Everyone loves a good sale… can I get an AMEN?! Always being asked for discounts as an entrepreneur can be tricky sometimes so I thought I would address my thought process on this issue!

Let’s go back in time. Picture this: I was a newbie wedding photographer who wanted EVERY inquiry to turn into a booking. How did I try to accomplish this? By lowering my pricing for literally everyone. Yikes, Caroline! Looking back now, I understand why I did this… and why I don’t do that now. Ever since I went full-time with my business, I made a decision to only offer discounts to my immediate family and our bridal party… and that’s it! Here are a few reasons why I made that decision:

1. Realizing What You’re Worth

This was TOUGH, guys! I’ve been shooting weddings for over five years (which is completely insane to think about!) and I’ve learned what the value of time really means to me. A wedding photographer doesn’t just “work” on a wedding day. We have to travel, edit, plan, email, organize, manage websites and social media, track expenses, and spend time away from our families. I sat down and did the math to see what my hourly rate would be if I discounted every single wedding. Well, friends… it wasn’t pretty. So what did I do? I stopped giving discounts. Maybe that sounds super harsh, but I had to make sure that every wedding that I booked was profitable and worth my time!

2. Treating Everyone the Same

I want to spoil and treat my clients with love throughout the entire wedding planning process! If one client honors my pricing and the next one receives a discount…. how is that fair? To them or me? Doing the same amount of work for a lesser price doesn’t really make sense and only hurts you in the long run. I want each one of my clients to get the same wedding experience!

3. Having a Larger Goal

Entrepreneurs don’t have “normal” jobs which makes us think about how we run our businesses in a different perspective. Would you go to Target and try to negotiate the price of something? Nope. I try run my business the same way. Much like Target, all businesses have larger financial goals and in order for me and other wedding professionals to pay bills and maintain a life, we have to stick to our guns and not give discounts to everyone.

Am I not willing to work with clients who are on a budget? Not necessarily! I do have a heart, friends! As a solution to the “can I have a discount?” dilemma, I offer more budget-friendly options that are priced a little bit lower.

Long story short, discounts can affect how you value yourself and your craft! So, figure out what your time is worth and stick to it :)

 

 

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