Pricing model for family portraiture- specifically print credits as part of package

Good morning,

I have been asked by several friends and families if I do family portraits, and if so how much do I charge? I previously was not setup to do formal studio portraiture, but now have all of the equipment (backgrounds, props, lighting) to do so. Or I could setup in a park/garden setting. Whatever the customer would like.

I was thinking of offering a base charge for the session, including > say $150 in print credits

Don't worry. I do not plan on working for free, nor am I including a cd with anything.

Just looking for general feedback if anyone uses print credits in their pricing, andhow it seems to be received by your customers.

I forgot to add that the customer would have to purchase additional prints if desired outside of the $150/ whatever I am including as print credits. FYI; my work is printed by a professional lab, and not the local Costco. Top print finishing will be included with all work (textures, sprays, etc..) to differentiate what I am offering from the weekend warrior or CL hack.

Stop and think about why you're charging a preliminary payment at all.

A. To prevent "no-shows" by ensuring they have "skin in the game?"
B. To pay for your time and effort preliminary to the session?
C. To pay for your actual expenses for shooting and processing?

The only time I would consider the idea of "print credit" would be if A was my only reason for charging an up-front fee in the first place. If I'm actually charging for services rendered to that point or costs to that point, it would not make sense to refund any of that the money to them as a print credit.

It is important today, IMO, never to go into a shooting session without both parties understanding what at least the minimum quid pro quo will be. In the past, that has been left up in the air until the sales session, with the photographer hoping to "up sell" the client after the client has seen the results of the session.

I don't believe that model works anymore. I believe that now portrait photographers need to work more like portrait painters and commercial photographers: No work commensed without a firm understanding of the minimum product that will be produced and the minimum amount that will be paid.

This goes into a constant rant of mine: Photographers should have a "product philosophy." They should know what product they intend to deliver before they even hang out the shingle, and should be planning, marketing, and selling that product from the very first contact with a prospective client.

I believe A is an important factor, but for me, the initial payment is a down payment for a minimum product that the client agrees to purchase at that same time. Thus, there is no "credit" or refund later.

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RDKirk
'TANSTAAFL: The only unbreakable rule in photography.'

There are two ways I've seen to approach family portraiture.

Model 1 is a low session fee and packages or ala carte (at a higher price). this is pretty traditional and low risk to the customer as they feel they only have to spend $50 (session fee). Problem is the packages...one large and 5 small and no pose limit works pretty well but isn't perfect by any means. Your goal as the photog is to get as much, on average, as possible, but this model allows the client to buy 1 8x10 and nothing else - it's rare, but can happen. On the plus side it's easy to offer promotions - "1/2 price session" and such which will get them in the door.

Model 2 is what you're thinking of, a $500 'deposit' and usually offered as 'No Session Fee!" type of thing. The whole $500 goes toward their purchase. But this can scare away clients - they didn't know it was going to cost that much, so they just go someplace else. I find this works if a) you don't want to be bothered with a lot of family volume or b) you are high end and your clients will be spending a lot anyway. This works for you as you know what your average, or at least min sale will be. It sorta works for the client as they can just pick what they want usually off a one-price menu. Simpler that way in many regards.

I like Model 2, but am finding at least for me, my area, etc, model 1 works better. What works well is to offer "Free finished portrait, a $95 value, wiith any session" (that is an 8x10 ala carte price) and I just give them $95 credit toward whatever they want. This is the special I offer my current clients to encourage them to come in for family sessions and it's been working well.

I know photogs not far from me that average over $1000 on family potraiture but I'm not getting that, yet. $500 is my goal w/ session fee and that's been attainable using model 1. I tried model 2 and got nothing, but YMMV
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If I knew how to take a good picture I'd do it every time.