How to Price Your Boudoir Photography Services | Pro Tip
I’ve been seeing and getting this question more and more. It comes down to 2 things: math and mindset.
Math is the easy part. You just figure out what you need, what want to offer, and follow a formula and voila!
First, figure out your personal expenses. How much does it take to run your life from month to month? This is rent/mortgage, cable, credit cards…etc.
Second, figure out how much you need to run a business. If you’re new at this, I highly recommend that you don’t fall into the “gotta spend money to make money” trap. This is where a lit of Needs vs. Wants is very helpful. Make sure you’re not spending money on things that you just don’t need right now but you think you need it to cover up the fact that you’re new. A snazzy new studio, closet full of wardrobe, all the fancy lighting pieces, and expensive furniture just doesn’t matter a whit if you have no clients. This is the #1 reason most photographers don’t make it to their 3rd year.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get the book Profit First by Mike Mikalowicz and get your highlighter out. It’s a wonderful financial plan to follow for entrepreneurs.
This number should include a website, a camera/lens, computer, subscriptions to editing softwares such as Lightroom and Photoshop, and possibly some present investments if that’s your thing.
Education is a wonderful investment here, if you have the money and is a much better place to put money into that a new studio, super fancy camera you don’t know how to use, or a wardrobe that you don’t even have any clients wear. This will cut your learning curve way down, allowing you to make money much faster.
I also recommend investing in a CRM but it’s not a necessity in the beginning because it’s likely your client base is small. As it grows then you can invest more into that area.
There are SO MANY free services out there so really pinch pennies here. You will NOT regret it.
Add all of this up and look at that total. If that total gives you a heart attack, start pulling things out of the list and bring that number down.
Consider how many shoots you not only want in a month, but how many realistically you believe you can book. Divide your that total money needed number by the number of shoots and there is what you need to charge per shoot. It’s just simple math.
Figure out if you want to sell your services via pre-determined packages or via in-person sales. Either way…see the next bullet point.
If you offer products, take the full cost (including any tax and shipping) and multiply it by 3 when first starting out. That’s your price for each product. As you gain confidence and experience, that number goes up.
Now consider what your photography time, editing time, craft & skill is worth per session. It’s ok to lowball in the beginning, especially if you’re still building your portfolio.
If you’re selling packages, add all those numbers up and that’s your package. If you’re doing IPS, your “time” number is your session fee (plus any fees for stylists). Then you sell you products that you already have priced at your sales sessions.
Mindset is a whole different ball of lingerie. I have known photographers that have been in the business for 5 years and still can’t bring themselves to charge one cent. I’ve known photographers that within 3 years are making more than me. The absolute most number one thing to remember is that none of the photographers you drool over are smarter, better, luckier, or anything else more than you. They may be more skilled now, but they were exactly where you are right now in the beginning of their careers. When I look back on my first boudoir photos for the first year, I cringe and laugh my face off.
You have to do two things for me:
Assess how badly you want this. The lifestyle, the money, the rewarding feeling of owning your own business, empowering people, not having a boss, being a leader in the industry. Is that worth a commitment to you? A REAL commitment? Then you need to commit. There’s not going back because if you slack, you lose. You will not make it. Period.
Get out of your own way. If you are new at this then chances are you may stink in the beginning. Research, follow others, get educated, get better at your craft. Quit spending all your time designing a business card or logo no one cares about and get out there and shoot your butt of and get better at what you claim you want so badly you can taste it. Quit wasting time on things that don’t matter because deep down you’re convinced you can’t do this. You’re wrong. If every single other photographer you wish you could be out there can do it, so can you. The only difference between them and you is that they followed through, paid their dues, got better at it, and dug their heels in. You can do that too.
If you want it, it’s there waiting for you. Believe me, I had no idea what I was doing when I started. I figured it all out and now I’m a 6-figure photography business.
Dream big. Do the work.
Want to learn more from me? Visit my shop and check out my services and don’t forget to snag your FREE copy of my Posing Tips guide. It’s 17-pages of how to pose hands, the body, and connection.
