I'm up over last year. My market is mainly destination resort weddings, so outside considerations are one of the main things. I just did a major price increase that has had an effect, but there are also some other factors.
One thing I did was take digital only packages that I offered on my two hour packages and expanded them into my 4, 6, and 8 hour packages. Last year, my 6 hour package was $1,950.00 including a set of 4x6 prints, but no built album. This year the same package is $2,150.00, but without the 4x6 prints. It's an extra $200.00, but I'm also saving the cost of the printing, plus the time to sort it out, get the printing done, etc. My clients like it as they feel as if they're getting a deal, and it makes my life a lot easier. One thing that I've noticed about clients over the last three years or so is that they are vastly more accepting of digital photography. It used to be that they would insist of having things shot on film. Now they don't even want prints anymore.
I've noticed a shift away from American clients towards Brits in the winter, and Canadians in the summer. A big part of that is the US exchange rate has gone from 60% to 9% over the last few years, and it doesn't seem like the American clients have as much disposable income as they did a few years back. Whistler has become a major destination for the British in the winter, and that's been a good market. The local provincial economy has taken a big jump up over the last couple of years, and we're seeing a big increase there as well.
David Buzzard
Linear Mode
