Why You Shouldn't Cut Yourself Short by Undercharging

i'm gonna be really honest with you right off the bat:  this post is probably more aimed at me than you, friend.

the farther into the world of freelancing (photography + design) i get, the more i'm realizing that what i do is worth what i'm asking for it.  i wrote this post last week on why freelancing is both awesome & awful at the same time, and one of the most difficult things about being your own boss that i've found is figuring out what to charge and how to get people to pay what you're asking.

one of the hardest pills to swallow is when someone tells you "i'm gonna go with someone else because they're giving me a discount" or tells you that their budget is $X when you're charging $X+10.

i love my clients and i always try to work with their budgets, but i'm learning that sometimes, a client will expect way more than what they're paying for.  (for example, if you're shooting a wedding and a bride asks you to cut your prices and add extra things to the package, like a second shooter or an engagement shoot…when that happens, i might end up only charging $1,000 for what should be a $1,600 package.)

yes, it's good to cut deals for clients, especially when your business is just getting rolling.  and of course it's worth it to offer discounts when it will be the incentive a client needs to utilize your services.

but don't sell yourself short by undercharging.  your talents are worth what you think they're worth!  too many freelancers undercharge for their creativity and time just because they're afraid a client won't pay what they're asking.

so here are a few ways to stop undercharging for your services:

1.  compare. // normally, i wouldn't recommend comparing yourself to other photographers/designers, etc.  but in this case, it's good to know what the market runs for similar services.  if you're charging $5,000 to do photography for a wedding, you're not booking clients, and most photographers in your area are only charging in the $2,000-$3,000 range, then you might want to reconsider your pricing.

2.  talk budget. // i always like to get a feel for what a client's budget is when i start a project for them.  (this is really specifically for larger projects that will cost more, like a wedding, vs smaller projects, like a senior photo shoot)  finding out what your client can pay or has budgeted will help you determine what you can actually do for them.

3.  create levels in your pricing. // when aj meets with a client who is interested in his web design services, he gives options.  putting together packages with more/less extensive services (more customization options, more shooting time, etc.) allows your client to feel like they have some control over what they're going to pay and it also allows you to be realistic about what you can offer for what you're charging.

4.  don't be afraid to change your prices. // if it's just not working for you, then remember it's ok to change what you charge!  you need to be honest with yourself about the amount of time you're putting into a project vs how much you're making, but you also need to be making money!  so don't fret about changing your pricing structure from time to time while you figure out what works for your market & client base.

5.  shed the guilt! // there's always a level of guilt for me when giving a client pricing.  (i'm not sure where that comes from, but it's really just annoying!)  stop feeling guilty for asking for a fair payment for your talents and own it!  you're awesome and you deserve what you're asking for.

so what are some ways you determine pricing?  what do you find helpful when deciding how much to charge a client?

5 Reasons Why Freelancing is Both Awesome & Awful...

i never planned on being a freelancer.  (and frankly, i'm not sure i can really call myself one since it's not the primary source of my income…)

but the reality is that i do quite a bit of freelance work on the side.  through photography, graphic design, even blogging.  the extra income is always welcome, and i love having these creative outlets to work through!  honestly, if i was booking enough, i think i could love being a full-time photographer and designer.  but for now, it continues to be a side job that i feel really lucky to be able to do.

if you do any amount of freelance work, then you know that there are moments when you're like... "yeah!  this is awesome!  i'm living my dream and doing what i want to do!"  and then there are also plenty of moments when you're more… "this is awful…i can't book anything and no one wants to pay what i'm asking and why did i ever think freelancing was a good idea anyhow??"

so here are the five highs and lows of my freelancing experience:

1. income! // awesome:  if you're like me and freelancing isn't your only source of income, then it's awesome to make a little extra money by using your creative talents!  awful:  it's not necessarily consistent.  i go through seasons of being really busy and it feels like the money is rolling in, and then other seasons when it just isn't.

2.  pricing // awesome:  freelancing allows you to set your own pricing for things.  you get to determine how long a project will take and what you're willing to do the job for.   awful:  pricing can be super tricky.  personally, i always feel bad charging close friends or family my normal prices for a photoshoot or design services.  and it never feels great when someone either tries to get you to charge less because they don't want to pay what you're asking, or when someone tells you they can't book you because they found "a better deal" with someone else.  but hey, that's the biz.  (check out this article by jon acuff on charging people for your services)

3.  self-promotion // awesome:  you get to say what you do and how you do it…you have control over how your services are branded and represented!  awful:  i hate having to promote myself or my services.  social media definitely makes it a little bit easier, but yeah, i still hate talking about myself or what i can do for people.

4.  business is booming!  ….or not // awesome:  you get to accept or turn down jobs that work for you or don't.  if you're just too busy, you can stop accepting jobs.  awful:  it's really hard to control that flow of business!  and it can be really discouraging when business is not booming or you put a sale out there and no one bites.

5.  time management // awesome:  you have complete control over your schedule.  you can work when you want to and aren't tied down to office hours and stuff like that.  i find that if i love what i'm doing, then i am constantly thinking about it or wanting to work on it.  awful:  if you're not good at managing your time or being self-motivated, then being your own boss is not an easy task.

so tell me…do you do any freelance work?  what are some ways you keep business going?  what do you find awesome or awful about it?