Maybe you’re just starting out in photography and you want to start charging but you don’t know when to start charging. Let us help! We pulled this from our How To Start Your Photography Business ebook, I love all the advice from these pro photographers!
When deciding how much to price yourself at, you have to do a little research, every location is different, you don’t want to set your rates too high for your location, and you don’t want to set them too low and undervalue yourself.
Some say, you shouldn’t be charging anyone to take their photos until you are producing quality work most of the time. In this case, you would want to look around your area and see what other photographers you feel are on your same level are charging. In our opinion, there is a client for every price point. Don’t be afraid to dive right in and take a risk.
We charged so little at the beginning so we could have many, many opportunities to shoot.
That is when we grew. Photography, we believe, is something that can’t be learned and mastered simply by reading and studying and knowing the ins and outs of the mechanics of your camera or the “rules” of good shooting. In order to get better at your craft, you need to do it daily.
Every day you need to be shooting and editing and dealing with clients. This is the best way to learn and get better.
We knew it was time to start charging when we had photographed friends and family for free, and then we began getting calls and emails from “friends of friends” asking us to photograph their family or children. Once “strangers” started asking about our services, we knew it was time.
When you decide it is time for you to start charging. You need to figure out how much time the session is taking you, and also, how long it takes you to edit.
One of the biggest goals of a business is to make money. Are you spending gas money to go to the session? Do you have to pay a baby sitter to watch your kids while you are gone?
These are the things to take into account when deciding how much to price your sessions at.
Some of you haven’t started your business yet, and some of you are new to it. Whether you are trying to decide what your prices are going to be, or whether you are evaluating your prices for a possible increase, these tips may come in handy for you.
- Research what other photographers in your area are charging.
- Make sure that your clients know that your prices will increase, that they are discounted price during the early stages of your business. This way, it will help to ease the shock when they your prices increase.
- Charge what you would pay to have your family pictures taken. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable paying that much for pictures, then others probably wouldn’t either.
Have any questions about when you should start charging? Ask us in the comments!
