PROS: What would you have done differently?

RayMangan

Right now with the business side of photography it seems like I'm feeling around in the dark. I have an idea of where I need to go but I'm not sure how to get there, so I have a couple of questions for anybody who earns a substantial percentage of their income from their photography..

1) What would you have done differently when you were first getting started?

2) What were some of things you did when you were getting started that helped the most?


Thanks for looking as I'm sure that there are many others out there that find that taking the picture is the easy part of the business.

Cheers,
Ray

MJRPHOTO

RayMangan wrote:

Right now with the business side of photography it seems like I'm feeling around in the dark. I have an idea of where I need to go but I'm not sure how to get there, so I have a couple of questions for anybody who earns a substantial percentage of their income from their photography..

1) What would you have done differently when you were first getting started?

2) What were some of things you did when you were getting started that helped the most?


Thanks for looking as I'm sure that there are many others out there that find that taking the picture is the easy part of the business.

Cheers,
Ray

One thing you should not do is under charge for your work. JMHO

~Jan~

I didn't charge enough in the beginning (and I still don't for that matter ). I wish I'd started at "real" prices and just offered a discount for my portfolio building phase. I also wish I'd purchased the 5D from the get-go, but when I bought my XTi I didn't realize I'd be doing pro work.

joiedevie

I've started a blog for this very reason: talking about being a new pro photographer, how to get clients, how to spend what little you have as efficiently as possible, etc.

shaunkrisher.wordpress.com

dogwood

RayMangan wrote:

1) What would you have done differently when you were first getting started?

2) What were some of things you did when you were getting started that helped the most?

All depends on what kind of photography you're hoping to do. For me, I would have been more selective about models I work with. I know everyone needs experience, but working with a quality model makes an amazing difference in terms of the end result.

And... I'd be more bold in my photos. In other words, don't be satisfied with a standard shot, even if it's decent. Sure, nail that shot, but then explore two or three other angles/ideas. Even when working with a client. Nail the shot they want, but always experiment a bit after that. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it's a great way to get some cool photos in your port!

Aequitas

~Jan~ wrote:

I didn't charge enough in the beginning (and I still don't for that matter ). I wish I'd started at "real" prices and just offered a discount for my portfolio building phase. I also wish I'd purchased the 5D from the get-go, but when I bought my XTi I didn't realize I'd be doing pro work.

I have seen this a number of times... I understand that there is no reason to charge less than what people will pay. But I fail to see the harm in it other than some lost profit at the beginning.

Are you finding long term repercussions? Are people now unwilling to pay full price because they know your upped your prices from before?

It seems to me the only way to really get word of mouth advertising going is to do shoots either for free or for cheep. Otherwise, you may be the best portrait photographer in town but if no one has been a customer, no one will know. At least this seems true for portrait photography...

swintonphoto

Don't agree with people if they complain about a photo. I had a wedding where the bride complained the background was too dark in a series of photos, and I said something like "Ya it's pretty dark". I was only trying to be accommodating, but, it snowballed into me nearly having to file a small claims lawsuit to get paid because she wouldn't pay on account of photographer error in shooting. My contract covered me so she really didn't have a leg to stand on, but, it was a few months of headaches I could have done without. Never talk bad about your work. Stand up for it no matter what.

~Jan~

Aequitas wrote:

I have seen this a number of times... I understand that there is no reason to charge less than what people will pay. But I fail to see the harm in it other than some lost profit at the beginning.

Are you finding long term repercussions? Are people now unwilling to pay full price because they know your upped your prices from before?

It seems to me the only way to really get word of mouth advertising going is to do shoots either for free or for cheep. Otherwise, you may be the best portrait photographer in town but if no one has been a customer, no one will know. At least this seems true for portrait photography...

But every time you raise your prices, you change your target market, so you are constantly seeking out new clients. You DO have to start cheap, but what I should've done is set my real prices and then gave a 50% discount for a month or something.

swintonphoto

~Jan~ wrote:

But every time you raise your prices, you change your target market, so you are constantly seeking out new clients. You DO have to start cheap, but what I should've done is set my real prices and then gave a 50% discount for a month or something.

I agree. I think that the idea of offering a discount is better because then people also think they are getting a good deal. A person who thinks a $100 sitting fee is expensive won't think it's as expensive if they know you usually charge $200 and are giving them 50% off.

I do this from time to time. For example, my usually sitting fee is $225 for an hour of shooting. However, this month for Christmas I am offering a deal for $150. I have a lot of people sign up. More, I think, than would if my price was always $150.

evoryware

Not necessarily safe for work (I think I found this link on D-Grin but I'm not sure).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE&eurl=http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2007/11/must-watch-do-you-see-yourself.html

Near the end:

...there's so *** many writers who have no idea that they're supposed to be paid everytime they do something, they do it for nothing... You're undercut by all the amateurs. It's the amateurs who make it tough for the professionals because when you act professional, these people are so used to getting it for nothing, and for mooching...

If you don't put value in yourself and your work, then who will?

I don't haggle.
I learned that from when I sold thousands of dollars of computers w/ no profit margin yet the customer wanted more of a "discount" and claimed they could get it somewhere else cheaper.
How do you sell $100K worth of computer equipment and make no money?
Be nice give the "discount" and hope that it brings you more customers and referrals. Only thing is those referrals are all people who want the same "discount". You will never make any money. It's an endless cycle that ends up in you needing another job or you changing your pricing method and risk losing customers.

Steve Knight Photo

My Humble Opinions
1. Value the worth ($$$) of what you do. It is extremely difficult to raise your rates if you have undervalued yourself from your start-up. Under-cutting results in being under-paid! Have a well thought out business plan and never work just for exposure. In my experience it is not worth your time and effort.

2. Worked like a dog. Be more particular than your customers.

Steve

www.steveknightphoto.com