Pricing tire kickers

Snowgirl

How would you have handled this request?

"Hello,
I am looking to get a quote for services for a small wedding on - date - here in xxxx. It is a very small wedding with approx. 4-5 people in a small intimate setting...I am looking for 12-24 photos.."

My reply told the lady that I had a variety of existing packages available from $xxxxxx to $yyyyyy dollars but that I'd be happy to meet with her to discuss her needs and give her a customized quote. Never heard another peep. Oh well.

I suspect she was looking for a $100 price for 20 prints or something.

I'm really just venting in frustration. People really have no concept of the value of our services. I imagine this person got "Uncle Joe" and his point and shoot to handle her event which, incidentally is in less than 4 weeks - a bit late to find a photographer, don't you think? the ONLY reason I was available was that a previously booked event (not a wedding) was canceled. :dunno

Flutist

Not to defend the other party, but maybe there is a serious financial situation?

(FWIW)

I personally almost didn't have a photographer at my wedding. I had to pay for my wedding on my own, because my father used the money for my wedding on his own personal "extra curricular" activities, which later ended his life. I was lucky enough to work with with a fellow teacher, who took pictures as a hobby and was able to get him to volunteer for the event....I did give him $500 though. It was all I had.


(my entire wedding $3k)

elizabeth_Luna

Snowgirl wrote:

How would you have handled this request?

"Hello,
I am looking to get a quote for services for a small wedding on - date - here in xxxx. It is a very small wedding with approx. 4-5 people in a small intimate setting...I am looking for 12-24 photos.."

My reply told the lady that I had a variety of existing packages available from $xxxxxx to $yyyyyy dollars but that I'd be happy to meet with her to discuss her needs and give her a customized quote. Never heard another peep. Oh well.

I suspect she was looking for a $100 price for 20 prints or something.

I'm really just venting in frustration. People really have no concept of the value of our services. I imagine this person got "Uncle Joe" and his point and shoot to handle her event which, incidentally is in less than 4 weeks - a bit late to find a photographer, don't you think? the ONLY reason I was available was that a previously booked event (not a wedding) was canceled.

Everything happens for a reason do you think it's coincidence? But also don't assume ask her what she is looking for?

Snowgirl

I did ask the girl what she was looking for and indicated that I was quite willing to work with her to create an arrangement that might work for her.

It's not a big deal and she obviously decided to either go elsewhere or forego the photography - but I just find it annoying when people ask for info. and then don't respond - even to simply say 'no thanks'. I was raised to think that's just plain rude.

barnyard

Snowgirl wrote:

How would you have handled this request?
People really have no concept of the value of our services.

As a professional, it is up to you to build the value into your service and the images that you produce.

You need to be constantly building value and asking qualifying questions.

If the inquiry did not result in a sale, blow it off. There is not a salesperson on the planet that closes 100% of the time. Chalk it up to one of the non closes that leads you to your next sale.

Tom B

barnyard

Snowgirl wrote:

even to simply say 'no thanks'. I was raised to think that's just plain rude.

Then, you need to grow thicker skin.

You are in a sales profession. "No" is going to be a relatively common answer. Learn to handle it with grace, while living the door open to future business.

Tom B

Pupator

barnyard wrote:

Then, you need to grow thicker skin.

You are in a sales profession. "No" is going to be a relatively common answer. Learn to handle it with grace, while living the door open to future business.

Tom B

I think her point is that she would have liked a "no." Instead she got silence. That is rude but there's nothing you can do about it.

barnyard

Pupator wrote:

That is rude but there's nothing you can do about it.

I don't think it is really even that rude. They did not say they would use her services and the fact that they did not ask for more info after a price is a pretty good indicator.

Buyers give plenty of signals indicating which way they are going with their decision. We can use that info to either sell harder or let them go.

Sometimes, the best sale is the one we do not make.....

Tom B

elizabeth_Luna

Snowgirl wrote:

I did ask the girl what she was looking for and indicated that I was quite willing to work with her to create an arrangement that might work for her.

