There seem to be a number of strategies on this subject but I'd love to hear why people chose to do what they do.

The first question is packages. Personally, I have a hard time with packages, as I find different people want different things, and it's always a balancing act for me to be sure I'll be able to give them exactly what they want and still make what I want off a wedding, without agreeing to a price for a number of hours and then finding out I need to rent some extra lights or hire another shooter or drive to four locations or something like that. Do people create packages based on time spent shooting and build in a cushion for these potential extra costs?

Also about packages....I try to approach each client as a unique entity, and somehow the packages make me feel like they're not unique, or that I'm not treating them uniquely. Is that just silly?

Lastly, about credits. I've been setting a price for wedding photography/proofs, and any print or album orders are on top of that a la carte although there is a bonus credit for buying the album at the time of buying the photography. I've noticed a lot of photogs build a print/album credit into their packages. Can you tell me why and how this seems to work for you versus packages or times you didn't offer this credit?

Thanks for the thoughts.

Hey Laura..

I'm glad you started a topic like this. I've been thinking the same thing myself wondered how everyone here does what they do.

Let me ask everyone this, do you include the digital negatives in your wedding packages? My smallest wedding package is an engagement session, wedding rehearsal, all day wedding coverage, an index print of all their wedding files in a Renaissance digital book, and the digital negatives of the engagement and wedding day. It seems like clients want the files so that they will not have to pay anymore for unlimited reprints. So that is why I did what I did...plus other photographers are also doing that here. I also give them a 500 dollar print credit towards an album...if they decide to purchase one. (which i retail at 900).

It's worked for me so far. But I'd like to know what everyone else is doing. I feel like there's sooo much more to learning about this stuff...

KK

About the digital files, I do sell the disk based on the average cost of additional pictures ordered for an average wedding. That way I know I will not lose when selling the disk. Either it is included in the price of a wedding or an addition to the price, either way clients who want them will buy it.

Jerome

We do sell our digi files, but we do not include them in our packages. We really try to sell the people on Pictage and after reading the thread in the forum about file prices we are trying to figure out what to charge. I'd put the link here but I can't find it, can someone help???

Tricia

Ah,...I JUST changed my packages page yesterday (and raised my price after thinking more about the Gary Fong thread.)

Mike Colon has some really good thoughts on this topic. He points out that if you lay out all of your package details on your website, your viewers are encouraged to price shop and point by point compare your product to someone else. You may loose the client without ever getting the chance to talk to them. He recomends putting a "starting price" and giving a brief description of what your packages include overall, so you're clients know kinda where you're at and then leaving it at that. That way the client has to call you to find out more and you can have the opportunity to make a first impression.

I offer a DVD with all the pics on it, (although I don't mention that specifically on the website.) I sell it for about $500. But, even then I really encourage them to order off Pictage, because the prints are going to look so good.

That's my two cents...

I have a potential Pictage rep, Ian is his name (he says he knows DJ very well). Anyhow...I'm VERY curious about Pictage...but I just established myself with Express Digital. What is the turnaround rate for Pictage prints? I have a feeling that Pictage is better (I'm sure it is)

Don't you guys just hate it when you just establish yourself with a company and you think you're all set...and then you find something better and wanna change? UGHHHHH

KK