Price list on website

[RubyGloom]

I was reading another forum today and seen a thread about posting prices and packages on your website. The OP said he/she herd that posting prices on your website hurts your business. Is that true? If so why and if not do you post your prices on your website and why or why not?

 

[Aidan9]

I was reading another forum today and seen a thread about posting prices and packages on your website. The OP said he/she herd that posting prices on your website hurts your business. Is that true? If so why and if not do you post your prices on your website and why or why not?

I don't really know if it helps...I am recently engaged and when I browsed online for a photographer I actually preferred those who listed their prices! I've been busy planning a wedding and it can be time consuming to try to call so many different people to get prices. So, at least for me it helped knowing the price up front before I wasted time contacting someone out of my price range. Just my 2 cents! I'm not a professional photographer but have recently had to search for one!

 

[Overread36]

Sometimes it can and sometimes it can't - it depends on the type of business and the type of saleman/woman you are.

Some people have fixed rates for their services, whilst others are more apt to negotiate a deal and price point. The latter group generally need more inquiries and since their prices are not fixed in stone the inclusion of specific prices on their site can hurt their sales as they don't get as many people to make their sales pitch to.

However even if you do fit into that latter group you have to give people something to work with - a "prices start here" or kind of quote so that they at least have some idea what price bracket you, as a photographer fit into. As Aidan says, if people don't know your price point chances are they'll move into another photographers site which at least tells them, upfront if they've a chance at affording the costs - that helps save them time and you time (no point having to answer lots of inquiries from people offering pay at well below your price point).

 

[RubyGloom]

Thanks. I was just wondering, as I am not ready to start taking on clients yet its always good to know the do's and dont of starting up.

I too am engaged and I agree when I was looking for a photographer for our wedding and engagement photos I was frusterated when I couldnt find prices. I was also pretty suprised at the number of photogs who didnt have their prices posted online (another reason that promted me to ask why not or why post prices).

I am also now wondering, do you have starting prices and fixed packages? or a starting price and customizable packages, or both?

 

[mwcfarms]

Because then they have no reason to talk to you. You have a greater opportunity to sell yourself through your portfolio and the interview/consult. But as mentioned it does save time and weeds out those who can't afford you or would rather go somewhere else.

I recently attentioned an accreditation meeting and one of the subjects that is always discussed is pricing structure. I learned a couple things. Obviously don't sell your selfshort and if you do do packages, make sure you have one coined the WHOPPER. You know the high priced, almost ridonkulous no one in their right mind would ever go for. The other thing was that if the majority of your clients don't comment on your fees you might not be pricing yourself high enough. Anyways food for thought from my area.

 

[brandibell]

http://photobiz-infocus.com/2010/03/30/posting-prices-on-your-photography-website-good-or-bad/


A lot of interesting point of views on this subject for you to check out in the link

 

[Eclivic]

Because then they have no reason to talk to you. You have a greater opportunity to sell yourself through your portfolio and the interview/consult. But as mentioned it does save time and weeds out those who can't afford you or would rather go somewhere else.

I recently attentioned an accreditation meeting and one of the subjects that is always discussed is pricing structure. I learned a couple things. Obviously don't sell your selfshort and if you do do packages, make sure you have one coined the WHOPPER. You know the high priced, almost ridonkulous no one in their right mind would ever go for. The other thing was that if the majority of your clients don't comment on your fees you might not be pricing yourself high enough. Anyways food for thought from my area.

Agree, If you must put a price, do something like only showing a setup fee or something small so it seems you have really great prices. once you get the phone call, then you let them know what you are worth.

 

[IgsEMT]

I've had clients giving me 50/50 response. For me, not having prices means that my prices aren't written in stone and based on what client wants, we put a package together that feeds the need.

 

[pixilstudio]

is a wedding for 25 people the same price as a wedding with 250... not usually

 

[RubyGloom]

Thanks everyone

 

[Big Mike]

As mentioned, it can work either way.

A common issue is that it's very easy to find photographer's websites and quickly compare them. That's how most people shop these days...well, most people who are in the age bracket to be getting married for the first time. So you should consider what they will be able to get from your website and how quickly & easily the can get it. But, you also want to keep them on your site as long as possible, so it's a balancing act.
As we have seen, right in this thread, when shopping websites, if one doesn't have prices listed (or at least hinted at), then some people are inclined to just skip it and concentrate on the sites/photographers that do give them a price.

But, with that being said...as photographers, we would much rather have clients who come to us because they like our portfolio, not because we are cheaper than the next guy.
So by not putting their prices on their site, they are trying to weed out the clients who are just looking for a $700 wedding photographer. You need to consider that answering calls or e-mails from people, who are just looking for a deal, can take up a lot of time...and when you're trying to run a business, time is money.

So part of the thought process, should be determining the market segment that you are targeting. Are those the type of people who shop by price, or are they the type of people who will love your photos and pay whatever you're asking?

 

[Overread36]

So part of the thought process, should be determining the market segment that you are targeting. Are those the type of people who shop by price, or are they the type of people who will love your photos and pay whatever you're asking?

I would also say that if you're in the latter group, of not listing prices and wanting people to come to you for your photos and not for your price; then chances are your website is not the key part of your marketing. Present of course, but its more of a contact point and reaffirmation of your skills, rather than one of the main points of earning, simply because the kinds of people who are after a photographer for their style and not price are going to be looking within "known circles". That means a more extensive marketing approach outside of the website - as well as more networking and exposure (locally/regionally/nationally/internationally depending on the company scale).

I also wouldn't be surprised that many who are not listing prices currently used to do so in the past whilst they built up a name for themselves within the industry. The simple fact that they had to earn their keep early on, until such a time as their talent and vision were demanded for above their pricing structure.

 

[480sparky68 67]

I would say it depends on what you're selling. Since I don't do commission work, my website sells just prints & framing, so I have all my prices listed. A print is a print is a print. I don't have a variety of grades to choose from. So I have no sales advantage over the next guy's website when it comes to 'selling' prints. My selling point is having images no one else has.

If you're selling a service, well that's a whole other ball game. This is where learning how to sell yourself is important. You need to differentiate yourself from the shutter-actuating hordes, some of which think they're top-notch because they just spent $300 on a camera.

Not all photographers are the same, and given the identical photo shoot, there will be as many different results as there are photographers to shoot it. Some will be good, some will be bad, and a few will be horrendous. By not listing your prices on-line, you give yourself a chance to sell yourself.... your talent, your experience, your training, your expertise...... instead of selling just a book of photos.