Evaluating Your Offers In Your Photography Business takes a little trial and error….and it’s a bit of a process.

I feel like every year as I enjoy a bit of Winter downtime, I get to evaluate what is working in my business and what wasn’t working in my business in the previous year. We often times hear that we should have it all figured out as the year is ending and the New Year is beginning with our goals and resolutions for the upcoming year.

I don’t know about you, but as a mom and business owner with three kiddos…that 4th quarter of the year is NUTS!!! We were always in the middle of Nutcracker practice and performances, prepping for mid year testing, finishing up the RUSH of family and senior portraits in the fall…and then as they got older, we were heading to college to move them home for winter break and preparing to spend time together as a family. And let’s NOT even mention the fact that we have the holidays thrown in there too!!! Whew!!!

My mind was always too busy to reflect as I prepared for the New Year. The rhythm that has always worked for me was taking a slow roll into the New Year with a breath of fresh (cold) air and really take the time to focus on my year ahead once it was quiet again.

And two of things I really focus on each year are my offers and my pricing. This is the time to make the plan for the year ahead….not in the midst of a busy shooting season…but in the slow months when you can get the big sticky notes out and really dream, draft, and create your offers for the year.

Here are a few things to consider as you do this:

#1: Map out your customer journey

When I say map it out…I mean really write it out, draw it out, heck diagram it if you need to with a flow chart! Really think out what you love doing in your business and what you don’t really love doing in your business and add or subtract offers. Taking a look at your big picture will help you determine if what you are crafting really makes sense to your ideal clients. I also think this is a good time to hire a coach or book an intensive (you can email me for more information on what those look like with me) to help be another set of eyes on your plan. It’s a great way to have a sounding board, instead of creating in a vacuum. So grab your sticky notes and get to planning!

#2: Raise your prices

Pricing yourself perfectly in your photography business is key. And part of that key is to raise your prices! No seriously, it’s probably time to raise them. We recently had two ladies who attended our Business Reboot Retreat book their top packages once they reworked their prices. If you are nervous about raising your prices…here are three ways you can raise them and know that you are giving GREAT service in return.

~create an amazing experience for your clients…if you offer digitals only, give them a surprise 8×10 print that you know was their fave from the session

~send a handwritten card or include it in their print delivery thanking them for choosing you to capture this special moment in time for their family

~give more or different experiences in each package as you tier your offerings (more about this to come)

~make your prices make sense when looking at them in totality. Make sure your numbers are correct and that they get more value at each higher price if you are tiering your offers. If you are offering different types of photography services, make sure you can justify what you are charging for each different type of photography service.

#3: Photography is a luxury service

I often hear coaching clients say that they “want to be affordable for everyone”. That simply can’t be if you want to stay in business for the long haul. Photography is a luxury service. You cannot sustain a business that will grow with you throughout your seasons of life if you are charging $100 a session. Do you know how many you’d have to shoot to create a decent income when you consider all the costs with running a business. There simply isn’t a profit margin there.

Instead, look at it this way…..

When I charge more for my work and have fewer clients, I have room to give sessions away or offer and discount when my heart and soul are called to serve in that way. I also have more flexible income that I can pour into our community. My impact has actually been far greater and wider by making it more luxury at the higher price point.

You can do so much good with your business…in fact, I feel like God has blessed me with this business as a vehicle to do good. But if I am stressed, burned out, and exhausted…what good am I to those I am serving and to my family?

It’s ok to be create a luxury brand and offers…do the work, create AMAZING experiences for your clients, and then give from your full cup that runneth over!

If you need help recreating or crafting the offers in your business or you want to have someone else look at your pricing to see if you are hitting the mark, I have several FREE Discovery Calls open this month or you can book a full Intensive 1:1 Coaching Call where we can dive all in!

Evaluating Your Offers In Your Photography Business isn’t as hard as you’d think…follow these few tips and you’ll find that people will book the higher offers with grace and ease! Don’t stay stuck in the doubt and wait…be like our ladies from the Retreat…thoughtfully craft your offers and confidently put them out there, then serve the heck out of your clients with an amazing experience!! You’ve just upleveled yourself and your business! Cheering for you always!!

Blessings,

Corry