Pricing a Wedding Album - Page 3 - PhotoCamel

Mark McCall · 04-02-2008

Kelly,
Your doing it the exact same way I started...working full time, photography on the side, with future plans to go full time. Good for you. Sounds like you have a solid plan.

I'm a firm believer than you can't just go out and charge anything you want. You have to build up your experience, your clientele, and most importantly, a reputation.

But don't be afraid to adjust the price list when the time is right.

I started cleaning out the guest room today. It hasn't been used in over a year. We're gonna have a blast.

Not4wood · 04-02-2008

Kelly,

Mark's right as usual. The more experience you have, the easier to make adjustments and have your pricing set so you also feel less guilty of "Charging What your Worth" and making a good profit. Pricing at the biggining is always a rough, tough nut to crack because of sheer lack of experience and not knowing or just feeling guilty of what your charging. Pick a point to start after looking around in your neck of the woods and see what others are doing. Once you get a feel of how hard your working and customer satisfaction then your reputation will really kick in and you can raise your prices. LOL

Sounds to me, like your ready and very able to give it a go, Break a leg.

BTW, what do you guys teach? My wife is a 3rd grade teacher in the NYC Board of Ed.

KellyL · 04-02-2008

Okay....I am afraid I'll mess it up.

KellyL · 04-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark McCall

Kelly,
Your doing it the exact same way I started...working full time, photography on the side, with future plans to go full time. Good for you. Sounds like you have a solid plan.

I'm a firm believer than you can't just go out and charge anything you want. You have to build up your experience, your clientele, and most importantly, a reputation.

But don't be afraid to adjust the price list when the time is right.

I started cleaning out the guest room today. It hasn't been used in over a year. We're gonna have a blast.

You just don't know how much I am looking forward to this. I keep saying to my wife, "What are we going to talk about?" She just gives me that....DUH! look. She knows that I live, eat, breathe this silly stuff. Each night, as I lay my head down to sleep, I grab one of my photo books and read lighting diagrams, posing techniques, wedding photojournalism techniques..............

So I am really looking forward to this and Sarah is on cloud nine. I think I am glad I got my airline tickets before the rate hikes....EEEK!

KellyL · 04-02-2008

I teach 8th grade, my wife teaches 1st grade. I would NEVER want her job. And she would never want mine.

Not4wood · 04-02-2008

Duh, almost forgot the most important part of doing a Wedding

Bring a good amount of your Business Cards for you, and your assistant. They will ask for it, and when you give them out it will bring a smile to your face

KellyL · 04-03-2008

I use one of the photos fromthe engagement session, or a little montage of photos, on a wallet sized picture with my information discretely in the corner. I walk around and say, "Have you gotten an engagement photo of the bride and groom?" People say, "Oh, no...why thank you...thank you!" It has been a very popular way to hand out business cards.

ee50ok · 04-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by KellyL

I use one of the photos fromthe engagement session, or a little montage of photos, on a wallet sized picture with my information discretely in the corner. I walk around and say, "Have you gotten an engagement photo of the bride and groom?" People say, "Oh, no...why thank you...thank you!" It has been a very popular way to hand out business cards.

That is a really great idea.

To ensure it happens you could even offer to do a simple enguagement pic for the couple at a very low price when you discuss the wedding shoot with them. This way you gaurantee having a relevant photo business card to hand out.

KellyL · 04-03-2008

Not my idea. The customer rep at Full Color told me to do it.

kgphoto · 04-03-2008

Do you do what everybody tells you to do? Well then, Calibrate your camera!

Sorry couldn't resist.

KellyL · 04-03-2008

I know...I know...but I am afraid I will mess it up and then I'll be stuck with a meter and camera that don't know squat.

kgphoto · 04-03-2008

Aw come on. You know that can't happen. Just follow the directions and see what happens. You can always ignore the results and you would be back where you are now.

KellyL · 04-03-2008

I...will...be...bold. Actually, I have now learned that I can load my camera profile into my meter? What the heck is that all about? GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRr. I need a lifetime to learn.

kgphoto · 04-04-2008

Each camera and lens combination, even from the same manufacturer will expose things a little differently even when set to the same settings. Or if you use the same camera, but shoot this stuff black and white, and this stuff jpeg and this stuff RAW, you can save those as different profiles.

