the new bella?

[JB Sallee]

Just had a long phone conversations with a representative of George Street Photography out of Chicago about their recent expansion to the Dallas area last month. How do you feel about a power house company with an unlimited marketing budget that can send out 30+ photographers a weekend setting up shop in Dallas? Do you think they will hurt our market by advertising "All Inclusive Wedding Photography for $1395.00" George Street Photo & Video | Photojournalistic Wedding Photography & Videography. I would love to hear your thoughts...jb :)

[BenE]

I am not in your area, nor do I photograph weddings anymore. However, I am familiar with your excellent work and reputation, and would be interested in your comments.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by BenE

I am not in your area, nor do I photograph weddings anymore. However, I am familiar with your excellent work and reputation, and would be interested in your comments.

I agree. I think JB knows a lot more about the industry than I do and his opinion is worth a lot more than mine.

I'm of the general impression that low price high volume wedding photography is generally bad for the industry.

[MSooner]

I don't know...after two years of planning a wedding, I feel like the brides you really want are smart enough to avoid this.

[David Whatley]

Where will they get the photographers? Are they going to have a "standard" for the work they produce?
I see it as a potential dangerous thing to a lot of smaller, lesser known, and budding photographers.

[BenE]

Originally Posted by MSooner

I don't know...after two years of planning a wedding, I feel like the brides you really want are smart enough to avoid this.

Remember the quote by critic H.L. Mencken, "No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public."

[jkderby]

Today's bride does not went to spend a lot of money on wedding photographers as long as they have some "good enough photos". Want to spend it on the booze for the reception and the honeymoon. Lots of reasons why people think photography should be cheap. Look at the ads that Nikon does on TV. The ads come across if you buy a DSLR any one can take pictures like a pro. I think it will hurt the industry over all. And they will find photographers to do this. A photographer that will just shot a wedding and had over the images and walk away. Not saying they will be any good. For $1395 the photographer must not be paid very much.

[JB Sallee]

Originally Posted by jkderby

Today's bride does not went to spend a lot of money on wedding photographers. Want to spend it on the booze for the reception and the honeymoon. Lots of reasons why people think photography should be cheap. Look at the ads that Nikon does on TV. The ads come across if you buy a DSLR any one can take pictures like a pro. I think it will hurt the industry over all. And they will find photographers to do this. Not saying they will be any good.

So true! I just met with a couple 30 min. ago that said they could not afford our services because they wanted cut back on the photography budget so they could spend more on the bar tab for their reception! So sad...

[jkderby]

Today's generation does not realize the value of any type of photography. I have original prints from my Great Grand Parents wedding back in 1889. Also of my Great Great Grandfather from 1870 who was in the Civil War. People no days want have the good quailty photos for future generations.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by jkderby

Today's generation does not realize the value of any type of photography. I have original prints from my Great Grand Parents wedding back in 1889. Also of my Great Great Grandfather from 1870 who was in the Civil War. People no days want have the good quailty photos for future generations.

I disagree completely. There have never been more professional photographers and there have never been more high dollar professional photographers at any other time in history.

The demand is higher now for quality photography than it has ever been.

[jkderby]

Then tell me why so many high dollar professional photographers have gone to doing seminars, webinars, etc. Will not mention the name of one high dollar professional photographer who is in Colorado who said her clientele has gone from 3000 to 1000 and has branched out into other things. Can't tell me she is doing it because her primary studio is going great guns.

[kayumangi]

There is a real danger that Bella will become much like Getty Images that killed the stock photography industry for most independent contractors.

It will affect the market for sure. I mean Bella togs are not exactly newbs, some of them are seasoned PROs from other industries who are just looking for extra weekend income. And even some are highly artistic newbs who don't like to deal with the biz end.

We can try to fight the tide or we can look for ways to ride it out e.g. offering exceptional customer service.

[JB Sallee]

Originally Posted by jkderby

Then tell me why so many high dollar professional photographers have gone to doing seminars, webinars, etc. Will not mention the name of one high dollar professional photographer who is in Colorado who said her clientèle has gone from 3000 to 1000 and has branched out into other things. Can't tell me she is doing it because her primary studio is going great guns.

