Why Do Boudoir Photographers Make Their Pricing So Complicated?

It doesn't take long before the typical boudoir photography shopper realizes that boudoir pricing can be a confusing maze to navigate. It wouldn't be entirely unusual to be presented with a 2000+ word pricing page on a boudoir photographer's website that would take a team of NASA scientist to decipher! Why?

With so many photographers offering various packages and add-ons, it's no wonder potential clients are left scratching their heads. But fear not, as someone with over 15 years of experience in the industry, I'm here to shed some light on why boudoir photographers make their pricing so (unnecessarily) complicated.

My extensive background as a luxury boudoir photographer has given me unique insights into the intricacies of boudoir photography pricing. In this blog post, I'll get into the complexities of package structures, pre-payment plans, and other factors that contribute to the perplexing world of boudoir photography pricing. So if you've ever wondered why booking a boudoir session feels like navigating through a minefield of hidden costs and confusing options, read on.

Key Takeaways

• Boudoir photographers often have complex pricing due to the need for customization. Each client is unique, requiring a specific package that can include various services like professional makeup or different photo settings. This makes it hard to offer simple, one-size-fits-all prices.

• Complicated package structures with bonus tiers and unexpected add-ons provide clients with more options to personalize their experience but can also make choosing the right package overwhelming. Additions such as extra shooting time or special editing features enhance the session but add to the confusion.

• Pre-payment plans for boudoir photography sessions come with many rules and options, making it difficult for clients to understand what they are paying for upfront. This variety in payment methods aims at flexibility but ends up creating indecision among potential clients.

• Extensive pricing explanations aim to cover the photographer's overhead costs such as studio rent, equipment maintenance, and marketing expenses. These detailed breakdowns can overwhelm clients who are not familiar with all aspects of photography business expenses.

• The lack of transparent pricing information on websites leads to confusion among those interested in booking a session. By not providing clear prices online, photographers inadvertently create barriers for potential clients who seek straightforward answers about costs before committing.

Boudoir photographers are a confused bunch

Many boudoir photographers struggle with effectively communicating their pricing. As a luxury boudoir photographer myself, I've seen how this confusion begins with the complexity of pricing structures.

Either there is no information...

You may be checking out a boudoir photographer's website, like their work, and be curious about what their pricing runs. Search as you might, you can't find any details about what a session will cost.

It's not unusual. The industry often hides pricing details from websites, leaving clients guessing before they even contact the photographer. This approach doesn't just muddy the waters for potential clients; it contradicts the essence of intimate photography, which thrives on trust and transparency.

One reason for this may be custom packages. --And this is where it can start to get a bit involved. In my time capturing women's strength and elegance through portrait photography, I've observed that each woman's needs are unique, which, depending on a how a photographer decides to work, can necessitate custom photography packages. And because a photographer may be tailoring a package to a client's specific needs, there is no "one size fits all" pricing menu displayed. They don't necessarily want to post random packages with items a client may not want or need. This individual customization can be a key to exceeding client expectations in professional photography, but it can leave first time shoppers wondering.

THEN, to add to the complication, are the photographers who just plain hide everything pretty much for no real reason. Some take this approach with the idea that it reduces "comparison shoppers," or that the photographer wants the talk with the prospective client and present them with a sales pitch before revealing their pricing.

So, you can see how photographers can all work differently... and have different ideas behind why they don't show pricing on a website.

...Or there is waaaaayy too much information

On the other hand, you may wind up on a boudoir photographer's website and be taking a peek for pricing info...click over to a pricing page and... BOOM! You are confronted with a nearly 2000 word page of pricing options that just scrolls... and scrolls... and scrolls...

The more you look at it, the more confusing it gets! This isn't helpful, either! Packages, bonus tiers, add-ons. early payment perks... with no clear indication of what anything means. It would take almost 1/2 hour to read everything on the page, and probably another 1/2 hour to try to make sense of it! (And nobody is going to do that! 😂)

There are plenty of photographers in this camp, as well. What a headache!

