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Delivering stunning images is just one part of being a professional photographer. To create consistent revenue and elevate your client experience, you need a smart system for selling your work. Wondering where to start with pricing prints, creating packages, or looking for some new ideas when it comes to offering products? Let’s talk about how creating print collections can help your clients decide which products suit their taste and budget.

Offering structured collections that include printed products and digital files alongside à la carte options gives clients flexibility while encouraging a higher sales average per session. Delivering digital files is only half of the photography service equation. Helping your clients make the most of the images they love completes the transaction in more ways than one.

  1. Offering finished prints, wall art, and albums helps clients move forward with getting those images printed without having to go elsewhere, procrastinate about it, or skip the prints altogether.
  2. Being able to source the best quality products – professional photo albums, canvases, metals, and prints ensures that your images look their very best.
  3. As a full-service photographer, you can earn more per session with printed products.

As we discuss pricing in this blog, remember that the amount you charge for services and products must be calculated based on the cost of running your business. For demonstration purposes, we’ll be using generic pricing. Be sure to fully examine the costs of running your business and paying yourself before finalizing your pricing.

Start with à La Carte

To have collections, you need to start with some à la carte pricing; a list of what you would charge for items as stand-alone purchases. ​Listing the à la carte pricing also helps establish the value of the collections. Items bundled together in a collection should offer a slight discount.

À la carte pricing is beneficial to have on hand for customers who want more flexibility or a tighter budget. By eliminating unnecessary extras, clients avoid overspending and feel more in control of their purchase.

The downside of à la carte pricing is that when presented with an overwhelming array of options, they may experience decision fatigue, leading to missed opportunities and unpredictable sales outcomes. Collections can help manage that.

À la carte options are great for clients who want to customize. However, they shouldn’t compete with your collections. Price items high enough to encourage upgrading to a collection for a better purchasing experience.

Here is a simple example of an à la carte product price list for portraits. 

    • 16×20 Framed Canvas: $650
    • 11×14 Metal Flush Frame: $400
    • 10×10 Album with 25 Images and 10 Spreads: $650
    • 8×8 Photo Book with 15, Images 10 Spreads: $290
    • 8×10 Print (unmounted): $40
    • 5×7  Print (unmounted): $20
    • 25-Custom Designed 5×7 Printed Cards: $90
    • 4×8 Accordion Book with 6 Images: $70
    • 8 Double-Sided 5×7 Prints in an Image Box with 16 Digital Files*: $850

*Digital files can be included with all these printed products, bundled separately, or offered on a sliding scale. Price or add the digital files appropriately. They are the most valuable item, since without them, there would be nothing to share on social media!

Creating Print Collections

With base pricing in place, you can start to build collections. Keep things straightforward and be sure groupings support the type of session or subject matter. A boudoir session might not need wall art, but a multi-generation family session would. By bundling popular services and products together, you simplify the decision-making process for your clients. Instead of sifting through numerous individual options, clients can choose a package that suits their needs, reducing stress and making the purchasing process easier.

Collections often come with slight discounts compared to purchasing items à la carte, providing clients with a sense of savings and added value. Additionally, offering customizable add-ons or bonuses can make the experience more engaging, allowing clients to tailor their package to their preferences.​

Creating print collection with finished products like framed canvases adds value to collections.
Take the guesswork out of what to do with images. If you are creating print collections that have finished products in them, like framed Gallery Wrap canvases, you are showing clients exactly how to display and enjoy their images.

Creating print collections can benefit your business as well by promoting consistent revenue streams and making it easier to set financial goals and expectations. They also streamline the sales process, saving time for both you and your clients.

Collection Examples

Here are some basic collections created from the à la carte example pricing:

The Family Collection $1990*

    • 1-16×20 Framed Canvas
    • 1-10×10 Album with 25 images and 10 Spreads 
    • 2-8×10 Print (unmounted) 
    • 2-5×7  Print (unmounted)
    • 10 High-Res Digital Files 

*Save over $300 off à la carte pricing!

OR

The Standard Senior Collection $1050*

    • 1-11×14 Metal Flush Frame 
    • 8 Double-Sided 4×6 Prints in an Image Box with 16 Digital Files
    • 25-Custom Designed 5×7 Printed Cards

*Save over $150 off à la carte pricing!

