There Is No Perfect Pricing Model
There is only the right model for your business, your clients, and your goals. This guide breaks down the four most common pricing structures for photographers and helps you choose.
Model 1: All-Inclusive Packages
The client pays one price and gets everything: session time, editing, digital files, and sometimes prints.
Pros
- Simple for clients to understand and compare
- Predictable revenue per session
- No awkward post-session sales conversations
- Easy to display on your creavio booking page
Cons
- Caps your revenue per client
- Some clients pay the same as others who want significantly more
- No upsell opportunity after delivery
Best For
Beginners, portrait photographers, photographers who dislike sales, high-volume shooters.
Model 2: Session Fee + A La Carte
The client pays a session fee that covers your time and basic editing. Everything else (digital files, prints, albums) is purchased separately after the session.
Pros
- Lower barrier to entry attracts more bookings
- Upsell potential after the client sees their amazing photos
- Can generate significantly higher per-client revenue than packages
Cons
- Unpredictable revenue (some clients buy a lot, some buy the minimum)
- Requires a sales conversation or IPS session after every shoot
- Clients may feel pressured or nickel-and-dimed
Best For
Portrait photographers, boudoir photographers, photographers who are comfortable with sales.
Model 3: In-Person Sales (IPS)
Similar to session fee + a la carte, but with a formal in-person viewing and ordering session. The client sees their images for the first time at the IPS appointment and places their order on the spot.
Pros
- Highest average sale per client in the industry
- Emotional buying decisions (seeing photos in person) drive larger orders
- Professional presentation of your work
Cons
- Requires dedicated sales space (studio or client's home)
- Time-intensive: every client needs an ordering appointment
- Requires sales skills and confidence
- Does not scale well at high volume
Best For
Established portrait photographers, boudoir photographers, photographers targeting high-end clients.
Model 4: Day Rate / Project Fee
A flat fee for the day or project regardless of the number of images delivered. Common in commercial and product photography.
Pros
- Clear, predictable pricing for both parties
- No arguments about image count
- Professional standard in commercial work
Cons
- Clients may push for "just a few more shots" within the same rate
- Difficult to price correctly without experience
Best For
Commercial photographers, real estate photographers, event photographers.
Setting Up in creavio
Create your pricing structure under Money > Packages. Each package links to a session type. For a la carte models, use creavio's invoicing to create custom orders after the session. For IPS, use Collections in proofing mode to present images and then invoice based on selections.
Hybrid Approaches
Many photographers mix models:
- All-inclusive packages for mini sessions, a la carte for full sessions
- Packages as the base, with add-on options for prints and albums
- Day rate for commercial clients, packages for personal clients
There is no rule that says you must use one model. Match the pricing to the client type.