Welcome to boudoir pricing!

Either way it leads to confusion for potential clients

This confusion stems directly from the lack of-- or complex nature of boudoir photography pricing. Boudoir photographers often omit clear pricing information on their websites, leaving potential clients puzzled.

,,,And what happens when a potential client is left confused? Well, they're most likely going to leave and try to find something more sensible.

Often though, the next boudoir photographer's website may be more of just the same. ...And the cycle continues.

From my own experience, I've seen countless married women puzzled by complex session pricing. What complicates the issue, is unlike other services, boudoir photography doesn't lend itself well to price comparisons across different photographers due to its highly personalized nature.

Each session varies by duration, expertise level of the photographer, and included products—factors that contribute significantly to price but add layers of complexity for clients trying to decode this structure.

Understanding boudoir photography pricing is akin to learning a new language—one that communicates through quality and personalization rather than straightforward numbers.

Complex Package Structures

One trait boudoir photographers have is a knack for overcomplicating. Boudoir photographers craft intricate package structures, often including bonus tiers and unexpected add-ons that can confuse the heck out of potential clients. The complexity of these packages may lead to unnecessary items being bundled in, so it's important to understand the pricing structure before diving into a session.

Bonus tiers and unexpected add-ons

Many boudoir photographers offer bonus tiers and unexpected add-ons to customize your photoshoot experience. For instance, you might choose extras like lashes, hairstyling, or unique photo sets to elevate your session.

Some go even further by offering a boudoir video, lifestyle shots or headshots, and additional shooting time. These enhancements allow you to personalize your shoot beyond the basic package.

BUT, what makes it confusing, is some of these "bonus tiers" may not really seem very bonus-y. Including a "bonus" of taking photos in under a "white bedsheet" may not really seem like quite a bonus. After all, isn't boudoir photography all about taking photos in a bed? How would this be a bonus? (Yes! I've seen photographer's wacky pricing that included taking photos in sheets a bonus!)

Opting for customization options such as white sheets or "candle sets" can transform a standard shoot into a deeply personal experience that truly reflects each woman's essence-- but be very aware of "bonus" items listed, that well, aren't really any kind of bonus, and are, well, more "standard" expectations of a boudoir shoot. Taking a photo next to some LED candles doesn't seem like a bonus really worth paying for...

Starting to see how this can be a confusing mess?

Unnecessary items bundled in packages

Packages can simplify, and at the same time overcomplicate things. Photography studios often pack their offers with extras that may not align with every client's wishes. For instance, while you're looking for a simple yet elegant photo shoot experience, you might find your package includes an array of extra features like 3D photo viewers, extravagant wall art pieces, and even access to special studio wardrobe.

These enhancements sound extravagant but can inflate the cost unnecessarily if they're not what you initially wanted. If you really weren't looking for 24"x36" custom printed metal wall art, you may be really overpaying for your boudoir shoot. (And... as a side note you should really take a hard look at a photographer charging you for multiple outfits... boudoir is about having a bit of fun NOT counting how many bras you wear during your session. Its a very old-school and outdated approach.)

Typically, boudoir clients are looking for a cute photo book or album, and maybe a few digital photos as a takeaway from their session. This practice of "over stuffed" boudoir packages forces clients to sift through complex package structures in search of the basic service they came for – and can be frustrating.

You end up sorting through numerous customization choices, package upgrades, and optional add-ons that complicate what should be a straightforward decision-making process.

Confusing Pre-Payment Plans

One byproduct of the "fake luxury" boudoir photographer era is the super-inflated package prices. There are plenty of medium to low quality photographers posting packages in excess of $5,000... $6,000... or even $7,000!! A tool they use to lure clients into paying for these questionable packages are pre-payment plans to try to soften the blow.

And, on cue, as Boudoir photographers often do, they come up with their own set of over-complicated and confusing pre-payment plans, featuring multiple rules and options that can leave potential clients feeling overwhelmed.