It's not a big deal and she obviously decided to either go elsewhere or forego the photography - but I just find it annoying when people ask for info. and then don't respond - even to simply say 'no thanks'. I was raised to think that's just plain rude.

I hear you on that one, I spent sometimes a few hours of my time to drive and meet a potential client and they never call me back to say no thanks etc as well. I figured it's part of the job. But I don't take it personal..

Matthew Saville

Snowgirl wrote:

How would you have handled this request?

"Hello,
I am looking to get a quote for services for a small wedding on - date - here in xxxx. It is a very small wedding with approx. 4-5 people in a small intimate setting...I am looking for 12-24 photos.."

My reply told the lady that I had a variety of existing packages available from $xxxxxx to $yyyyyy dollars but that I'd be happy to meet with her to discuss her needs and give her a customized quote. Never heard another peep. Oh well.

I suspect she was looking for a $100 price for 20 prints or something.

I'm really just venting in frustration. People really have no concept of the value of our services. I imagine this person got "Uncle Joe" and his point and shoot to handle her event which, incidentally is in less than 4 weeks - a bit late to find a photographer, don't you think? the ONLY reason I was available was that a previously booked event (not a wedding) was canceled.

You know, I'd shoot that wedding. I'd shoot it for the price of a bridal session plus one hour of event coverage, maybe. Why not?

The bottom line is, for price shoppers, just give them the price and let them decide. There's not much you can do to help these people start valuing photography, except let them learn the hard way. And then one of two things will happen- They'll either get horrible photos and will see their error, hopefully then telling EVERY body they know how much they wish they had hired a real professional, ...OR they'll be perfectly happy with the free photographer's photos, in which case, well, we're not really entitled to a career in this industry, are we?

=Matt=

Photog4Christ

Snowgirl wrote:

"Hello,
I am looking to get a quote for services for a small wedding on - date - here in xxxx. It is a very small wedding with approx. 4-5 people in a small intimate setting...I am looking for 12-24 photos.."

How come only photographers get treated like this?

I wonder what kind of response she would get if she walked into a beauty salon and said "I want a manicure, but I only want four nails done."

barnyard

Photog4Christ wrote:

How come only photographers get treated like this?

Every job that is primarily sales is treated that way.

In retail, they are called, "bebacks." As in, "I have to think about it, but, I'll be back."

Qualify and close. That is the only way to avoid it.

As studio/wedding photographers, the job gets easier when you realize that you are a salesperson 1st.

Tom B

Snowgirl

Interesting discussion
Thanks everyone - I enjoyed reading your comments. No worries - I didn't take it personally - it was just a comment on the lack of courtesy.

I didn't have the opportunity to actually speak to the bride - only to respond to her email - so I really don't know what her circumstances are. It doesn't bother me that I didn't get the gig - and from her email I suspect that money was an issue - and that's fine. Money's an issue for me too - I can't afford to invest a lot of time in shooting a wedding for next to nothing because - as someone said - the bride only wants 4 nails done

As an industry we need to be more proactive, I think, in educating our potential customers about what they can reasonably expect for their money. There's a similar thread going on below in Mind Your Own Business so I'll drop this now - but it's a concept worth thinking about.

bmoreshooter

As a professional photographer the answer to this problem is a very simple one. Give them a price, remind them that you will not reserve a date no matter how close in time, and move on. If the deal doesn't close just foreget it and look towards the next one. Sure, it's better to make a couple hundred dollars for an open date but not worth worrying over. She was probably looking for a photographer willing to spend a whole day with them for practically nothing. Not my idea of a good business model. Ask yourself, Am i a soccer mom with a good camera or A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER. The choice is yours.

Qarik

honestly I don't see an issue to be frustrated over. Quote them a price for the services they want. They have expectations and values as client and so do you as photographer. If you can find common ground then great if not then that's that.:ivar

Mr_Beach_Bum

Funny how I find over and over and over in the service industry that the less they pay the more they demand. I'm just beginning as a photographer, but I've been an event DJ, designer, and producer for years. The low budget clients are the ones that run my a** off, mainly from poor planning. I assume that as I progress in photography, I'll find the same to be true. Luckily, I don't feel the financial pressure at this point to take those clients