Rongnongno Loc: FL

I see more and more folks, supposedly photographers, meet potential clients in a coffee shop.

What is wrong with that?

For one "professionalism". Yes, not everyone can afford an office or a dedicated area to receive a client, yet using an informal place is mocking a potential client.

Solution? It is simple. Meet at the client's home*. Why? Some will ask.
- You become a guest this is an important psychological factor.
- The client will be relaxed
- By being inside you can evaluate and charge depending on what you see
- You can also determine IF YOU WANT to work with this client. Remember, this is a two-way street. You should be choosy as to whom you want to work for.

Most of my large weddings and on situ portrait contracts were signed in this environment, not in my studio or office. The difference of pricing and quality (no packages here, only the best) was sometimes 10 folds.

It is all about marketing, 'table manners' and adaptability to a potential client.

Will this reduce your number of potential clients? Absolutely. But despite have fewer client you make more money (profit) at the end of the day. Note that you must deliver. Empty promises and shoddy work will destroy your reputation.

If you get 'I'll think about it' after your presentation, say thank you, goodbye and forget about it, even if they come knocking at your door later on. It only means you are a second or third choice, not a good place to be. You will be evaluated/judged according to their first choice.

* Make sure you are dealing with the decision maker, no one else. If not, you are wasting your time and energy.

Quixdraw Loc: x

A fine thought, but many do not want strangers in their home for good reason. One valid reason in particular, because as you stated "By being inside you can evaluate and charge depending on what you see." I should not be charged more because of my possessions or lifestyle, but fair rates just like any other customer!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Depending on what the client wants me to photograph, I've relied on several venues. The last thing I'd suggest is a meeting in their home, even if that's where the photo session will be held. Again, depending on the nature of the work, I'll suggest the initial meeting be at a coffee shop or a temporary office. Those can be rented for periods of time. They even come with a receptionist. So, it all depends on who is the potential client and the nature of the work requested.
--Bob

Quixdraw Loc: x

Reiterating - an accusation by the OP about my political orientation, humorous, and my response, were censored by whomever. Point of fact, a stacked deck. Changing what you charge vs. usual rates based on the wealth of the customer is ethically unsupportable, and probably unlawful. If you do that you are not someone I would do business with. Imagine, installation of a new toilet, and its price, being more costly if you are well off. Clown show.

zenagain Loc: Pueblo CO

To adjust the price according to a clients appeared wealth,
and,

"The difference of pricing and quality (no packages here, only the best) was sometimes 10 folds."

Makes you a scam artist.

I would NEVER deliver a products quality based on a clients assumed wealth. And I highly doubt anyone else here would be such a poor business person. Or i would hope not, i am shocked at this post.

zenagain Loc: Pueblo CO

🤡🤡🤡🤡👍👍👍👍👍
I would love to see the response you mentioned.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I find the meeting location is less important, it is your reputation that gives you your business.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Other than the consideration that a wealthy client just may have a higher standard of performance and be more demanding. With a wealthy client I would have no hesitation to consider that and work it into a quote, or just quote an hourly rate plus T&E. There is a difference between doing a wedding, for instance, for a young couple of modest means doing a home wedding with a few friends and family on the guest list with a DJ for entertainment, and a high society wedding at a local country club with live entertainment and 450 guests. I have done both and there is a world of difference in client expectations and budget - and yes, the CC wedding will cost 10X what the small modest wedding will cost. And that would all be based on assumed wealth and all of the corresponding factors. No scam, just solidly good business sense. I am shocked that you would have a problem with this.

Quixdraw Loc: x

It should be about the work and the agreed upon delivered product, not the wealth of the customer. If the CC wedding is 10x the work, 10x the cost of the small wedding is certainly in order. In addition they are probably going to want the best in terms of books and more prints. Those are reasons to charge more, not that the rich can afford it. Performance, exercise of skill and work ethic should be the same for any customer.

zenagain Loc: Pueblo CO

I used to own a security company, i dealt with very rich clients as well as very poor. And I never took advantage of the wealthier ones with an inflated price. All parts where priced the same, all hourly rates where the same, many times i had to double the hours required but that was based on the time and difficulty of the jobs.
If a person delivers the same product with the same difficult levels with different prices depending upon there wealth, that is just wrong.
I understand what you are saying, but that is a lot different than just deciding to charge a person more for the same product because they have more money. If you put in more work and have a higher expectation from the client then sure a higher price would be expected. But jobs being equal prices must be equal.
OP says to charge more just for the simple fact that they have more.
That i can not agree with.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I don't conduct business in coffee shops or restaurants. There are too many distractions in such venues and I don't have everything I need to make a comprehensive sales presentation. At my studio, I have a showroom and an office. My displays are there, a have a projection room, frame, album and accessory samples, all my forms paperwork in order, etc. I can give the potential cleit a tour of my facilities. I do have coffee, tea, refreshments, snacks, and comfortable funriture- hospitality, comfort and a professional atmosphere are important.

On industrial and commercial accounts, I might have to go to the client's location to estimate the job, however, business is conducted in the client's office.

Before I had a studio, I operated from my home. A separate part of the house was set up as an office and showroom.

When I first started out, many decades ago, in the wedding business, I used to make sales call at the potential bride's home. I did well with what I used to call "kitchen table sales meetings". Folks are comfortable in the own home and since, back in the day, we always started shooting weddings at the bride's home, I would point out areas in the home that would make a nice setting for portraits, etc and kinda "assume the booking"- my booking rate was high. I had a very large sample case with many albums.

Nowadays folks starting a photography business have to make do with the facilities or lack thereof that they have at their disposal. Maintaining a "brick and mortar" location entails a high overhead, especially at today's rental and real estate rates plus the upkeep expenses. I moved out of my retail space long ago and went to an industrial park- I need the space for my commercial work. An impressive location helps, however, good salesmanship, personality, and a reputation for good work and reliable service are all just as important.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Well said Quixdraw. I was very surprised at the poster's comment about looking at possessions and lifestyle to determine costing. I would be horrified if a photographer upped his price because I lived in an upscale manner. Arranging a meeting in a coffee shop or similar is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Ethics time!

I have a printed price list listing my hourly, daily, and weekly rates for commercial and industrial work and a description of all add-on costs and fees for travel. sub-contracted services such as stylists and other personnel. I have a printed price list for weddings and portraiture. the list includes prices of setting fees, print costs in every size and finish I offer, prices for albums, video coverage and all "packages" as well as other accessories.

My first boss, mentor and employer taught me an important ethic- Never look in the customer's pocketbook- everyone is charged the same rates as per your set prices. This is fair and equitable and if you depend on referral business, you can't have inconsistencies.

Besides, you can't always judge the potential of a sale by the customer's lifestyle or taste. I have served clients with modest tastes and small intimate weddings that purchased a disproportionately expensive order or package and others putting on an extravaganza kinda event purchasing minimally. Folks have different tastes, buying habits, cultural stuff and priorities of their own. A large corporation may have a larger project in mind than a small business but everyone pays the same rates.

Weddings and other events are sometimes booked as far as a year in advance. If my prices increase in the interim, the client pays the price quoted at the time of the booking and even additional orders are charged as per the original quotation. The price list is attached to the contract.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Perfect!

Sirby Loc: Southwest, WA

* Make sure you are dealing with the decision maker, no one else. If not, you are wasting your time and energy.[/quote]

..Always a good idea. The technique I always used was "Who, other than yourself, will be involved in making the final decision?" Only make a presentation to the final decision makers.