Don't Price Yourself Out of Work

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

03/29/2007 10:39:01 AM · #1

I just got a call to shoot an event, a last minute replacement for a photographer that got himself fired. The event is a Beauty Pageant sponsored by the local school system. Their budget is $500 for the photographer who can then post online galleries of the entire event including posed portraits of each of the contestants for the families to order prints from. The exposure is huge as hundreds of local families will attend the pageant and the photographers name gets announced MANY times during the event.

The event director wanted to give a new start-up photographer a chance and had hired him to shoot the event. He contacted them saying that he wouldn't shoot the event for less than $165/girl or about $3300... just to shoot... that's before print orders. Well he got himself fired when they tried to negotiate with him & he wouldn't budge.

So I get the job.

Moral of the story, sometimes its not the fee that matters as much as the exposure. I would happily waive my photographer's fee for this one if they'd asked me to just for the exposure to that many potential new clients. Sometimes the big picture is more important than immediate cashola!

Just thought I'd share that tidbit. Happy shooting. :)

Edit - poor typing

Message edited by author 2007-03-29 10:42:22.

pix-al

Canon EOS-5D

03/29/2007 10:40:58 AM · #2

Originally posted by idnic:

a new start-up photographer ... wouldn't shoot the event for less than $165/girl or about $3300... just to shoot... that's before print orders.

Damn - He must have a high opinion of himself to put a quote that high in!

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

03/29/2007 10:51:40 AM · #3

that's freaking hilarious...w2g, cindi!

i'm shooting one saturday night for a paper. i'm not doing portraits per se (which would probably justify a little something from the pageant for having to bring in the lights, etc), but i will have total access to everything but the dressing rooms, and i'll be able to sell a book and dvd of the images, as well as prints...

too many people think they got to get it all upfront; we must remember to thank them for creating opportunities for the rest of us ;-)

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

03/29/2007 11:00:56 AM · #4

Gosh, I'm so angry!

I just got undercut on a job to shoot a Beauty Pageant!
edit.... do you need an assistant, Cindi?

Message edited by author 2007-03-29 11:01:40.

Beagleboy

Canon EOS-30D

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

03/29/2007 11:03:23 AM · #5

Originally posted by pix-al:

Originally posted by idnic:
a new start-up photographer ... wouldn't shoot the event for less than $165/girl or about $3300... just to shoot... that's before print orders.

Damn - He must have a high opinion of himself to put a quote that high in!

Another sufferer of the always present "Idol" syndrome a.k.a. "My mommy says I sing / dance / take pictures / whatever real good so I have an overbloated and completely unrealistsic self-esteem" syndrome.

I just like to revel in my semi-mediocrity.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/29/2007 11:05:13 AM · #6

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

I just got undercut on a job to shoot a Beauty Pageant!
edit.... do you need an assistant, Cindi?

Ooopsie! ;)

As a matter of fact, I DO need an assistant; I put a call in to a friend, but haven't heard back. If he can't do it I guess Taylor will have to assist. :)

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

03/29/2007 11:12:37 AM · #7

Sounds a little like what I'm doing this weekend.

A lady from a local high school asked me to shoot the color guard and drum line competitions this weekend at their high school as part of a fund raiser for their own color guard team. She wants to sell on-site (she's providing the computers, printers and students to do it), so all I need to do is take the pictures and set up the workflow.

In trade, she'll be advertising my services (the order forms have my logo and website on them), plus I will be the one fulfilling any enlargement orders.

So I gave her a huge cut of the profits on the 4x6s and even a pretty good cut on enlargements. My idea was... the more people that come to my web site, the more potential clients I have later. So even if I don't make a lot this weekend, it'll still be worth it.

TCGuru

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/29/2007 11:14:10 AM · #8

WOW!!! Congratulations! That is awesome Cindi!

Aren't cha happy that some people don't understand the marketing world? hehehe

Have fun doing it too :)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

03/29/2007 11:19:38 AM · #9

Originally posted by dwterry:

Sounds a little like what I'm doing this weekend. .....

Oooh David, you just got my brain ticking! I'm shooting dress rehersal tomorrow night -- If I print the best shots in 4X6s and take them with me Saturday... say $10 each?..... oh oh oh oh! :D

*must buy extra printer cartridges TODAY!*

Pixlmaker

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

03/29/2007 11:35:30 AM · #10

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by dwterry:
Sounds a little like what I'm doing this weekend. .....

Oooh David, you just got my brain ticking! I'm shooting dress rehersal tomorrow night -- If I print the best shots in 4X6s and take them with me Saturday... say $10 each?..... oh oh oh oh! :D

*must buy extra printer cartridges TODAY!*

Okay, sorry to go OT, but out of curiosity what kind of printer do you use? I'm looking around for one... :o)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/29/2007 11:40:24 AM · #11

Originally posted by Pixlmaker:

Okay, sorry to go OT, but out of curiosity what kind of printer do you use? I'm looking around for one... :o)

HP!

I have an HP Photosmart 335 for 4X6s, great little printer, fast, lovely color quality!

For anything up to 8X10 I use an HP Photosmart Express which is okay, but I'm not in love with it. I miss my old Canon - it died.

