“Why are you charging me $600 more?!”
When giving a discount to a customer, it’s important for the photographer to show the normal price, the discount rate and the discounted price on the invoice rather than just showing the final discounted price. For example:
Instead of:
Photography fee: $3,400.00
It’s better to use something like:
Photography fee: $4,000.00
Discount 15%: – 600.00
Subtotal: $3,400.00
The reasons for this:
1) The customer can see, and hopefully appreciate, the discount being given.
2) Let’s say this customer (Customer A) refers the photographer to another customer (Customer B). If Customer B asks Customer A what they paid for photo services, Customer A might say something like, “We paid $3,400 but that included a 15% discount.”
So if the photographer sends a non-discounted quote to Customer B for a photo assignment similar to that done for Customer A, Customer B hopefully won’t yell, “Why are you charging me $600 more?!”
The photographer may still have to explain why Customer A got a discount but that’s easier than trying to explain a mysterious $600 price “increase”.
In some cases, a photographer should even include an invoice for a job that’s done pro bono. List the full price followed by a 100% discount. The purpose is to show the client the real cost and value associated with the “free” work. If this client hires the photographer in the future, they’ll know what to expect.
