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06/25/2004 05:24:33 PM · #1 |
Does anyone have business advice? Feels like im treading tidal waves over here in my sink or swim of diving head first into photography business. Im overwhelmed...how do i slow it down? Raise prices? How do I organize this better? Any professional wedding and portrait photographers out there?...care to lend a bit of advice?
julia |
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06/25/2004 05:28:13 PM · #2 |
So, your problem is that things are going too fast? Your business is doing too well? Huh. I'm sure lots of people feel really bad for you.
I'm not a professional photographer, but my general economics knowledge says you should raise your prices, but not too much. Are your prices in line with your competition in your area? Basically, you want to find out what prices everyone else charges, then set your prices about 3-5% higher. Then beat them out by quality and service. That's the way to get word-of-mouth advertising and keep the ball rolling. Another idea is to team up with one more trusted photographer, and start a partnership.
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06/25/2004 05:30:05 PM · #3 |
What area is causing you the problem? Is it billing? Processing? Too many weddings?
Clara
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06/25/2004 05:39:44 PM · #4 |
| well..i keep raising my prices slightly. I guess though, for what I am offering the prices are still really low. I just begin to feel so overwhelmed about getting it all done. Im sure other photographers dont sit around processing each and every image the way i do. And i get so many phone calls and meetings and emails...the business of answering all of that is enough to take up an entire day. I know it will all work itself out and that I will get through this and learn and find the answers....but now and again..like right now...I feel like giving up and crawling under a rock! I think im venting more than anything. Which is another issue...i dont have a shoulder to cry on! :( The problem is all of it...finding the time to handle it all. Sorry...perhaps this was an emotional outburst.;) |
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06/25/2004 06:07:06 PM · #5 |
Maybe think about getting some help. Have you considered hiring a college student part time to do the admin, or a grad student's wife (or husband). Cheap labor, grateful for fill in work, and you concentrate on the creative.
Consider setting some office hours. Put the phone on the answering machine outside that and let the machine handle the calls. Work like the devil but hyper focused during the office hours to crunch the admin. |
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06/25/2004 06:16:44 PM · #6 |
Hey, we all need to vent once in a while :-)
I think a combination of a slight price increase as well as some hired help with the admin stuff would help you alot. Try to work out a solution that will allow you to keep the momentum going in your photography business and allow you to breathe at the same time. You are WAY to talented to let burn out keep you from rising to the top in your field.
You'll get there! |
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06/25/2004 06:18:12 PM · #7 |
thank you.....good suggestions for sure. Certainly gives my brain an inkling of where to begin. I keep expecting everything to slow down but it continues to grow...as well as the word of mouth continues to grow. I need to be able to focus on the act of photography and creation rather than the paperwork. Now, if I can just determnine if it is fincanically feasible to hire someone to help ;) Louisiana is not exactly known for finding a good work ethic either ;) But, I can also see that this will become something more than I can handle on my own. Or, I raise my prices so much that I get fewer jobs? hmmmmmmm...
Thank you for all suggestions. I really have no where else to turn with this. Whats funny too, I have had quite a few jobs Ive tried to turn down because i felt the client was expecting too much in the way of shooting...like posed group shots or recreating particular nude shots etc. But when i voice my style of working and let them know that I am not the person for the job, they change their tune and suddenly want me to do it my way. If that makes sense. This is just very new territory for me and I could use a mentor! |
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