How to raise your prices as a photographer?
I meet a lot of photographers that are not super comfortable with their pricing.
The thing I hear most of the time is that they can’t afford to pay their prices themselves and so it doesn’t feel right to charge that much to others.
Well, newsflash! You can’t judge anyones spending priorities. Because you could probably easily afford to hire yourself if you made it a priority.
For example, you could choose not to buy a new lens, new clothing or anything else for the next 2, 5, 10 months (depending on your savings volume) and you would be able to afford to hire you as a photographer.
However, you choose to spend your money on something else.
Which is totally okay.
You create beautiful images of your own family so why would you spend it on another photographer? (it is actually a big learning and fun experience to do so, but that’s a whole other story).
But other people don’t have that gift, and they gladly pay an expert to take beautiful photos of their family. They choose to spend it on you in favor of new clothes or a trip to a fun park. They value great photographs in their homes over something else.
Makes for a whole new perspective right?
Now let’s continue and make sure you charge the right amount for your services.
Warning: You might be very eager to raise your rates after this next exercise!
Create a list of things you have accomplished in your life
- Your education, normal education and photography education. Courses, trainings, seminars, workshops, list them all!
- Your life experience. Have kids? You know how to deal with kids in front of the camera, list it. Have a partner, you know how to pose couples so they will love their images, list it. Have a dog? etc, you get the drill. Maybe you have been through hardship? Every live experience you have been through is a gift in itself. It gave you life experience. List it.
- Awards. Have you ever send in your images in a contest? Got nominated or awarded? List it!
- Publications? Even the tiniest ones, list them. All of them.
- Events? You go to events with like-minded people. List them and if you can recall, also your biggest takeaways.
- Networking? Meeting with peers and / or vendors gives you so much knowledge. List them.
- Facebook groups? Don’t forget the knowledge you are building by being in groups with colleagues, learning and helping out others. List them.
- Products you have created. Facebook updates that went viral, blogs that got heaps of comments or backlinks, ebooks you have written, flyers you have created, albums you got raving reviews for, etc. List your achievements.
- Magazines, books & blogs you read to grow your photography & business skills or to stay on top of news in the industry, list them all.
- Testimonials. Get out your most loving, most cherished testimonials. If you don’t ask them consistently yet, start doing it. Read this blog abouthow to get testimonials. Also think of those happy faces, the clients you immediately recall when thinking of special happy clients. List a few of those memorable moments where your images really made a difference. They always do, but I know some special stories always come floating to the surface.
Time to let your achievements sink in
Crank yourself a cup of coffee or green tea, give yourself some space and quiet time and immerse yourself in this list.
Feel the feelings of accomplishment, pride, achievement, expertise, knowledge that you deserve.
Know that you are here to make people happy with your work.
Know that there are people out there that are happy to pay you for your work.
Know that you totally deserve to be paid for serving others.
[pullquote]I serve, I deserve – Denise DT[/pullquote]
Want to raise your prices after doing this? Good for you!! Here is a podcast that will give you a few more amazing tips on how to raise your prices!
Let me know how you felt after doing this!