“Your price is too high”, as a wedding photographer, the chances are that you may have heard this phrase on more than one occasion. Some couples may want to hire you as their photographer but not be able to afford you, and other couples might just be looking for a discount – there are several reasons why they may be telling you that your quote is too high. However, instead of jumping to your defense, you may want to take a moment (and a deep breath) and think about your response before responding to your couple. And if you are not sure about how to respond to your couple in a way that does not offend them or turn them away to another wedding photographer, then this blog is just right for you!
5 Ways To Respond to “Your Price is Too High”
1. Offer a Breakdown of Your Price Plan
In case your couple claims that your rate is too high, you may want to start by explaining your pricing plans to them. You might think that your price is perfectly reasonable based on the different services, such as albums, editing/retouching, second shooter, etc., included in a package. Still, your couple may not be aware of how much they will be getting out of the package they are considering.
If you have a breakdown of all your packages on your website, guide your couple to that page, and be available to answer any questions that they may have. If you don’t have a breakdown on your website, then take out the time to sit down and say, “Hey, here’s a breakdown of my pricing, and this is why it costs what it does”. They might even appreciate this effort from your end.
Related Read: How To Price Your Wedding Photography Packages
2. Show Them That You Are Worth It
Another “your pricing is too high” response would be to talk about why you are worth it. Years of experience in shooting weddings, a brilliant portfolio, and a collection of testimonials should be enough proof to show your couples that you are worth the investment. If a couple is coming to you, that means that they want you to shoot their wedding. You already have an advantage there. But once they do that, it’s up to you to show them that even if you might be a little over their budget, your services are worth it. Give them a glimpse of how you work and how you can turn their vision for their wedding photography into a reality.
Suggested Read: How To Leverage Reviews From Couples To Book More Weddings
3. Suggest Customization
You may already have a list of packages with different services, but if your couple really wants you to photograph their wedding but still can’t afford your pre-planned packages, then you could even consider customizing. If you do decide to do this, let your couple know that they are special to you and that you wouldn’t do this for every other couple. You could discuss what services are their priorities and perhaps knock off a few things to adjust your costs. Explain to your couple that these memories are to be cherished for years to come, so create a package that is within their budget.
4. Discuss Payment Methods
Another way to respond to “your price is too high” without risking losing a potential client is by discussing different payment methods. If your couple can’t pay the whole amount in one go, then you could suggest that they pay you in installments through a certain number of months. Another payment method could be divided according to the wedding timeline. They can pay you some amount before you photograph their wedding and then pay the rest once you deliver the final products to them. Depending on how flexible you are and the timeline your couple may be comfortable with, you could discuss the various payment options.
5. Keep It Positive
The key to dealing with a situation when your couple tells you that you are overcharging them is to remember that they are not trying to attack you. They might be facing a financial crunch or simply may not have the budget to afford you, but as a wedding photographer, you could respond with empathy and possible solutions.
Picture this: A couple wants to hire you as their wedding photographer. However, they can’t pay what you have asked for. But, they are willing to fly you down to Costa Rica for their destination wedding, and also offering to pay for your stay. In this situation, you may want to consider lowering your price and taking the offer, especially if you don’t get to do too many destination weddings. This will be a great addition to your portfolio and also give you the chance to experience the magic of destination weddings. So, even if your couple claims that your price is too high, you may want to weigh your options and see if you can gain something special by photographing their wedding after lowering your price.
Responses to Avoid When Clients Claim That You Overcharge
While there are no rules to how you respond when your couples tell you that your price is too high, there are certain responses that you can steer clear from to avoid losing a potential client and also to not ruin your reputation in the market. We understand that it might be frustrating or annoying that your couples don’t see the value in wedding photography, but we suggest that you think with a calm mind. Below are some responses that you may want to consider avoiding.
- You can’t put a price on creativity
- My gear cost more than this
- Take it or leave it
- I don’t negotiate prices
- You can’t compare me to others
Be Kind & Open to Communication
Even though there are several ways to respond when your couple claims that your price is too high, the key is to remember to be kind and not take offense. You have to remember that your couple is not trying to take advantage of you or your services and genuinely wants you to photograph their wedding if they discuss this with you. It’s a sensitive matter, so it would be best to be empathetic and consider all your options. Sit down and have a discussion with them about the different ways that you can solve this issue. Be it modifying a package or discussing different payment options, keep communication channels with your clients open.
At ShootDotEdit, we aim to help you navigate through tricky situations with clients with ease. To lessen your post-production workload and help you focus on client management, we also offer professional photo editing services that match your style. To learn more about how we can help your wedding photography business, check out our pricing plans.
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