who really DONT Have money. But as some of you mentioned, I can always give what I want at that point. And you are right too that so many brides say they cant afford a photographer, but then they book a $10,000 hall! Thanks for your insight, advise and wisdom. "I just have to walk that line between my head and my heart" (very well said!!)

Y'know... I didn't even notice you were from MN!

Nice to meet you.
A few of us are planning an OSP-MN 2.0 gathering soon - you should come.
We will have details on OSP soon.

Hi Johnny, nice to meet you too! I would love to know about the meeting...I would love to network with more photographers in Minnesota, I know very few.
I see you are from Northfield, I was a diver in RedWing in HS and would compete against northfield! =)

I'm new to Northfield (moved in August of 06) - but I was a swimmer in HS (Rosemount).

When we get details put together I'll be posting the info here on OSP!

Johnny, I just read your Mosaic Group info and I am SOOOO excited about it! Please let me know the next step in making this happen! I am all over it! Melissa

No problem, it's a work in progress - but I should have the majority of it ironed out by the spring. If you have any ideas I would be greatly appreciative.