“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 $600 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.
