PRINT DEADLINES?

[rachel_stephens1]

Hi everyone,

 

My portrait business is starting to take off and I have noticed that some

clients will wait months before ordering prints. I don't impose a print order

minimum or require them to pay for anything towards prints and don't want to do

either. Is there a way to establish a deadline? Like they have to get their

print order in within 45 days or they incur a processing fee of X amount or

something?

 

I'd love to know what other portrait photographers do to encourage clients to

get their print orders in.

 

Thanks!

[jtdnyc]

I'm not a professional portrait photographer, but in ANY business it sounds better to give a discount for ordering promptly rather than a surcharge for ordering later.

[daverhaas]

Rachel -

 

It is pretty standard in my area (MN) to charge extra after 30 - 45 days for prints. The amount charged may be on a print basis or on an entire order.

 

It is not common to offer a discount if ordering within that same time frame. Discounts usually are given for multiple copies or multiple prints.

 

Dave

[rachel_stephens1]

Thanks Dave! I was thinking about offering free shipping for orders coming in within 15 days and a 15% "archival fee" for orders coming in after 45 days. Does 15% sound like a reasonable amount or should I do a flat fee to create urgency and as an incentive for them to get their orders in within 45 days?

[john_wilson10]

To emphasize Johnathan's point, you should maybe go with free shipping in the first 15 days, and 15 percent off in the first 45. I'd much rather hustle to get my print orders in for a "discount" than try to get them in before I have to start paying a "fee". "Fees" make me feel screwed over, "discounts" make me feel happy and satisfied.