A couple friends of mine have portrait and wedding photography businesses. I hear a lot about the trials and tribulations from one of them because he has somehow has learned to apply humor. It is hard to separate business from yourself but is just business.

I realize you have to work with what the market will bear but artists don't charge enough for their work. According to Chris Anderson in the makers the formula for any small business should be something like cost *2.5. That's from memory. Often people think that they need to double it and that is enough. That is enough for retailers because they price their merch different percentages over cost which then averages out to a decent profit margin. But as the only person in the business you can't afford that. You also have to account for things like destroyed film or bad prints. Advertising. Customers that don't pay their bills, etc. In addition with a higher profit margin you have the ability to negotiate a discount with good customers. Say ones that give you a large business or give you decent exposure in exchange. If you haven't recently I would start take a look at what others are charging to make sure you are in line and charging enough. And like the others said, get a deposit.

Also know there is an old but still popular scam with remote business. The buyer offers to pay more than the asking price in a cashiers check. Don't fall for it! Always get it in paypal or credit card.

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