High end car photography marketing

mercphoto

I found out about this guy http://www.rollingsculpture.com/default.asp while browsing the APN message boards. I'm not quite as hard on the guy as many of them were (many thought his photos were bad). I think his photos are good but frankly they didn't stun me. This isn't all that bad really - nothing wrong with a good photo even if it isn't stunning. What got me is the price he charges for prints and for a session. I mean, holy moly, just look at those fees! $2,500 just to take the pics? Three grand for poster-sized prints? Either he gets zero business or he has the marketing and salesmanship down pat.

So my question is, am I nuts to think that with the right marketing that I couldn't charge at least a grand to the right client? Austin isn't hurting for money and fine automobiles. Its just a question of finding them and selling to them. (not a strong point of mine). Seriously, I think both him and I are nuts, but I wouldn't mind being wrong about that.

Example shots from a session:
http://mercphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/3817746_8ViRZ#218626078_wFKNB

Example coffee table book:
http://mercphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/4260779_YLdXQ#249484878_p8xGf

Other example car pics:
http://mercphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/5511009_JnpBi#338033180_8nFg9

moose135

You have some nice work there, Bill. I think I agree with you - marketing is a big part of the deal, and it's probably much more difficult (at least for some) than taking good photos. That website has some nice shots, but nothing that really grabs me. Of course, you will need a nonsensical, "artsy-sounding" quote to really make your site take off.