An article about rates

[J Eddington]

Looking at it from different views and opinions.

A Photo Editor - Stop Accepting $200 Assignments!

[ronocnikral]

thanks for sharing. while i agree with most of the content in the article, i'll throw my opinion into this blackhole of senselessness. i feel the pain of sisyphus...

the bottom line is, people enjoy photography. and if they can get paid doing something they enjoy, more power to them. the problem becomes, are they supplementing a hobby or putting food on the table? supply goes up, prices go down.

when will the death of the professional photographer come? never? 30 yrs? 20 yrs? next year? I don't know the answer to that question. but, if my children (yet to be had) tell me they want to become a photographer, i will buy them every major sunday newspaper in the country (paper or virtual version) and tell them to look through the job ads and tell me how many photographer jobs are being offered. of course, newspapers could be dead also by that time.

each year, it will most likely become more and more difficult to make all ends meet solely with a camera. my opinion.

[csa]

The Dallas Morning News has laid off photographers who have worked for them for years. At the end of my daughter's internship, they basically said we'd love to hire you, kid, but we can't afford it. Newspapers admit they have a limited life left in print and are doing more online with fewer staff members. Magazines face the same issues. Portrait photographers face competition with the $9.99 JC Penney/Walmart/etc. packages, and it really is hard to get through to the vast majority why we charge more. After just having two potential brides pass on what I thought were more than reasonable offers, I am looking at my next appointment and wondering how low can I go without regretting it later. Competition is fierce. Maybe this is the next evolution of the art. I was hesitant to believe when someone told me film was dying (yes, I'm that old.) I don't know the answer.

[texkam]

....but everyone wants a logo for $200 (or less).

Photography is but one profession technology has impacted.

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by csa

The Dallas Morning News has laid off photographers who have worked for them for years. At the end of my daughter's internship, they basically said we'd love to hire you, kid, but we can't afford it. Newspapers admit they have a limited life left in print and are doing more online with fewer staff members. Magazines face the same issues. Portrait photographers face competition with the $9.99 JC Penney/Walmart/etc. packages, and it really is hard to get through to the vast majority why we charge more. After just having two potential brides pass on what I thought were more than reasonable offers, I am looking at my next appointment and wondering how low can I go without regretting it later. Competition is fierce. Maybe this is the next evolution of the art. I was hesitant to believe when someone told me film was dying (yes, I'm that old.) I don't know the answer.

And the world keeps on turning, I have heard the same thing about the death of the professional photographer for many years. I do believe what has keep the professional photographer open and will continue to keep them open is that just because someone can take pictures on location, not many of them can capture well lit and posed studio portraits. I still find my clients come to the studio for what the part-time picture taker do not offer.
Wayne

[jubb]

Ahhh... the digital erra of photography. You just really gotta have better quality stuff than everybody else, and no how to market yourself.

[ronocnikral]

Originally Posted by jubb

Ahhh... the digital erra of photography. You just really gotta have better quality stuff than everybody else, and no how to market yourself.

this confuses me...better quality stuff? such as, high end equipment? or high quality paper? high quality inks? high quality clothes to shoot in? a better quality studio?

i agree with noing [sic] how to market. but, better quality "stuff," doesn't equal a better business.

[Bob_S]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

this confuses me...better quality stuff? such as, high end equipment? or high quality paper? high quality inks? high quality clothes to shoot in? a better quality studio?

i agree with noing [sic] how to market. but, better quality "stuff," doesn't equal a better business.

I think they meant better quality shots.

[jubb]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

this confuses me...better quality stuff? such as, high end equipment? or high quality paper? high quality inks? high quality clothes to shoot in? a better quality studio?

i agree with noing [sic] how to market. but, better quality "stuff," doesn't equal a better business.

Sorry about the lack of specifics and acting like a "no it all". I was handed a baby after I started that post. You have to have higher quality images, prints, customer service, professionalism, presentation etc.

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

this confuses me...better quality stuff? such as, high end equipment? or high quality paper? high quality inks? high quality clothes to shoot in? a better quality studio?

i agree with noing [sic] how to market. but, better quality "stuff," doesn't equal a better business.

Conor,
Maybe what “Better Stuff” means is Perceived Value. I have a friend that has an eight thousand square foot free standing studio, when you walk in the front door you enter a doomed marble room with a grand piano setting in the corner. This is “Perceived Value” you know it is going to cost you a lot more that you would pay if you met your photographer at a local Coffee Shop or maybe the photographers living room of his home. The same can be said on how you present your self in dress or action. I have always personally believed that a client will accept you only as professional as you present yourself.
Just Saying,
Wayne
Photography by Design

[ronocnikral]

i agree with what wayne (and i think what justin is saying somewhat) says about perceived value. but, we all can't have a studio like alvin's. and wayne will be the first to tell you that.

also, even if you offer the "highest quality" album, it doesn't mean your business will be better off or make more money. same goes with prints, and i would even extend it to IQ. either your shot is in focus and exposed properly, or it isn't.

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

i agree with what wayne (and i think what justin is saying somewhat) says about perceived value. but, we all can't have a studio like alvin's. and wayne will be the first to tell you that.

also, even if you offer the "highest quality" album, it doesn't mean your business will be better off or make more money. same goes with prints, and i would even extend it to IQ. either your shot is in focus and exposed properly, or it isn't.

Conor, I agree, some-what, but if we do not work toward the goal of having a studio location and being more professional, we just stay a part-time want-to-be and soon find another hobby. You will seldom see someone stay in this like of work for very long if they don't get in the business. I also have to say I have a friend in Pasedena that has had a full time home studio for over 20 years and they are still doing fine, but their home is a full time studio that they happen to live in.

Wayne
Photography by Design

[ronocnikral]

i didn't mean it isn't possible not to have a studio, just that it takes generations of hard work to get to the 8000 sq ft, marble arched studio. that's all! :)

besides, i like my engineering job.

[pbyd]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

i didn't mean it isn't possible not to have a studio, just that it takes generations of hard work to get to the 8000 sq ft, marble arched studio. that's all! :)

besides, i like my engineering job.

He was a student member of the PPGH in the late 70's just starting out, it has not taken generations, only being professional in looks and actions. I do understand that a lot of the "New SuperStars" would like people to think you can get there by just dressing and acting cool, but it an't so.
Wayne
Photography by Design