I’m very confident in my abilities as a photographer, and I think my prices are fair, yet I am just not able to lock in a solid confirmation from potential clients, they always slip away.
I’m a student photographer offering portraits at a University, so maybe it’s college kid cash insecurity that is the problem, but then I wonder why they even bother to DM me in the first place?
I charge $10 a photo, minimum of $60 or 6 photos. From what I’ve heard that’s about as undercut to the competition as I can go, and yet no one is interested?
I know for certain that the market for portraits exists at my Uni, as I walk past our front entrance with a rival photographer and graduate model everyday.
Reaching people has always been my weakspot. I feel like there is a network I don’t exist in.
only closers get coffee. Gotta learn how to close.
What is your sales proposition? why should people hire you?
Right now all you’ve told us, a community of photographers that you’re asking for business advice from, is that your sales proposition is that you are cheap. There’s plenty of that going around.
There’s a thing as being too cheap.
If something was so far under the competition you start to question quality, especially on something you might not be able to qualify yourself.
Such as, at the moment we’re quoting for an electrician for some work, I have a broad sense of what’s involved but no the intricacies (otherwise I’d be doing it myself), one quoted $300 which is substantially lower than around $800 several others have quoted, so we’re not even going to talk to them as it’s so cheap we’re not sure if they’ve misunderstood the requirement or just aren’t very good and under-pricing to be selected.
So, similarly, if I was to see most photoshoots going around $500 for five pictures, and you’re doing six for $60, I’m going to move on as that’s just too cheap, I might enquire a little, see if I can explain the discrepancy, but ultimately, if I’m paying for it, I want quality and want to do it once.
If you’re looking to build portfolio and charging less, try instead a local TFP group, you get to pad your portfolio and impress perspective clients and you gain experience, all of which you can then feel more confident charging market rate.
triple your rates. Seriously, a lot of times people don’t take you up on it because you’re simply not charging enough. I went through a similar thing and doubled my rates and went from struggling to get any bookings to getting more work than I knew what to do with. Do some footwork and figure out what the going rate is for your area and charge the same amount or maybe a little less.
You should take some marketing and business classes if you have not already.
I am not sure where you are based out of but here in the US $10 is dirt cheap and that implies low quality regardless of your skill.
Also are you offering portraits at your university to who fellow students?
I definitely will. I am in the US, but currently stuck in the chicken and egg problem.
To get high paying clients I need to have worked with high paying clients.
Not sure what the last sentence means sorry.