 Scott McCord |
Common # of proofs for senior session During my senior sessions, I normally take 150-300 photos. However, I take more than I need to make sure eyes are open, smiles are nice, etc. My session fee is $50 and I'm wondering how many proofs you all think is reasonable to offer a client. I've been offering anywhere from 80-120 proofs, depending on the shots. However, I'm wanting to lower that amount due to time restrictions on processing. A colleague offers only 30 proofs to clients, and I personally think that's a little low. I'm thinking 60 proofs is a good number, but every now and then, I have a client who says, "I only got this many? I know you took more photos than that." In fact, I had a client say that in response to the 80 proofs she got from her session. What do you all think is a reasonable number?
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W. |
If by 'proofs' you mean the selection of photos from which the client chooses which one he/she wants final large prints of, I recommend agreeing in advance how many large prints the client would want and offer 5 times that number as proofs to choose from. When you get more established, experienced and self-confident, you'll offer less proofs to choose from. BTW, on a sideline: if you need 150-300 exposures in a portrait session to end up with, say, 10 or 20 final prints, you dearly need to improve your photographing efficiency...
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Scott McCord |
During my senior sessions, I offer many backdrops and locations in each session. That's why I've offered so many proofs. Those 150-300 proofs represent maybe 10-15 images from each setup. I'm not worried about the quality of my photography, as I've been doing it for 13 years, however, this is my first season with seniors. I'm speaking specifically about a senior session. For normal portrait sessions with only a couple of setups, I offer nowhere near that many proofs. However, on seniors, when you combine all the wardrobe changes, locations, backdrops, you're increasing the number of options for a client. I'm trying to find a good balance between offering a wide selection without having to process hundreds of images for every session. And increasing the options increases sales.
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Terry R. Hatfield |
Hi Scott, Your Colleague Has The Amount About Right. To Many Choices Confuse Clients, The Session Fee You Charged of ($50.00) Is At Family Price Or Poverty Level:-) But That May Be The Going Rate In Your Area. I Have Recently Done These Type Shoots In An Outdoor Setting And Ended Up With About 25 Proofs, More Than Enough To Choose From, As Far As Shooting That Many Images To Achieve Your Goal Is Neither Here Nor Their, As You Said Things Such As Eyes Closed, Movement, Hair Out Of Place, Etc Can't Be Controlled Well. So Offer Less Proofs And Excellent Quality. Increasing Options IMHO Does Not Increase Sales It Creates Extra Editing Time, Print Time, Etc.
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Scott McCord |
Terry, the $50 session fee is low, I agree, but believe it or not, I'm $30 higher than virtually all my competition. The sitting fees in my area are ridiculously low, so I'm actually seen by customers as being more expensive than other photographers. Thank you for your responses. You've helped me determine that I'm definitely offering too many images. I was noticing that I had trouble myself choosing between my images because they all were as good as the others - guess that should have told me that I needed to lower the numbers.
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Terry R. Hatfield |
I Looked At Your Work Scott, You Do A Nice Job! WOW! That Is A Low Session Fee, Client's Have To Decide Whether They Want A Professional Do The Shoot Or Pictures From A Novice:-) Quality And Uniqueness Sells. When I'm The Photographer I Decide What Poses The Client See's, Have A Photographer Friend Help You Decide What Is To Be Seen If Your Having Trouble, Or Even Post A Few In The Forum As Which Pose Do You Like Better, (That Might Surprise You On What Others Pick), Good Luck And Happy Shooting!
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Jenny D |
Hi Scott, I just did my first two senior shoots this year & I also charge $50.00 for a sitting fee (a little lower than average in my area)---I am a beginner, so I want to keep my prices low for a while. I told the clients that I would provide approx 50 proofs for them to choose from. I actually ended up each time with closer to 80 proofs, but I felt that was a good amount to choose from...(and they did too). Hope that helps. JD~
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Jerry Frazier |
20 to 30 proofs. Anymore than that and you confuse your clients. You don't want them to get confused on what to order. Present your absolute best 20 or so, and then present them in a way that allows for them to order prints. As a non-pro, you have to remember that you are not selling "pikchers", you are selling art. You are selling you. Therefore, showing 80 proofs is ridiculous. That's way too much to show. How can they pick from that? Your job as a photographer is to guide your clients into picking your best work. You do that by providing very little choice. You should have no dups. One shot of each pose or situation will suffice. If you do this, and if you control the meeting to view the proofs, you will find your sales increase 5 times from what you get now. This will only work if you do not provide prints, no on-oline, and only have one viewing in which to order. If you go on-line, or provide prints, it's over. Copying, scanning, downloading, stealing in all forms will prevail, and you wont see much in sales. Cheers,
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Scott McCord |
Jerry, What you're saying makes sense. And since I'm currently handling all the aspects of my studio, I have really been struggling trying to process so many photos (I think I mistated the number of proofs I offer - I normally offer around 80-100, not the 150-300 that I actually take. Although I realize that this is still too many). Now, a couple more questions. And how would you handle those clients expecting 80 or so proofs? ("Everybody else is offering at least 80 proofs," is what I've heard before)
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Jerry Frazier |
Scott, All good questions. One way to handle on-line proofing is to only allow it with a minimum purchase. So, after $1k, you put them on-line for 10 days. If you don't make them get to a minimum level of sales, they wont buy, and they'll just look on-line. Remember, the sales presentation is a way to help them decide. So, it's not sales, it's just showing them what's possible. There no way to do that on-line. But, after some minimum level of sale, you might not care about downloading, etc. And, no matter what you think, ANYTHING ONLINE CAN BE DOWNLOADED. It's not a big deal, just a business decision. Lastly, I compete by refusing to participate. That's a losing game. If so and so offers 80 proofs, that's great, then go to so and so and get your photos. The fact is, they are not going to so and so, they are coming to you. Differentiate enough where that's not a factor. Your 30 proofs run circles around everyone else's 80, and that's why they come to you, and not them. If you compete on price, you will lose. Never do that. Instead, focus on being different, and doing things differently. Look at how people in your area work, and then don't do anything like they do. You'll reap the rewards of that, but it takes a lot of courage, and some good thinking about it all. Your photos are the product, but your service is the "Scott M" experience.
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Scott McCord |
Jerry, Thanks for the help. You offer great advice. While I'm comfortable with the product I offer, I'm always trying to learn a new approach for my business. Marketing is a neverending task, huh?
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