What are the most common packages?

<p>I'm starting to write a business plan and was wondering what is including in you a typical Photo package, say for senior pics or school photos. If you have pricing information that would be great also.<br>

For instance, I was thinking about 1 pose which included 2 8x10s, 3 5x7s, 5 4x6s and 20 wallets for $50.</p>

<p>Let me ask you a question? Why are you do feel $50 dollars is the best number?<br>

Here is what I think you need to ask yourself.<br>

Who is your cliental?<br>

What is the demographics of your clients?<br>

Who is your target market?<br>

Are you talking High end clients or a mass market.<br>

Do you offer better quality and service than the competition?<br>

How much does your competition charge?<br>

Who is your competition?<br>

What is your plan to exploit the weaknesses of the competition?<br>

Is what you are charging covering your costs (location, gear, time and materials)?<br>

If you answer those questions you will have your price.</p>

<p>Kevin -<br>

You won't be in business very long thinking like that. No one here can tell you what to charge your clients. You are the only one who can figure it out. You have to include your time (shooting the photos, post processing), you have to include printing costs (whether lab costs or materials if you do it yourself), overhead (do you rent a studio or work from home?). There are so many factors involved tat it's impossible for me to say, "You should charge X for this package." What I can tell you though is that $50 for what you listed is very low.</p>

<p>"What I can tell you though is that $50 for what you listed is very low."<br>

======================<br>

I see about $25 profit max on this one. Not taking into account, your equipment, your time and expertise. </p>

<p>Kevin,<br>

Are you charging a creation fee? This would really matter. If you're not, then you'll be losing serious money at these prices.<br>

Personally, I like selling a-la-carte with a minimum order based on the type of shoot. The more time and effort that goes into the shoot, the higher the minimum. I also offer a slightly discounted minimum for non-prime-time shoots. Monday-Friday during the day is non-prime-time. It's like disciplining your children. I reward my clients for making appointments when I want them too rather than charging some type of premium for working evenings and weekends and many of them go for it....-Aimee</p>

<p>C'mon guys, so what if, best case scenario, he loses $100 per session? Maybe he'll make up for it in volume.</p>

<p>In my area $50 won't even get you an appointment at the mall. My cost is higher just to show up. In addition to what Dean says above, include the wear and tear on your equipment. You are only going to get a limited number of shots out of your cameras and lighting before it needs to be replaced or upgraded. What is that going to cost you?</p>

<p>Now how many shoots will you do an hour? 3 or more? If you can create and maintain that pace, then $50 may be reasonable, maybe. And if you can maintain that pace, Tell me where you live I will move there and be your competition.</p>

<p>Find out what your local market will bare. Call other shooters in your area and learn their rates. Find out what their overhead is. Do they shoot location only? Do they have a studio? Is it seperate from there home? Are they full time photographers? Once you know that you will have an idea on where to start your pricing. </p>

<p>People are not clammering to do portraits right now so you want to make sure your pricing will support your business and $50 sounds to me like you are trying to just make a few bucks on the side. In my experience that line of thinking only causes strife. You spend time shooting, you don't get paid what your time is worth and you bring the photography market down with you. Its a lose/lose situation.<br>

<br /> Sure you want to undercut your competition but you can do that in a much better way by undercutting them buy as little as $25 an hour. If the local market is getting $175-$200 an hour, ask yourself why. If you can do the same job for $150, do it. you will get the work, your fellow shooters will have to take notice and adjust their pricing or justify the higher cost and the market will grow. Win/win.</p>

<p>Michael<br /> <b>URL Signature Removed. Not allowed per photo.net Terms of Use.</b>