In both collection examples, the total à la carte price of each collection was reduced by 10-12%. Rather than making clients add things up, tell them what they are saving, either dollars or a percentage. If you want the savings to seem more significant, raise the à la carte pricing AND increase the discount on the collections.

Image boxes, from McKenna add a group of printed images to a high school senior session.
Offer Image Boxes and add a small collection of printed images to a high school senior session. These add value to the whole experience and encourage add-on sales.

It can’t be stressed enough that the numbers have to work for your business and the cost associated with that.

Marketing with Products

Creating print collections and pricing them out may be a little tedious. However, it’s important to have all your pricing in place before the client inquiries. Additionally, if they don’t ask about tangible products, it’s great to have a guide for them.

An even better way to get customers interested in your services and products that you offer is to market with printed products. Using prints, wall art, and albums as an incentive to book. As a result, by offering a collection up front, print sales are guaranteed, and add-ons are a big possibility.

Here are some marketing ideas for special offers. A separate session fee is factored into the pricing here. These examples are simplified for example purposes. You may need to add more descriptions and qualifying details. The complimentary item is figured into the package and a lower markup to get a bigger commitment.

Mother’s Day Sessions with a Bonus Gift! $250

Session + A Complimentary 4×8 Accordion Book with 6 Printed Images

All additional files and products are sold separately

Cake Smash or Birthday Session and a Gift! $850

Session & 8 Double-Sided 5×7 Prints in an Image Box with 16 Digital Files

 Senior Folio Session – 2 Outfits – One Location or Studio Set $350

 PLUS a Complimentary 8×8 Photo Book with your selected images

All additional files and products are sold separately

VIP Fall Portrait Session with 25 Complimentary Holiday Cards $990

Session at Prime Location and Time

1-16×20 Framed Metal Print

1-8×10, 2-5x7s, and 5 Digital Files

Early Bird Exclusive Wedding Collection

Book your 2027 Wedding before 03/01/2026 And Get A Gift from Us!

Receive two Complimentary Parent Albums with the “We Do” or the “Timeless” Wedding Collection

A premium wedding album with two parent albums from Zookbinders, a McKenna company.
For weddings and events, you can create a sense of urgency by offering “bonus’ replicas or parent albums if a contract is signed by a certain date. Shown is an Acrylic cover of Zook Book from Zookbinders, a McKenna company, with two replica albums featuring photo covers.

Custom Collections

If à la carte is too underwhelming and collections seem too restricted, let customers customize their purchase and benefit from discounts. The pricing strategy here is a little different. You’ll be offering different items at the same price point, however, the actual cost of goods per item may be similar but not the same. Set the retail value of each item in the group based on the highest priced product, plus markup.

This lets customers make an ether or decision based on what they like, not price.

The Senior Select Collection $1140 – SAVE $200

Choose 1 Item from Each Category

 #1 Wall Art

    • 1-Framed Canvas (16×20)
    • 1-Metal Flush Frame (16×20)
    • 1-Gallery Mount Photographic Print (16×20)

#2 Album

    • 1-10×10 Album: Linen Cover Imprinting and 25 Images
    • 1-7×9  Album: Leather Cover Imprinting and 25 Images
    • 1-8×12 Album: Canvas Photo Cover and 25 Images

#3 Gift Item

At the end of the day, offering prints isn’t just about boosting your bottom line—it’s about giving your clients a complete, thoughtful experience they’ll remember. Creating print collections makes the decision process easier for customers, reduces overwhelm, and helps highlight the value of your work in a clear and compelling way. Collections naturally guide clients toward the most popular and profitable options, increase your average sale, and save time during the ordering process. Plus, they allow you to present your work as a cohesive experience rather than a menu of scattered items. Start simple, stay flexible, and don’t be afraid to tweak things as your business grows!

This blog was written by Maureen Miller, CPP, contributor for McKenna and contributor to marketing and client experience at Zookbinders. With 25+ years as a professional photographer, Maureen owns and operates her successful studio, Maureen T Miller Photography. She is an advocate for making money and doing what you love. Her motto is, “Photography is a BIG DEAL!”