The verdict in three sentences
In Mbour and Saly, demand for photo and video is strong thanks to hotels, weddings and businesses along the Petite-Côte, yet most freelancers price by gut feeling and accept the first counter-offer. A quote built on packages, a 30 to 50% deposit and a negotiation that removes scope instead of cutting the price make a clear difference to monthly income. The course Vendre ses services: offer, quote and negotiation, 10 hours for 50,000 FCFA and taught in French, gives you the full method in a few evenings.
What to charge in Mbour and Saly in 2026
The local image market splits into three client families. Private clients (weddings, naming ceremonies, birthdays) pay per event. Hotels and residences in Saly buy regular content for Instagram, Booking and their website. Businesses (private schools, clinics, shops, NGOs) order portraits, company videos or seminar coverage.
| Service | Observed range (2026 order of magnitude) | What pushes the price up |
|---|---|---|
| Event coverage (naming ceremony, birthday) | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA | Duration, number of edited photos |
| Wedding, photo only | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA | Two days, printed album |
| Wedding, photo + video | 250,000 to 300,000 FCFA and up | Second shooter, drone, 5-min film |
| Monthly content for a Saly hotel | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA per month | Number of visuals, reels, peak season |
| Corporate headshots (10 people) | 60,000 to 120,000 FCFA | Mobile studio, advanced retouching |
| Company presentation video (2 min) | 150,000 to 350,000 FCFA | Script, interviews, subtitles |
| Seminar or conference coverage | 100,000 to 250,000 FCFA per day | Express delivery, photo + video |
These are orders of magnitude seen on the Petite-Côte, not official rates (100,000 FCFA is roughly 152 EUR). The key point: the gap between the low and high end of each range rarely comes down to talent. It comes down to how you present the offer, frame the quote and hold your position in negotiation.
Why so many freelancers undercharge
The scenario is familiar. A client calls, asks "how much?", the freelancer throws out a number on the phone, the client says "that's expensive" and the price drops 30% while nothing changes in the service. Three mistakes come up again and again:
- A single price: one rate forces a yes or no, while three packages make the client choose which one.
- Working without a deposit: without 30 to 50% paid at booking, a last-minute cancellation costs a full day, sometimes a peak-season Saturday.
- Unlimited retouching: without a written limit, back-and-forth eats your hours and your margin.
| Situation | Answer that undercharges | Answer that protects the margin |
|---|---|---|
| "It's too expensive" | Drop 20% | Offer the lower package with fewer deliverables |
| "My cousin does it for 50,000" | Match it | Show the portfolio, backup, guaranteed turnaround |
| Hotel wants 30 visuals for 100,000 FCFA | Accept "for the reference" | Offer 12 visuals for 150,000 FCFA, extension available |
| Client refuses a deposit | Show up anyway | Block the date only after a Wave or Orange Money deposit |
| Request for raw files | Hand them over for free | Charge as an option or exclude from the quote |
| Endless retouch requests | Redo everything | Two rounds included, then hourly rate |
What you learn in the course
The course Vendre ses services: offer, quote and negotiation is level 2 of the Freelance and entrepreneurship track. It runs 10 hours, costs 50,000 FCFA and is paid with Wave or Orange Money. Its five modules follow a freelancer's sales cycle: building an offer that almost sells itself, pricing on value rather than time, running discovery and writing a proposal that gets signed, negotiating without discounting, then closing, contracting and tracking your pipeline.
| Way to learn selling | Indicative 2026 cost | Main limit |
|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube videos | 0 FCFA | Generic, rarely adapted to FCFA pricing |
| One-off in-person workshop in Dakar | 30,000 to 100,000 FCFA + transport | One day, little follow-up |
| One-to-one coaching | 25,000 to 50,000 FCFA per session | Costs add up fast |
| Kolonell, Vendre ses services | 50,000 FCFA, 10 h | You must practise on your own quotes |
| Full Freelance and entrepreneurship track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | Commitment over several months |
The course is online and works on a phone, which suits a photographer who spends weekends on shoots and edits during the week.
Mini case study
Modou, 29, a photographer and videographer in Mbour, works for two Saly hotels and covers weddings. Before reworking his method, he billed one hotel 100,000 FCFA a month for 30 visuals, and his weddings around 120,000 FCFA, often with no deposit. Over a year, two cancellations cost him two Saturdays.
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
After restructuring his offer into three packages, he offers hotels 12 visuals and 2 reels for 175,000 FCFA, and weddings for 180,000 FCFA with a 40% deposit.
- Hotels: 2 × (175,000 − 100,000) = 150,000 FCFA more per month.
- Weddings: 3 per month in season × (180,000 − 120,000) = 180,000 FCFA more per month in peak season.
- Course cost: 50,000 FCFA.
Even if only one hotel accepts the new package, the 75,000 FCFA gain pays back the course in the first month. This is an illustration: results depend on each person's portfolio, season and clientele.
FAQ
What deposit should I ask for a wedding in Mbour?
Common practice is 30 to 50% at booking, with the balance on the day or at delivery. On a 200,000 FCFA wedding, an 80,000 FCFA Wave deposit secures the date. Without one, a cancellation costs you a peak-season day.
Should I show my prices on Instagram?
Showing a "from" price, for example "weddings from 150,000 FCFA", filters out requests that are too low. The detailed quote stays personalised. It saves a lot of time in WhatsApp conversations.
How do I bill a Saly hotel monthly?
A monthly package of 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA, with the number of visuals and videos fixed in writing, is the most stable formula. Add a review clause for peak season. Module 2 of the course details the calculation.
Is the course suitable if I am just starting out?
Yes, it is beginner level, 10 hours in total, taught in French. Having a few clients or a portfolio is enough to apply the exercises to your own quotes.
How do I pay for the course?
The 50,000 FCFA fee is paid with Wave or Orange Money. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
Take the next step. Enroll in Vendre ses services: offer, quote and negotiation: 10 hours online, 50,000 FCFA, certificate included. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
