Earlier this week, I got my car insurance renewal email. £650 to renew for another year. Ouch.
A quick check on a comparison site gave me a quote of £430 for the same cover with another big-name insurer. I clicked “buy” and then rang my existing insurer to cancel – because of course, you can’t just press a button.
As soon as I mentioned the £430 quote, they suddenly offered me a “loyalty discount”, bringing the renewal premium down to £410.
Now, if you can do £410 the moment I say I’m leaving, why not just offer that in the first place? Why make loyal customers jump through hoops for a fair deal?
It’s a frustrating experience — and it’s not just insurance. It’s everywhere.
And sadly, it’s in photography too.
The problem with ‘free shoots’ and surprise pricing
If you’ve looked around at different photographers, you may have come across this model: a free or low-cost photo session that sounds like a great deal. But what they don’t tell you up front is that the real cost comes later.
After the shoot, you’re invited to an in-person viewing session — sometimes with mood lighting and soft music — and that’s when the real selling begins.
You’re shown a slideshow of your images (which of course you love, because you’re in them, and they’re good) and then presented with a price list that would make your eyes water.
Digitals are £95 each. A small framed print is £250. Packages are £1,000+. “Heirloom products” are gently pushed.
And there’s often pressure to buy there and then, or risk losing the images altogether. Some photographers even delete images you don’t purchase.
This kind of selling is known as In-Person Sales (IPS), and frankly, I don’t like it.
It’s not just about money – it’s about trust
Photography should feel good. It should feel like a celebration of you or your brand, not like sitting in a car dealership being upsold extras you didn’t ask for.
As a photographer, I believe it’s my job to make you feel relaxed and confident in front of the camera – and that trust starts before the shoot even happens.
If you’re constantly wondering what the real price is going to be, how can you enjoy the experience?
That’s why I keep my pricing simple, fair and clear. You’ll always know upfront what you’re getting, what it costs, and what’s included.
No secrets, no pressure, and definitely no sales meetings in dimly lit rooms.
What you see is what you get
Whether you’re booking me for a portrait session, a brand shoot, or an event, my pricing is fully transparent. You’ll find it clearly explained on my website, and I’m always happy to talk it through in plain English.
There are no hidden fees. No locked digital files. And no bait-and-switch tactics.
You get access to a full gallery of edited images — not just a “sneak peek” of five with the option to “upgrade”.
The images are yours to use and enjoy, not something I dangle like a carrot to upsell you later.
That’s how I’d want to be treated — and that’s how I treat my clients.
Why this matters more than ever
We’re all tired of playing pricing games. Whether it’s insurers offering fake loyalty bonuses or photographers pushing packages they never mention until the final meeting, it creates mistrust. And trust is the foundation of good photography.
I’ve had clients tell me they were put off working with photographers in the past because they felt trapped, tricked, or pressured. That’s heartbreaking.
Because when photography is done right, it can be a joyful, confidence-boosting experience — one that celebrates who you are, where you are in life or business, and the story you’re telling.
I want that experience to feel honest from the very beginning.
Let’s keep things simple
If you’re looking for a photographer who will be up front with you, who won’t spring unexpected charges on you after the shoot, and who genuinely wants you to love the process from start to finish — we should talk.
I’m not the cheapest photographer you’ll find. But I am fair, transparent, and committed to delivering value without the games.
Want to know more? Let’s have a proper chat — no hard sell, just an honest conversation.
Get in touch today and let’s make some images you’ll be proud of — no surprises, no pressure.