I've been looking at an Epson Stylus, but haven't given myself permission to spend that much yet. For now I'm ordering all of my larger pics and printing the small ones myself.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

03/29/2007 12:07:07 PM · #12

For my weekend shoot, the school is using a couple of HPs. I took a look at them last night, they seem really nice. I haven't researched them, but the lady said they are using archival inks (which was my main concern as my own HP does not).

I just picked up an Epson 3800 last week though and I'm in love. :-)

03/29/2007 12:17:00 PM · #13

Originally posted by idnic:

If I print the best shots in 4X6s and take them with me Saturday... say $10 each?.....

you might even consider giving one 4x6 to each contestant free as a teaser. you could even have them printed at cvs online and you won't be out time, ink, paper, etc.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

03/29/2007 01:05:10 PM · #14

Originally posted by Skip:

Originally posted by idnic:
If I print the best shots in 4X6s and take them with me Saturday... say $10 each?.....

you might even consider giving one 4x6 to each contestant free as a teaser. you could even have them printed at cvs online and you won't be out time, ink, paper, etc.

I just popped out for a few minutes - picked up extra printer inks and some clear stickers that I can use to put my name & number on the back of each print. I also grabbed some postcard sized printable cards that I will use to make event "flyers" to give to each of the families, aunties, grandparents, etc., telling them where to go order their enlargements!

I like the idea of giving them a freebie as a teaser, Skip. :D

Spork99

OM System OM-1

03/29/2007 01:11:47 PM · #15

Originally posted by pix-al:

Or, he didn't want the job and decided to immediately price himself so high that he wouldn't get it rather than declining outright.

Maybe he's already booked for the day and that's what it would take to make him break his commitment to his other client.

Maybe he's got plenty of work at his going rate.

There are lots of reasons besides an inflated ego that someone would bid high on a job.

03/29/2007 06:36:40 PM · #16

Since I will be the replacement photographer, I won't have an ad in the program, so they agreed to let me place a flyer in each program. This is the flyer I created. I tried to keep it vague enough in case I need to use it again another time ;)

I also have 500 each of this postcard:

and this postcard:

(they have my web address and phone number on the back) that I will display on a table in the lobby with a framed print (not sure which one yet). And of course a box of business cards. :)

Oh, and Taylor will be my assistant (buddy was already booked).

Prof_Fate

04/01/2007 09:03:36 PM · #17

Originally posted by idnic:

Moral of the story, sometimes its not the fee that matters as much as the exposure. I would happily waive my photographer's fee for this one if they'd asked me to just for the exposure to that many potential new clients. Sometimes the big picture is more important than immediate cashola!

Just thought I'd share that tidbit. Happy shooting. :)

Edit - poor typing

Depends on many things - where in your business are you? Do they want you on a day you want to spend on vacation with your family? Do you ahve to change a wedding shoot to make this happen?

I know photographers that get all the work they want and so anything else is just gravy or like being asked to work overtime depending on your attitude.

Read an article about husband and wife wedding team, that shoots only 15 weddings a year (at 12 grand each). Would they have taken this job for $500? Hell no, they have no need for the exposure - but would they have turned it down or quote a price that would not be accepted?

04/01/2007 09:44:07 PM · #18

So..... I shot around 1800 shots on Friday during dress rehersal. On Saturday I printed 4X6s of the best of Friday's images and ran to the camera store to get picture folders for a nice presentation. At intermission on Saturday I put all of the prints in their folders on display in the lobby and sold most of them!! :D I also put flyers in all of the programs as described below and gave away a BUNCH of business cards and post cards as people came by to look. I had a large print from a recent wedding there on display to catch their eye.

Both days I used my 20D with 70-200 and my 30D with 17-55 so I could shoot the whole stage with one cam and get the close-ups with the other. The lighting was lousy and National Pageant Rules state no fash ... none... ever... for anyone! So I was shooting in the dark.

End of day (two days), I gave away about 100 business cards, sold 20 prints and had my company name announced four times.... and all of that is before the online gallery of the 2 days is posted. I expect a lot of print sales over then next week or two.

And..... I was pre-hired to do the same event next year! :D

Not too shabby for a last minute replacement.

Katmystiry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

04/01/2007 10:00:18 PM · #19

Big Congrats Cindi!! Love the postcards and flyer too!

04/01/2007 10:01:43 PM · #20

excellent, cindi!!! good luck with the sales!!

i only shot about 1k at the pageant i shot last night, and have weeded them down to about 450ish. in the 3 contests (miss, jr miss, little miss), there were about 30 contestants. in addition, as this was the 30th anniversary of this particular pageant, they were able to round up and bring back almost 20 of the previous winners. in addition to putting the images online, i'm also considering putting together a dvd.

here's my favorite shot of the night...

04/01/2007 10:08:58 PM · #21

That one is very cute Skip! Love the expression. :D

My main challenge was CHILDREN running the lighting. One second it would be lovely and the very next second it would be the surface of the sun!! Really frustrated me both nights. A lot of my shots are blown because I was metered for the light that was there just a moment ago. You have the same challenge?