Once you have a standardized meter you can crate exposure adjustments for each camera and lens combination and store those profiles in the meter. Then when you are shooting, you just tell the meter I am using my Nikon with my 105 or my Cannon with my 24-70 and it will do all the adjustments, so all you have to do is take and use the direct readings from the meter.

See, easy as pie. One batch of thinking at the beginning and then the rest is just following directions.

04-02-2008	#41 (permalink)
Mark McCall Lubbock, Tx. Posts: 2,050 CamelKarma: 1223 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album Kelly, Your doing it the exact same way I started...working full time, photography on the side, with future plans to go full time. Good for you. Sounds like you have a solid plan. I'm a firm believer than you can't just go out and charge anything you want. You have to build up your experience, your clientele, and most importantly, a reputation. But don't be afraid to adjust the price list when the time is right. I started cleaning out the guest room today. It hasn't been used in over a year. We're gonna have a blast. __________________ __________________ Members don't see this ad. Register your free account today and become a member on PhotoCamel - Your Friendly Photo Community, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more.
	__________________ M. Photog. Cr. Certified Professional Photographer F-TPPA, F-SPPPA

04-02-2008	#42 (permalink)
Not4wood Dromedary Location: back home from UK, in New York City Posts: 1,499 CamelKarma: 808 Editing OK?: Ask first Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album Kelly, Mark's right as usual. The more experience you have, the easier to make adjustments and have your pricing set so you also feel less guilty of "Charging What your Worth" and making a good profit. Pricing at the biggining is always a rough, tough nut to crack because of sheer lack of experience and not knowing or just feeling guilty of what your charging. Pick a point to start after looking around in your neck of the woods and see what others are doing. Once you get a feel of how hard your working and customer satisfaction then your reputation will really kick in and you can raise your prices. LOL Sounds to me, like your ready and very able to give it a go, Break a leg. BTW, what do you guys teach? My wife is a 3rd grade teacher in the NYC Board of Ed.
	__________________ Mark G Not4wood My Flickr Portfolio: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30920268@N06/show/ PE5, Canon SD450, Nikon D80 w/Kit 18-135, Nikkor 70-300 VR f:4.5, Nikkor 60mm f:2.8 Macro HP Photosmart 7360, Old Vivitar 283, Nikon SB900, Manfrotto Tripod 055XB w/Manfrotto 486 RC2 Ball Head

04-02-2008	#43 (permalink)
KellyL Photocamel Master Location: Mental State: Just west of chaos and south of disaster. Posts: 7,372 CamelKarma: 7602 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album Okay....I am afraid I'll mess it up.
	__________________ "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." ~ Scott Adams ~ <<<<<Avatar: Corey and Erica ~ "But Johnny...I can't!" Johnny looked from across the ocean, fist raised. "Don't be such a weenie. Are you man or photographer?" Trepidly I called, placed the order and began the patient wait. "Now that's a photog," Johnny sighed. "Now your acting like you've got stones."

04-02-2008	#45 (permalink)
KellyL Photocamel Master Location: Mental State: Just west of chaos and south of disaster. Posts: 7,372 CamelKarma: 7602 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album I teach 8th grade, my wife teaches 1st grade. I would NEVER want her job. And she would never want mine.
	__________________ "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." ~ Scott Adams ~ <<<<<Avatar: Corey and Erica ~ "But Johnny...I can't!" Johnny looked from across the ocean, fist raised. "Don't be such a weenie. Are you man or photographer?" Trepidly I called, placed the order and began the patient wait. "Now that's a photog," Johnny sighed. "Now your acting like you've got stones."