Seminars and Webinars are just a perk for many high profile and/or sought after photographers. Personally they have in no way been a big enough perk for us to "quit our day job" so to speak! :)

Besides if an industry leader/speaker is not directly involved in the industry as a full time photographer, they have nothing to speak about and will lose respect in the speaking circuit very fast and no one will ask them to speak at there convention! I love shooting and LOVE finishing our images, speaking is my least favorite part of my "job" but I do it because people say we are making a difference for the better! I hope it is true because speaking takes up a lot of our free time and I don't have much of that anymore with our new addition to our family...jb :)

[jkderby]

Google for some results, one comment:

T.R. M.
Chicago, IL
12/6/2010
Wish I could have given them 0 stars.. Insert sad face and sigh of disappointment here:

These people are extremely unprofessional. I never even got past the negotiation point with them. I was concerned that you get what you pay for with them - and unfortunately it applies in this case.
Their "promotions and discounts" are limiting and the contracts in general are shady. Take the time to research and READ the fine print!!!

I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt - but then we got the contract- it only protects them and does NOT guarantee services on their part. You are expected to pay half the balance right away - and the remainder 2 weeks before - BEFORE services are actually rendered. When I asked about changing the contract to guarantee services to protect the customer - they said No, they won't change it. They could only 'promise' that they will show up and provide the pictures, however they will not guarantee it in their contract.
They also DO NOT release the negatives for at LEAST 6 months after your wedding- unless you purchase $900 of prints or albums.
Customer service is lacking - or shall I say - Non-existent. I rarely received phone calls from the reps - only impersonal emails. I only actually spoke with them when I made the call to them.

On top of all that - they send over multiple conflicting contracts, all with different pricing. Some had initial pages with discounted prices from the previous month - but they expected me to sign a contract with 2 different prices.??? When I brought up the issue with them - they said it was a mistake and to ignore it. Although they wrote up the contract with a lower price I was expected to pay the higher price (ok???). So when I questioned them on that - they emailed me and basically told me to go find a new photographer and that they were not going to work with me any further.
So I immediately called my rep to speak about the situation, I couldn't believe the email I had just received from him! The rep said that it didn't matter because they never got my down payment. I said I would like to speak with the owner and he connected me with some other guy that was "supposedly" the owner.
He heard me out, then he said he wanted to "hear the staff's side of the story" and call me back. When I asked him, "well, isn't the customer always right?" he answered: "Well, you are not a customer yet!" WHAT????
So when I received a call back from "the owner" he basically told me that he is taking the side of his sales rep and turning me away as a customer. Talk about ruining their reputation. They are doing that before they even get any payment!
We decided it was for the best, if they are acting like this now .... how could we trust them? Why would we even want to do business with them??
Thank Goodness they never got any of our money!
We ended up getting an amazing photographer and are very thankful.
So you get what you pay for - pay a bit more and get exactly what you want! You don't want to be left high and dry without a photographer on your wedding day!

Buyer beware. They are a NIGHTMARE!!

[Tom]

Originally Posted by jkderby

Then tell me why so many high dollar professional photographers have gone to doing seminars, webinars, etc. Will not mention the name of one high dollar professional photographer who is in Colorado who said her clientele has gone from 3000 to 1000 and has branched out into other things. Can't tell me she is doing it because her primary studio is going great guns.

If you could develop a website company and then teach seminars to get people to buy it and make 7-figures a month, wouldn't you do that?

Speaking about what you are passionate about tends to be fairly easy for extroverted people. A whole lot easier than milking referrals and sitting in Lightroom for hours upon hours. Why not make a quick, easy buck off your reputation while spreading your brand to more people?

I don't really consider 3000 to be high end. That's a little below my average wedding, and I am certainly not high end. And ONE person? Not exactly a big sample size. Why would one person lose business? Lots more competition. The demand is higher than ever, but so is the supply. Not only that, but maybe that one mid-level photographer hasn't kept up with the times. Maybe other photographers in the area are getting much better and leaving them behind. There are just too many factors.

I guest lecture on photography all the time for college classes. I can put together a lecture on a variety of topics in no time.

There is a real danger that Bella will become much like Getty Images that killed the stock photography industry for most independent contractors.

No so much anymore, Bella is pretty much DOA now.

Besides if an industry leader/speaker is not directly involved in the industry as a full time photographer, they have nothing to speak about and will lose respect in the speaking circuit very fast and no one will ask them to speak at there convention!

Really? David Jay has been on the speaking circuit and out of shooting weddings for about 4 years now and I'd say his profile is bigger than ever.