Don't Compete on Price Alone

When costing the photographing of a wedding, I consider this to be one of the most important keys to success!

Do not to compete on price alone.  You must try to offer a service that is different to your competitors.  This will make it difficult for potential clients to compare services on price alone; they will be forced to make comparisons on quality of service and value. 

You will always find some photographer who will provide complete packages for less than you are paying for good quality materials.  Unless you are in a position where you can guarantee yourself large numbers of weddings each year, you will have to make a decent profit from the small amount that you do. 

When you start to get enquiries that do not ask how much you charge you know you are in demand not for price but for quality.  This is what you are aiming for.  Remember what I have said about image. 

Your total business image will to some extent have an effect on how much you can charge.  If you portray the image of class and quality then your potential customers expectations of what they may expect to pay will be higher.

Cost of Basic package

You should now calculate what it would cost you to provide a basic package.  I have compiled a typical list of items to be taken into account: -

• 1 proof album

• 1 wedding Album

• 25 Album pages

• 25 8 x 6 prints

• Additional (advertising, petrol, car, telephone calls, etc.)

• Total time spent with, and on behalf of clients. 

• Album preparation time.

At today's prices (March 2008) you would expect to pay around £180 for the materials listed above.  This is pricing at around £50 to £60 for a good quality album.