Photography Business Forum

Just forget about them, and go with projection. I tried on line viewing for one season with my dance studio's ...very frustrating. We now do on site viewing with nine laptops...all paid and ordered that day.

I've structured my pricing two ways: One a la carte (sitting fee and product separate) and a variety of packages. I don't include e-files in any packages, in fact, I don't include prints in packages - only albums and a fridge magnet.

As to keeping galleries available ... I host my shopping cart on Smugmug ... plenty of space there ... I don't limit the amount of time people have to order but if I ever do reach a space limit on SM and have to start deleting galleries, I'll delete the oldest first - but not before I give the client notice that "you have x days to make an order, after which the gallery will be archived".

Do away with online ordering and switch to in-person ordering sessions. Set up a time about a week after the session for the clients to return to your studio (or go to their homes if you don't have a studio) to present the images to them in a professional manner. This is the only time that the client can order products; do not place them online. It benefits the client as they will have a professional guiding them through the ordering process, making suggestions for what images would look good hanging in certain areas of their house or how an album should be put together. It benefits you as there are no more delays in ordering and the profits will be larger. Start with some online searches of 'projection sales portrait photography' and see what others have to say.

Raise prices 10% then offer a 10% discount if they order within the first month.

I agree that 6 months is long, one option is to offer the print credit if they order within 2 weeks or a month.  Six months is far enough away that they probably keep thinking they can put off the decision, and that becomes the habit.  You can still keep the gallery for the six months, but still remind them that you will deactivate it at the deadline. 

I don't really have an answer for you. I think the terms you already have out there are more than adequate and the fact that you give them a credit as incentive just adds to your side of the argument. As long as it was clear when they came on board I would say stick to your guns. In fact I would even go so far as to say they only have three months. Six is too long and quite possibly they get lax knowing there is such a huge window and just blow it off. Anyways I would consider shortening to three months. Your terms are more than reasonable. If the clients are getting upset I am guessing they would get upset with any decision you made that did not parallel them having things the way they want them.

I look forward to other responses.