04-02-2008	#46 (permalink)
Not4wood Dromedary Location: back home from UK, in New York City Posts: 1,499 CamelKarma: 808 Editing OK?: Ask first Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album Duh, almost forgot the most important part of doing a Wedding Bring a good amount of your Business Cards for you, and your assistant. They will ask for it, and when you give them out it will bring a smile to your face
	__________________ Mark G Not4wood My Flickr Portfolio: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30920268@N06/show/ PE5, Canon SD450, Nikon D80 w/Kit 18-135, Nikkor 70-300 VR f:4.5, Nikkor 60mm f:2.8 Macro HP Photosmart 7360, Old Vivitar 283, Nikon SB900, Manfrotto Tripod 055XB w/Manfrotto 486 RC2 Ball Head

04-03-2008	#47 (permalink)
KellyL Photocamel Master Location: Mental State: Just west of chaos and south of disaster. Posts: 7,372 CamelKarma: 7602 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album I use one of the photos fromthe engagement session, or a little montage of photos, on a wallet sized picture with my information discretely in the corner. I walk around and say, "Have you gotten an engagement photo of the bride and groom?" People say, "Oh, no...why thank you...thank you!" It has been a very popular way to hand out business cards.
	__________________ "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." ~ Scott Adams ~ <<<<<Avatar: Corey and Erica ~ "But Johnny...I can't!" Johnny looked from across the ocean, fist raised. "Don't be such a weenie. Are you man or photographer?" Trepidly I called, placed the order and began the patient wait. "Now that's a photog," Johnny sighed. "Now your acting like you've got stones."

04-03-2008	#49 (permalink)
KellyL Photocamel Master Location: Mental State: Just west of chaos and south of disaster. Posts: 7,372 CamelKarma: 7602 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album Not my idea. The customer rep at Full Color told me to do it.
	__________________ "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." ~ Scott Adams ~ <<<<<Avatar: Corey and Erica ~ "But Johnny...I can't!" Johnny looked from across the ocean, fist raised. "Don't be such a weenie. Are you man or photographer?" Trepidly I called, placed the order and began the patient wait. "Now that's a photog," Johnny sighed. "Now your acting like you've got stones."

04-03-2008	#50 (permalink)
kgphoto Dromedary Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,235 CamelKarma: 405 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album Do you do what everybody tells you to do? Well then, Calibrate your camera! Sorry couldn't resist.

04-03-2008	#51 (permalink)
KellyL Photocamel Master Location: Mental State: Just west of chaos and south of disaster. Posts: 7,372 CamelKarma: 7602 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album I know...I know...but I am afraid I will mess it up and then I'll be stuck with a meter and camera that don't know squat.
	__________________ "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." ~ Scott Adams ~ <<<<<Avatar: Corey and Erica ~ "But Johnny...I can't!" Johnny looked from across the ocean, fist raised. "Don't be such a weenie. Are you man or photographer?" Trepidly I called, placed the order and began the patient wait. "Now that's a photog," Johnny sighed. "Now your acting like you've got stones."

04-03-2008	#52 (permalink)
kgphoto Dromedary Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,235 CamelKarma: 405 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album Aw come on. You know that can't happen. Just follow the directions and see what happens. You can always ignore the results and you would be back where you are now.

04-03-2008	#53 (permalink)
KellyL Photocamel Master Location: Mental State: Just west of chaos and south of disaster. Posts: 7,372 CamelKarma: 7602 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album I...will...be...bold. Actually, I have now learned that I can load my camera profile into my meter? What the heck is that all about? GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRr. I need a lifetime to learn.
	__________________ "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." ~ Scott Adams ~ <<<<<Avatar: Corey and Erica ~ "But Johnny...I can't!" Johnny looked from across the ocean, fist raised. "Don't be such a weenie. Are you man or photographer?" Trepidly I called, placed the order and began the patient wait. "Now that's a photog," Johnny sighed. "Now your acting like you've got stones."

04-04-2008	#54 (permalink)
kgphoto Dromedary Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,235 CamelKarma: 405 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Pricing a Wedding Album Each camera and lens combination, even from the same manufacturer will expose things a little differently even when set to the same settings. Or if you use the same camera, but shoot this stuff black and white, and this stuff jpeg and this stuff RAW, you can save those as different profiles. Once you have a standardized meter you can crate exposure adjustments for each camera and lens combination and store those profiles in the meter. Then when you are shooting, you just tell the meter I am using my Nikon with my 105 or my Cannon with my 24-70 and it will do all the adjustments, so all you have to do is take and use the direct readings from the meter. See, easy as pie. One batch of thinking at the beginning and then the rest is just following directions.