Frequently Asked Questions
Does in-person sales work for photography studios outside the US?
Yes. Mel and Dave of Boudoir by Angel Eyes in Brisbane, Australia, have always sold in person. In 2019, shooting family and sports, they did 151 clients for $93,000. After switching to boudoir, they did 103 clients for $494,000 in 2022. IPS depends on your system, your pricing and the client experience, not on your country.
Is my city too small or too cheap for high-priced photography sales?
Probably not. Mel and Dave worried that Australian cities were too small compared with American ones, and IPS still worked for them. Their point: people drive past you in BMWs and Lexuses when a Toyota would do, because people find money for what they want. Humberto hears the same objection about London, Dubai and almost every other market.
What average sale can a boudoir studio get with in-person sales?
It varies, but Mel and Dave's numbers show what's possible. Their family and sports sessions averaged about $600. When they launched boudoir in January 2020, their boudoir average was about $2,900, and by 2022 it was about $4,800 per session, not counting retainer fees. In one recent month they were averaging $7,400. Those are their results, built on a structured price list and IPS.
How should I price boudoir collections for in-person sales?
Use a few clearly tiered collections and point clients to the middle. Mel and Dave offer four: $3,500, $5,000, $8,000 and $13,000, shown in a booklet with the $5,000 and $8,000 collections presented as the most popular. They cut their $2,000 option because clients kept choosing it, and only the top two collections include both color and black and white.
Should photographers offer in-house payment plans?
Be careful, because in-house plans can leave you chasing money. Mel and Dave's old family collections were all on plans of about $50 a week or fortnight, and at one point over $100,000 was owed to them, with a lot written off. They now use a finance company, which can put an $8,000 collection at about $102 a fortnight. Approval depends on the client's credit, which they can't control.
Should I shorten the session if a client doesn't look like a big spender?
No. Mel and Dave treat every client like an $8,000 client and give everyone the same full session. Brides facing wedding costs, women in their early 20s and pregnant clients have all surprised them by buying their $8,000 collection, one paying up front. Rush the shoot and you won't have enough images to sell if she does want to invest.
How do I get boudoir clients from a Facebook group?
Message every new member the way a shop greeter would: thanks for joining, what got you interested? Mel and Dave call their boudoir group of roughly 2,500 members their pot of gold, and they treat that message as customer service, not a hard sell. Later they added Google and Facebook ads so the group wasn't their only lead source, and hired someone to look after the group.
When should my partner quit their day job to join my photography business?
When the numbers show the business can carry you both. Dave cut his job back gradually, to one day a week and then one day a fortnight, while Mel ran the studio. Once boudoir sales held up, he resigned within the first year, because staying in the job was costing the business. Clear roles helped: Dave handles retouching and orders, Mel handles calls, posing and sales.