Woah, youre expensive!

[HotHolly]

lol. I just had a girl walk and ask about baby photos. Our regular session fee is $275 and I have a mini session that is $99. I got a woah, your expensive. She asked how much print prices where, and I told her. Another woah. And then she pointed at the big 30x40 prints on the walls and thought those must have been $300. Yep, or a little higher... I havent had someone that candid in a while. She'd bought her baby a $100+ dress and thought the photography (which lasts forever) would be cheaper than the dress (which is outgrown in 1 season). I told her to spring for both. Woah. lol.

[Roy]

Sounds about right. I had two young ladies drop out for weddings and I'm not even expensive....yet.

[Jay Henley]

Me too........ Ha Ha

Originally Posted by Roy

Sounds about right. I had two young ladies drop out for weddings and I'm not even expensive....yet.

[S-Man]

What is it with people? I suppose they figure it's just pushing a button and any ol' camera will do.
I can understand I guess, because before I got into photography, i didn't understand the whole copyright issue on images, and didn't see the big deal.
Perhaps they have not come to appreciate photography for what it really is. Photographers are more than just button-pushers.

[brad]

Its because they've gotten used to discount portrait studios with $19 or even free session fees... then make it up on prints done on the cheap.

We have to point out to them why we are more expensive. If they want lower quality prints done by a photographer who's probably had 3 hours of training - a discount studio may be what they want. But if they want quality images that will last and are done by a professional photographer who will shoot more than 6 images in 10 minutes .. and actually work with them on posing, expression, and making sure the child isn't crying through it... then they want us.

[ldelacruz]

I think it is because of digital cameras and prints. Everybody has a digital camera now and when they go to Walmart or Walgreen's to get their instant prints they see the prices and tha is what they are thinking when they hear your prices.

And what Brad said.

Let your quality of work do the talking for you.

[Ahh!]

ditto

[HotHolly]

People's reactions are usually more guised. Or they get mad. Im happy to see mad people leave. The WOAHs were kinda funny. It felt like I was talking to Surfer Shaggy. Woah.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

I think it is because of digital cameras and prints. Everybody has a digital camera now and when they go to Walmart or Walgreen's to get their instant prints they see the prices and tha is what they are thinking when they hear your prices.

And what Brad said.

Let your quality of work do the talking for you.

Yep... And I am finding that as new generations are coming up, they don't even know what a nice print looks like. Too used to viewing snapshots on MySpace (digital only). Very rarely, if ever, seeing a nice large well produced framed print. Sad.

[adirty1]

it's come down to " It's good enough"
Even in commercial photography we were seeing a lot of the kind of attitude. however it seems to be changing.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by adirty1

it's come down to " It's good enough"
Even in commercial photography we were seeing a lot of the kind of attitude. however it seems to be changing.

I agree with you on that and have been sitting here wondering what made me think that. Now I remember. Ummm...how about wedding gown designers photographing their own gowns? Its hysterical when they get 'artistic.'

Or even better letting a family member do it? This one company drives me nuts. All their photos totally suck. I asked someone who has been in bridal longer than me, what the heck is up with that company, and found out the owners kid decided to be a photographer one day, and that was the result. She has no training and it SHOWS. The cost of wedding gowns goes way up b/c of advertising expenses. And this co. settled to use armature level shots. Its mind boggling. That wasnt even them being cheap...nepotism at its worse. They thought the shots were good enough. It makes me insane. Im wondering if Im really a perfectionsist or if everyone else is just happy leaving the bar on the floor. Raise the bar, people!

OK, Im done. Like, whoa. Good photography isnt the camera.

[toverman]

Totally agree about the reasons for professional photography not seen as valuable by some. I usually agree every time this pops up on the forum in some form or fashion. So what do we do about it?

What has driven me more crazy is the realization that one need not be any good at photography at all to profit from it, just good at marketing. I have a few examples of people in my area raking in the dough whose work isn't smart enough to be from a fifth-grader. Yet at least one of them is a marketing genius and has figured out a clever (to me, unethical) way to get the company name out there for free on the front of a local newspaper. Boggles the mind. But it's the clients who think the work is good enough and use them because of the name recognition. Marketing genius, I tell you. I (sadly) need to take a few marketing lessons from that person, although photography lessons should be in order for that "pro."

[pbyd]

Our studio has more people walk than book, because of our prices. Yes we are high because we do not want to be compared to Wal-Mart or your local “Uncle Bob” photographer. I do not worry about those that want to give away their time and products on CL. When the economy slows the first to stop spending are those with smaller incomes. By pricing higher and offering a higher end product we are not effected by downturns. So don’t worry about the client that doesn’t want to pay your price, they can find an ad on CL to get cheap or free work. If you give quality and service clients will be happy to pay your price and this will give you the profit you deserve for your time.

[ShaneKislack]

One thing that photographers have to get past is the idea that 'expensive' is always a negative attribute. Next time someone says "you're expensive", say "you're damn right! I'm also good....woah!".

[Disney Chick]

I think the biggest part of the problem is that the average person can't really see the difference between good photography and the cheaper stuff. All of us here spend so much time studying good photography and learning it that things like composition and exposure pop out to us easily. People who don't do that every day just see things in a simpler way. Even the ones who do see the difference and choose a real photographer sometimes surprise me by the shots they choose to print.

When I was first married and had my first child I had to get his portraits done at "the mall" because I literally could not afford anything different. I also did not have a decent camera or the knowledge yet to do it myself. Now when I look back at those photos that I loved at the time, I wish I had sold a car or something to get better ones. I didn't really know the difference then, but now I do. Some people just never will.