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Rip Off
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OK folks, quit the insults or the thread gets locked.
pixelmadness raises an valid issue which has come up before and thats the value which the general public place on photography.
Thats what should be discussed here… If people have nothing further to that to that discussion, then don’t post any more responses
to this thread.I’m in the middle of schools photography for communions at the moment.
Firstly, in all aspects of photography these days, including wedding photography, you have to get used to some people thinking that photographers get paid too much. Not everyone thinks that, but a few do. Its common practice on the weddings front these days to hear of a couple getting their photos taken by “uncle bob” who has a great camera – “why should I have to pay huge amounts for a pro when he can do the job just as well” – you have to just grin & bear it and get on with whatever else is on hand. Its hard to explain that they are also paying for experience, knowing when to get the good shots, being able to get people together for group shots and pose them (all while they have a drink waiting for them) etc….
Its the same for communion shoots. It can be quite exhausting getting 30-40 young lads to sit up straight and coaxing a smile for the camera, all in front of their classmates. Add to that you also have to ensure that their hair is in order, their tie is straight, their jacket is not crumpled etc….. Without people knowing this, its easy to see why some people might think that EU25 is a rip off. They are just looking at the cost of the print, and, as has already been mentioned, they could probably do just as good a job at home, perhaps even better as the child would be more relaxed (not showing off in front of their mates) and there would be time to fix their hair etc….
This is a supply industry, and, as with all services, you will have someone thinking its a rip off. The issue of someone not being able to afford it is a seperate issue entirely. If people think its a rip off they don’t have to pay for the service, end of story. I never get into the justification of charges, I have my price structure which I am happy with, if people think I’m too expensive I just smile & say no problem. With the advancement of digital cameras many amateurs & semi pros get get excellent results, the trick is to do it consistently. Before I turned pro I always took the photos of my own kids so I can see where some of the argument would be coming from, but in those cases I had a decent amount of time and was able to fire off a load of shots, you don’t have that luxury when doing a school shoot.
Just bear in mind that there are enough things to be getting on with asides from than getting miffed over people thinking photography is a rip off, the business is tough enough as it is.
Rgds
Kevin
I never get into the justification of charges, I have my price structure which I am happy with, if people think I’m too expensive I just smile & say no problem.
Just bear in mind that there are enough things to be getting on with asides from than getting miffed over people thinking photography is a rip off, the business is tough enough as it is.
Well said Kevin. Good to see that common sense dominates your thoughts here.
jb7 wrote:
Most people on this forum should be able to manage a good communion portrait-
even some of the professionals
j:lol: :lol: :lol: I love it ! :lol: :lol: :lol:
KPM wrote:
Just bear in mind that there are enough things to be getting on with asides from than getting miffed over people thinking photography is a rip off, the business is tough enough as it is.
Rgds
Kevin
Kevin, could not agree more.
nfl-fan wrote:
Some good points there Gerry.
But lets not forget the single mother’s who’ve been saving for weeks if not months for their child’s communion day, or the families taking home minimum wage and struggling to pay their mortgage and bills. €25 is a lot of money to them.
I think that if someone is perfectly happy doing something themselves… then let them on with it. The results might be brutal in your eyes or my eyes but maybe in their eyes it’s perfectly acceptable and that’s what counts.
Life is about choices.
J
Too right and I do feel for them as we are all only a small step away from losing everything ourselves and falling into poverty or, God forbid, bad health which is the greatest poverty of all. If one of those mothers comes to me I will look after her quietly and without a song and dance. Believe me she will be more greatful for something which is huge to them but only mere “few drinks” for us and she will be one of my “salespeople” out there.
On your second point above, I am always amazed at how a “brutal” photograph improves with age. Every week I am asked to make new copies of old photographs that were taken on the old family instamatic years and years ago. They were usless the day they were taken but now with many of the faces having passed away everybody wants a copy of the deceased relative. The image at that stage seems to lose its blur, poor colour balance, poor cropping, closed eyes, Uncle Tom not looking into the lens with a smile from ear to ear, etc.
Your so right when you say that in their eyes it’s perfectly acceptable and that’s what counts.I will look after her quietly and without a song and dance
Fair play to you Gerry. A bit of heart goes a long way in forming a good reputation.
J
nfl-fan wrote:
look at how the market is changing and see can you adapt your business accordingly.
this is an excellent point and can lead to innovative ways to increase business.
You will always have customers who will choose price over quality, but there are clients who understand the difference between “Uncle Tom’s” photos and those of a professional photographer, thank goodness.
Jeez, I always seem to have my head turned when theres a good row going on around here.
And, my own two cents. If people are willing to pay, they will, if there not willing, they won’t. Simple.
My tuppence:
A school photographer recently visited the kids’ school – and took some great photographs. Now, I take pictures of my kids all the time, but the photographer managed to get them into a fantastic pose with great, natural expressions – expressions that I could never capture if they knew I had the camera out. (It’s a bit like swimming lessons: I could teach my kids to swim, but when I get in the pool, they see it as play time. Hence, they need a swimming coach.)
Granny, aunts, grandad, uncles all have copies and they love them. Cost about £25 (group and individual sets) and loads of prints. Great value. For some, £25 is a lot of money, granted. For me, I’d rather forgo some other pleasure and have the great photographs and the happiness of family members.
GCP wrote:
… She also said that the communion was costing €11,500,00 !!!!
Yeah, that’s exactly why the carpenter led such a simple life – to provide us with an example of how not to live.
No arguements from me Ken… I just call it as I see it… a spade a spade… with no raise in blood pressure or heart rate.
I think the moral to this tale is as KPM put it:
Just bear in mind that there are enough things to be getting on with asides from than getting miffed over people thinking photography is a rip off, the business is tough enough as it is.
Your taking the right view NFL ( I keep forgetting your real name, sorry)
It all comes down to what a persons perception of value for money is, and their views can sometimes contradict.
So move on to the next job, and don’t waste time worrying about the yummy mummy who drives a big landrover with kids in private school, yet won’t pay €25 for a photo.
So.What.
jb7 wrote:
pixelmadness wrote:
You remind me of when going to the photographer was like going to a dentist-
j
I remember that!
It’s the same in any service based business.
Some people care more about price than quality, some people care more about quality than price and some try to find a balance (what can I afford that meets my needs).
You think photograph is hard, try the web development business…people see template websites for €100 a year but want you to build them sony.com for less. Eh, no, I don’t think so. Up your game, offer something different, maybe even find a different market, but don’t waste time and effort moaning about stuff you can’t control. Pointless.
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