How much should I charge for a photo session?

I have a small photography business but would like to branch out. I've done mostly friends and friends of friends ect. I have been highly successful and would like to branch out. What is a fair price for an hour or two photo session?|||The answer is 'what the market will bare'.





It depends on where you are located, how much competition you have, how good your photography is compared to your competition, how much you need to discount because you may not have an established name yet, etc.





For starters, I would check what the other photographers charge in your area, and then adjust your price based on that.|||First consider what kind of shoot it is. Like, a family session with a few pictures of each member and a couple of family photos would be at the lower price end, senior portraits may be in the mid to high end prices, and something like weddings would be in the high price end. Then consider what you're offering. Are you just giving them a CD with the pictures and charging a certain fee for prints or are you giving them prints or both? You have to recoup what you pay for those items. Then there's the sitting fee, how many locations there are, how long it takes the shoot. I have a friend who has already had her business running for quite some time. For family pictures she charges $175 and that includes 1 location, the sitting fee, and a CD of 30-40 edited pictures. Children pictures cost $150 for 1 location, sitting fee, and 50+ edited pictures on a CD. Things like maternity shoots or senior pictures she charges $250 for 3-4 locations, the sitting fee, and a CD of 50+ edited pictures. And for wedding, bridal, and engagement photos she has three levels. The "Bronze Package" which is for the wedding and reception only is $1200 and includes 1 fully edited CD of all the pictures and a professional wedding book of 40 images. The "Silver Package" which is the wedding, reception, and the option of either a bridal shoot or an engagement shoot, includes the same as the top and is $1500. And the "Gold Package" which is the wedding, reception, engagement, and bridal shoots with the same CD and book as the other two and costs $1800.





I'd say since you haven't been doing it that long start your prices low and start with just giving them the edited CD of pictures. That way they can get them printed and as many as they want. For one person for 2 hours, I'd say $150 is fair. Give them the option for 2 locations and a couple of outfits changes. I've done a couple of photo shoots for friends and it's really casual and they seemed to think $150 was fair. For 1 location charge $125. And if they want 3 charge $175 or so.|||Sherry,


It may be difficult to expand your business in the financial crisis. But it might just work, too, so be ready to negotiate or retreat a bit if the higher prices don't get you what you need. It'll be a temporary situation.





As for prices, start where you are now, then adjust for any other costs you must add to your current operating costs. Those might be advertising prices, better quality photo chemicals or papers, transportation if you go to other sites than your studio, and any number of things you have to do in business. Make incremental changes to your prices. Ask your friends for their referrals to other friends who might want photos, and make it clear that the prices they paid are confidential.





Take local leisure learning classes in self-promotion, and don't be afraid to give your card to as many people as you can. By the way, fliers are very little help for your advertising dollar. I learned this in very good economic times for myself, and in advertising and business classes in college. I wish you the best.