WHY is finding an amazing wedding photographer so difficult?

[Redneck]

Attn: Wedding Photographers :)

[SCone]

$2500 camera, $1200 flash setup, $1200 lens x 3, $2000 computer, $1500 software, years of training, mistakes, learning, reading, testing..... $3k...... that's CHEAP...

[ronocnikral]

while face to face I would never "argue" with such a person, it is quite comical. This individual has no idea what it costs to run a business.

all other things aside, your wedding most likely isn't original. and hanging out at it isn't my preferred way to spend my weekend.

even at $3000, I don't know how someone could solely support themselves without a spouse/domestic partner carrying health insurance for them or taking significant risks. I'm sure someone will multiply 3000 by 52 and point out that is a decent living, to which I reply, take the plunge.

[prncfarquad]

If she wants a decent priced photographer she will get images that look like I shot them..I can make decent images but I sure as hell wouldn't hire me to shoot a wedding :)

Uh CL poster....reality is calling you! Answer the phone!!!

[texkam]

How much for the cake?

[jeffro20]

That's quite some comical reading. Hope she feels better after her rant.

[surlynkid]

[QUOTE=prncfarquad;1393415]If she wants a decent priced photographer she will get images that look like I shot them..I can make decent images but I sure as hell wouldn't hire me to shoot a wedding :)
QUOTE]

i ditto that for sure. i do not have that kind of talent. i do not want that responsibility. you only have one chance to get it right.

also, that woman really needs to go back and take 7th grade english again. hers is terrible.

[LEO III]

Um, let's see: There's also the cake, the dress, the caterer, the flowers, the venue, the booze, and all of the other stuff, so I guess you just want to stiff the photographer. I guess in your mind, baking and decorating the cake, designing and making the dress and arranging the flowers are all art forms, but photographing and editing the wedding pictures are just hanging out and taking a few pictures.

(I had written a few more of my sentiments, but they weren't politically correct, so I deleted them. I hate self-editing.)

[brewercm]

Originally Posted by LEO III

Um, let's see: There's also the cake, the dress, the caterer, the flowers, the venue, the booze, and all of the other stuff, so I guess you just want to stiff the photographer. I guess in your mind, baking and decorating the cake, designing and making the dress and arranging the flowers are all art forms, but photographing and editing the wedding pictures are just hanging out and taking a few pictures.

(I had written a few more of my sentiments, but they weren't politically correct, so I deleted them. I hate self-editing.)

I believe its going to be a Hostess cupcake and dingdong wedding with lots of those disposable cameras for five and six year olds to take her amazing wedding photos for her.

[Phisch]

And then there's always this: Photographers

[ronocnikral]

Originally Posted by Phisch

And then there's always this: Photographers

Thanks for sharing. And for those who are lazy like myself, here is my spin and snippets.

I agree with the front half.

Your expenses do not justify your price. Say it with once more with feeling brothers and sisters – YOUR EXPENSES DO NOT JUSTIFY YOUR PRICE. It doesn’t matter to the client how much it costs to run your business or your life. That in and of itself does not tell the client why your product is worth what you are asking for it. Covering the expenses is your problem, not theirs.

In fact, I just had this similar conversation with my wife. We have recently moved, and she was trying to price herself "into the market." She was sort of doing the opposite though, looking at what the market would bear and then making a subjective decision on where she should be. And it seems, all conversations that I have seen here on pixtus involve only one side of the coin at a time.

It's economics 101. there is a supply curve and demand curve. supply has to do with your costs and what you have to bring home to survive (how ever you define that). demand has to do with what the market will bear. It's easy to sit and type this, as it takes experience to be able to judge where you should be.

So, my conversation with my wife went something like this:

her: I really think I can get $x / wedding, which is more along the lines with top tier photographers in the area. they really aren't that much better than me, if any at all.
me: they are established, the wedding they did last weekend, they did their mother's and grandmother's wedding as well. you're the new kid on the block.
her: well, I don't want to give my photography away.
me: what are your actual costs to shoot y number of weddings a year? certainly, our costs are pretty lean compared to others.
her: [doozing off as actual business talk induces a coma]
me: my point is, you're only looking at one side of the coin, what will the market will bear? what if your costs are actually more than what you think you can get per wedding? do you want to shoot people's weddings if you can't make any money? what if your costs are significantly less? what if you could lower your prices, get your target number of weddings and not have the costs of doing bridal shows or huge marketing? will you still make money?
her: [full state of comatose]

certainly, this is opposite of the author is referring to, but it is taking into account, both supply and demand. it's tricky, but if your goal is to make money, you need to look at both sides of the coin. and make adjustments to get you out of the red.

here is the part of the article I disagree with:

That’s OUR problem not HERS. If she doesn’t see the value she probably isn’t going to hire an established pro, but for some reason she thinks she deserves to. This is our fault as an industry. Our fault for devaluing so many aspects of what we offer that it looks like we’re trying to ripoff the client when we charge barely appropriately.

while I do agree it is a photographer's job to keep the image of great value for their clients, this isn't a socialist coop. it's not my responsibility to help improve the industry as whole (if I help great, but it isn't my main aim). While I think the author may be talking on an individual basis, there are parts where it seems he is talking about this being a community effort, which it isn't. I'm responsible for dealing with my own demand curve, not the entire industry's.

thanks for sharing!

[Phisch]

Hehe :) I am lazy, you took the time to post.

I don't disagree with you, but I think the main gist is that if you charge XYZ, you should come across as someone worth that amount. In a lot of ways it does have to do with what your competitors are doing. Brides are looking at a lot of people's work and price lists. But ultimately, as a professional you have to define your own way of measuring success and your worth. To high or low and the market will be sure to let you know.

I've been at this for just a year so my rates have slowly crawled up. I have had the good fortune to have a good deal of the needed capital before starting and because my husband supports me I can put 100% of what I make back into the business. I also have a goal of profitability in 4 years. So I expect to have to wait that long before I get a paycheck. So far, it's worked ok for me. I keep my goals humble and I don't have to fear burnout...there's the very real benefit of meeting "budget" couples who have turned out to become friends.

I think that the budget bride is an unfair stigma. I've had nothing but good experiences so far and they have been very different ones. I'm not in denial, there will be a brizilla or two or 10 one day, but so far it's been great.

LOL...the last couple of paragraphs sound OT. I blame lack of ccoffee ;)