This article is an excerpt of a chapter on pricing your boudoir photography from my upcoming book “Introduction to The Boudoir Photography Business.” That will be available soon.
Boudoir photography is an intimate and personal experience that, to do well, requires a high level of skill and expertise from the photographer. It is that skill and experience that allows us to charge premium prices for what we provide.
It is of vital important to price your boudoir photography services fairly to ensure that you are compensated for your expertise while also ensuring that your clients are getting the best value for their investment. How do we figure out what we should charge for our photography services?
Well I’m so glad you asked.
1. Research the Market
Before setting your prices, it is important to research the market to get an idea of what other boudoir photographers in your area are charging. This will give you an idea of the price range for boudoir photography services in your area and help you to determine a fair price for your services.
Keep in mind that the price range can vary depending on the level of experience, quality of work, and services offered.
I will tell you right now; I almost always strive to be the most expensive photographer in any area I base out of.
2. Determine Your Cost of Doing Business
To set a fair price for your boudoir photography services, it is important to understand the costs associated with running your photography business. This includes taxes, staffing, outsourcing, product costs, equipment costs, software subscriptions, insurance, marketing expenses, and more.
Once you have a clear understanding of your expenses, you can determine your cost of doing business and use that as a baseline for setting your prices.
For me I always figure how much I need to walk away with minimum, from one shoot to be able to pay all my bills for each month.
3. Consider Your Time and Expertise
Boudoir photography requires a high level of skill and expertise to create beautiful and flattering images. As such, it is important to factor in the time and effort that goes into creating these images when setting your prices.
Consider how much time you spend on each session, including preparation, the actual shoot, and post-processing. Also, consider your level of expertise and the value that you bring to each session.
The biggest thing I want you to consider is your skillset though. The better and more skillful you are the more you should certainly charge.
I often say if you want to trade your time for money then go get a job that pays you hourly.
4. Offer Packages
One way to make your boudoir photography services more appealing to clients is to offer packages. Packages can include different types of sessions, to the different types of products you can offer your clients to add value, such as prints, albums and other physical products.
By offering packages, you can give your clients more options and flexibility, while also increasing your revenue.
5. Consider Your Clientele
When setting your prices, it is important to consider your target clientele. Are you targeting high-end clients who are willing to pay a premium for quality boudoir photography services? Or are you targeting budget-conscious clients who may be looking for more affordable options?
Understanding your target clientele can help you to determine the price range that will be most appealing to them.
6. Don’t Undervalue Your Services
While it may be tempting to lower your prices to attract more clients, it is important not to undervalue your services. By setting prices that are too low, you may be giving the impression that your services are of lower quality or that you are not as experienced as other boudoir photographers in your area.
Instead, focus on providing high-quality services and setting prices that reflect the value that you bring to each session.
7. Be Transparent
When setting your prices, it is important to be transparent with your clients about what is included in each package or session. This can help to avoid misunderstandings or surprises down the line. Make sure to clearly outline the services that are included, as well as any additional fees or charges that may apply.
Pricing your boudoir photography services requires careful consideration of various factors, including market trends, costs of doing business, time and expertise, clientele, and transparency.
By taking these factors into account, you can set fair prices that reflect the value that you bring to each session and ensure that your clients are getting the best value for their investment.
