If you ask around you'll most likely find someone willing to do a 4% or even 3.5%. Where as 1% goes to the listing agent and 2.5% goes to the buyer's agent.
EVERYTHING is negotiable. If an agent says no, go ask another one. Eventually you'll find someone who says yes.
You get what you pay for. A seller's agent getting 1% will list your property on MLS, carry errors and omissions insurance and shield you from a bunch of calls.
If you want the agent to pay for a nice photographer and spend a bunch of time with you going over what might get you a bit of extra money, that will most likely involve you spending some, than 2% is reasonable.
Listing agents don't have to do much, especially in today's market. Buyer's agents do A LOT of leg work and can choose not to show your property.
You can also just pay a lump sum. None of this has to be percentage based.
Source: I'm a Realtor.
Personally I can't go below 2% as a buyer or a seller. If the property sale was high enough, my broker could probably be talked into less than 2%. My broker governs what I can and can't do. In every legal sense, I'm a representative of my Broker.