Their thought is, well, if you give me $2,000 toward your overpriced $6,000 boudoir package six months before your session, I'll throw in a few "extras" for you. This may make you a bit less likely to back out and cancel once you've realized you've waaayyyy overpaid in the heat of the moment.

As the theme of this post shows, be very vigilant about what a photographer is listing as a "pre-payment bonus," and ask yourself if it is really worth it. This is where you REALLY need to check into the history (and experience) of the photographer BEFORE handing over a huge some of money to them MONTHS before a planned session.

There is a chance your photographer may have only picked up a camera for the first time a few months ago, and their experience and editing quality in no way warrant paying that much for their services, despite what they are showing. A photographer can post any price they want... it's up to you to decide if they have the technical ability and experience to warrant that price.

Don't be tricked into overpaying!

Multiple rules and options

When it comes to booking a boudoir photography session, navigating the various pre-payment plans can be daunting. It's also not uncommon to see there are multiple options such as advance payment, partial payment, down payment, reservation fee, initial payment, booking deposit, retainer, security deposit-- the list goes on and on.

Understanding and comparing these rules and options is crucial for making an informed decision about your investment in capturing empowering portraits.

As a general rule: The more complicated a photographer makes something... the more skeptical you should be.

Understanding the different pre-payment plans is essential to ensure you get the most out of your boudoir photography experience.

Overly detailed pricing explanations

As I noted earlier, boudoir photographers often provide overly detailed pricing explanations that can be confusing. Another thing that should make you very wary is if you are staring down a pricing page that seems to go on and on and on...

Granted, there can be many options available for clients in boudoir shoots-- creating almost a limitless number of combinations, but the the job of the photographer is to present this in a clear and concise way to prospective clients. Every option available should not be presented on that pricing page!

Boudoir photographers may often lack business skills and really aren't looking at their business from the outside. Imagine walking into your favorite fast food restaurant and seeing a menu board filled with hundreds of options! You wouldn't know where to start, would most likely be frustrated, and may even not stay to try to figure it all out.

A super overly-complex pricing page, or pricing structure, may again be a sign that the photographer hasn't really thought it through much, and working with them may be just as complicated! Outwardly presenting three or four package options is fine, and gives people a reasonable idea of what to expect.

Presenting 7 starting packages, with 7 bonus tiers, and 8 pre-payment bonuses... is just not a well though out system. Presenting nearly 400 permutations to a client simply creates a headache!

Conclusion

Boudoir photographers often leave potential clients confused due to the complexity of their package structures and pre-payment plans. As we've seen, boudoir photographers may not be, in general, a well thought-out bunch, and can create way too much confusion for perspective clients.

They may enjoy the "photography" part of their job, but they may be lacking business skills to craft easy to understand pricing for their clients.

As a boudoir client, it may be best to stick with photographers who present a simple pricing structure with fewer complications. Keep an eye out for faux luxury photographers with limited experience and marginal quality charging top tier prices for their work. Additionally, it is important to avoid overpaying for costly boudoir packages that include items you may not want, or need.

Remember, transparency and communication are essential in tailoring pricing structures towards client satisfaction.

FAQs

1. Why do boudoir photographers have complicated pricing?

Boudoir photographers may have over complicated pricing due to a lack a of client-centered approach and business skills.

2. How can I understand a boudoir photographer's pricing structure?

Understanding a boudoir photographer's pricing involves discussing specific requirements, considering the level of service, and reviewing any additional products or digital images included.

3. Can I negotiate with a boudoir photographer on their pricing?

Negotiating with a boudoir photographer for their pricing is possible in some cases, but it depends on the individual photographer and their business policies.

4. What factors contribute to the complexity of boudoir photography pricing?

The complexity of boudoir photography pricing is influenced by factors such as session duration, location, retouching services, and product offerings. Often, however, it may just be a photographer creating complexity where it really isn't necessary.

5. Should I expect transparency in a boudoir photographer's pricing?

Transparency in a boudoir photographer’s pricing varies among professionals; some may provide detailed breakdowns while others prefer personalized consultations to determine accurate costs.