We Accidentally Upsold $1,000 on This Week’s Shoot (you can do it too)

You know that feeling after a shoot when you’ve delivered exactly what the client paid for? That satisfaction of a job well done? Well, this week, something unexpected happened that left us with an extra $1,000 in our pocket—all without even trying.

It wasn’t a fancy new marketing strategy or a clever upsell. In fact, it was something so simple, we almost didn’t realize it until it happened. The best part? It’s something you can easily start doing in your own business, and it doesn’t require any extra effort.

You must be itching to know, so let’s dive in to see how a tiny tweak turned one of our regular shoots into a big payday.

All images created by Mainstream Multi-Media

The Power of Showing Raw Images

In the past, we used to only present the amount of images that the client purchased upfront. They’d get exactly what they paid for, no more, no less. But over time, we realized something. While we loved the edited photos, sometimes we’d leave some great shots behind in the raw pile, never to see the light of day.

So, we tried something new: we started sharing the raw images with our clients after the shoot and letting them choose which ones they wanted us to edit.

It’s a simple concept, but the results have been game-changing. Instead of just handing over a fixed number of edited images, we gave the client options, and you know what? They wanted more.

The $1,000 “Accident”

This week’s shoot was a perfect example. We styled and shot a variety of setups as usual, making sure we had everything we needed for the final deliverables. But instead of only delivering what was paid for, we showed our client a full gallery of raw shots—every angle, every styling tweak, every little extra detail.

The magic happened when the client started flipping through these untouched images. As they scrolled, they realized there were shots they hadn’t even thought of that they couldn’t resist. They ended up choosing more than double the original number of photos they’d purchased. By the end of the day, we had sold $1,000 worth of extra images—without any upsell pressure or hard sales tactics.

“You did a PHENOMENAL job wow, you’re so talented! I love them all lol it was so hard to narrow it down.

I ended up choosing X so I’ll pay the additional costs for the extra Y images.”

-Client Response

Why This Works (And How You Can Do It Too)

This method works because people love choice. When you present clients with only the final edits, they might love them, but they don’t know what they’re missing. By showing them a larger gallery of raw images, you're essentially offering them a sneak peek behind the curtain.

Here’s how you can start doing this:

1. Take More Photos Than You Need – This might seem obvious, but taking extra shots during your styling setups gives you a buffer to work with. Every slight angle change or tweak in lighting can be a potential winner for your client.

2. Present the Raw Gallery – After the shoot, create a gallery of unedited raw images. You don’t have to share every single photo, but give the client a variety of additional options they didn’t originally purchase.

3. Let Them Choose – Your clients will naturally gravitate toward images they weren’t expecting, and most won’t mind paying extra for them. They’ll ask for edits on the extra images because they’ve fallen in love with shots that weren’t even in their original package.

4. Charge Per Image – If you're not already doing this, it’s a great way to add value to your pricing structure. Each additional image should have a clear price, and you’ll find clients are happy to pay for what they see and love.

A No-Pressure Way to Boost Income

The best part of this strategy? There’s no pressure. You’re simply offering more options, and the client chooses to purchase additional images based on their own excitement. It’s a win-win: they get more photos they love, and you get a higher return from the same shoot.

It’s Worked More Than Once!

Since we started showing raw images to clients, we’ve consistently seen them want more than what they initially purchased.

Just last week, we had another client purchase an extra variation of the same image!

This trick makes upselling feel effortless and natural while also allowing the client to feel more engaged in the shooting process.

Ready to Try It?

If you’re a photographer, this is a simple adjustment to make, and it could significantly increase your income. So next time you finish a shoot, don't just deliver what you promised—go the extra mile and give your clients more options. You might just find yourself with an extra $1,000 in your pocket, just like we did.

FAQs

1. What is the best way to share RAW images with clients?

   You can use Google Drive or Sprout Studio to share RAW and final image galleries with clients.

2. How can I increase the value of my photography shoots?
   You can increase the value of your shoots by offering clients raw image galleries, allowing them to purchase additional photos.

3. How do photographers get clients to buy more images?
   Photographers can get clients to buy more images by providing raw image galleries, giving them the freedom to select additional shots.

4. Is showing raw images a good photography business strategy?
   Yes, showing raw images encourages clients to buy more photos, boosting revenue without additional effort.

5. How can I make photography upselling feel natural?
   Photography upselling feels natural when clients are given control over choosing extra images from a raw gallery.

---

More Articles