I've asked Spencer Lum back to talk pricing for photographers following the release of his ebook on the subject that prompted me to make changes to my wedding photography prices immediately after reading it.

Spencer is a Brooklyn-based wedding photographer, designer and blogger. He's been running his own photography business for 12 years and before that, ran a design and brand agency.

Through Ground Glass, a dead-set must read blog for photographers serious about succeeding, Spencer teaches how to build a brand like a large agency, within the real world constraints of a small photography business budget.

Here’s some more of what we cover:

  • When you need to consider changing your photography packages
  • Photography packages and pricing should be easy for clients to look at
  • What to consider when setting up your photography pricing
  • Why no one should be booking your highest (most expensive) package
  • How many packages you should have
  • Collections vs Packages -find the right language for your price list
  • How to “measure” your photography packages
  • The importance of observing people's reactions to the language you use
  • The type of language you need to use for your customers
  • Why Spencer does not publish his photography rates online
  • What makes a business an effective business long term
  • How to elevate client's value during the initial contact
  • How to handle price enquiries over the phone
  • Why people have a different mindsets during an initial phone call
  • Creating  a good buying experience
  • Money is totally arbitrary
  • Clients don't really know what their budgets are
  • Will giving away free shoots damage your wedding photography business

Spencer Lum Photography Podcast

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this episode where you can hear lots more content from where we dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed hard for that include:

  • How to handle the perceived notion of being an expensive photographer compared to your competition
  • Why trust is the most important part of the business
  • People will spend more when they trust you
  • Hope to increase your clients level of trust
  • How to create the right experience and present it the right way
  • How to increase the value of your work
  • The importance of allowing clients to freely choose their packages
  • Spencer discusses his a la carte pricing and how it works for his business
  • How to discuss pricing with your clients
  • Why you need to know how your clients feel about your pricing
  • Optimising your booking strategies
  • The right way to present options to clients
  • Understanding how numbers work in people's minds will help you book more shoots

Spencer Lum Photography Podcast

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you’d like to implement or learnt from what was shared? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

Budgets are the most made up thing in the world

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Spencer or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.

If you’d like an easy way to show Spencer your thanks, and support for the show at the same time, click the link to create a tweet and automatically show you’re listening: https://photobizx.com/tweet

Spencer Lum Photography Podcast

Matt and Katie a Looking for Help

Late last week I received an email from Tom at Tom K Photo in Colorado USA asking if I'd heard about a fundraiser for the struggling Matt and Katie.

I hadn't then but have seen and read a lot since. I've interviewed Matt and Katie on the podcast in episode 17 and Matt again in episode 75 as part of a Q&A session with Steve Sapporito. Both Matt and Katie were extremely giving in the interviews as they are in everything they do – now they are asking for our help as a community of photographers.

You can read the full story here: https://www.gofundme.com/mattkatie/ but in brief, Katie was in a terrible accident a year ago where she was caught between her parked car and another reversing in a car park.

Since then, Katie hasn't been able to work and Matt tried but can't run the business on his own. They have mounting debt, no income and are struggling.

If you want to help, head to the link above and make a donation. At the time of writing, photographers from around the world have raised $37,000 which is fantastic.

Spencer Lum Photography Podcast

Small Changes to the Website

There are a couple of small changes to the website that should make finding what yore after a little easier.

You'll now find a search bar and a members login in the footer area of every page of the site.

Try the search bar if you're looking for a particular guest or topic rather than searching through page after page of interviews.

Premium members can still access all the premium content via the min menu but the login area, now on every page, should speed things up for you .

If you have any other recommendations to make the site more user friendly, let me know at andrew@photobizx.com.

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Spencer Lum's Website

Ground Glass

Spencer Lum on Twitter

Spencer Lun on Pinterest

Matt and Katie Help Fund

Spencer Lum Photography Podcast

Thank you!

Thank you again for listening to the show and thanks Spencer for being an awesome guest!

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew