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08/06/2007 10:05:11 AM · #1 |
There have been severl threads lately about what to charge and a discussion of not undervaluing yourself, that you can't make a living charging $600 for a wedding, etc.
Some seem skeptical and claim they can't charge that much cause they're part time, or new, or their area is economically challenged.
Give this a read, get out your Excel and see what you get for your CODB. No, it has nothing to do with auto parts...
//burnsautoparts.com/BAPsite/Manuals_files/CODB.pdf
and then read //burnsautoparts.com/BAPsite/Manuals_files/lowballers-1.pdf
It talks about pricing and 'lowballing' To quote:
Many people define lowballing as the act of charging less than your competition. That!s not an accurate definition. Lowballing is charging less than the fair market price. The difference between those two definitions is enormous.
Message edited by author 2007-08-06 10:05:45.
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08/06/2007 02:58:09 PM · #2 |
| Prof- I just quoted a starting price of $700 for a wedding. I was thinking of you, or I'd have quoted less. Now, if I don't get the job, I'm gonna be mad at you. ;-) |
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08/06/2007 09:27:53 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by ragamuffingirl:
Prof- I just quoted a starting price of $700 for a wedding. I was thinking of you, or I'd have quoted less. Now, if I don't get the job, I'm gonna be mad at you. ;-) |
If you don't get the job it could be for many reasons - some fool willing to do it for $300. People too cheap to pay the proper price and any price is going to be too much. You didn't do a good job selling yourself, your photography and your services - remember, this is a BIG deal to them, their one and only wedding (in theory) and you have to earn their trust that you can do the job and will show up, and deliver the pictures afterwards.
Perhaps they have more money to spend than $700 and talk with another photographer and don't choose you.
SELL ON YOUR ART and ABILITY - NOT ON PRICE!
Are you desperate for work, money or someone to love your pictures? There is little other reason to work cheap.
Middle of nowhere va, is where?
I did some googling..got a LOT of Va photogs with no pricing on their sites...i know the reason to do it, and not to do it. I do it, but i guess ya'll are secretive or sumthin'.
Anyway, //www.kevinblackburn.com/ is in waynesboro. Starts his weddings at $2400.
Stone blue has a nice site - but I guess copyright means little to them since they seems to have stolen music. Again, 5 packages, details, but no pricing!
//www.wpja.com/wedding-photographers/virginia-photojournalist.htm
the WPJA listing for wedding photographers in Virgina - with price ranges. 74 listed. I saw 5 under $2000, nobody under $1500.
//hollandphotoarts.com/weddings/services.asp - charlottesville, whereever that is, starting at $5400.
//www.sandersonimages.com/prices.html $3k to 6K - I think charlottesville area again. I guess the rich live there?
//www.amandaanthonyphoto.com/ $2400 and up - and i think her music is probably stolen too
//dementi.com/ , richmond, starting at $2495
take a look //www.richmondvawedding.com/photography.htm - all the same area and no one i clicked on (that had prices) was $700. Or even twice that.
Check out your competition in your area - what are they charging? What do their photos look like? Can you make your photos look like that? Then charge like that.
If you want to start a charity for people that won't spend the money on photography they just say so! :P If it's important to them they will spend the money needed to get what they want. If they only spend $700 it's cause they don't place much value on photography.
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08/07/2007 12:09:21 PM · #4 |
I'm in the Harrisonburg area. The photographer who did my sister's wedding charged $900, but did a disk with a proof book. I know the big name photographers around here like Gentry and Robert Goode charge a lot more, but they're Gentry and Robert Goode. They have a wide assortment of studio equipment, props, backdrops, etc that I don't have. The other photographers, who are like me... freelance/no studio/no fancy props charge between $600-900.
Most people I know who have gotten married had a friend do it, but most of my friends are Mennonite, and they're notoriously cheap. |
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08/07/2007 12:29:46 PM · #5 |
I just got an e-mail from my website. A will-be bride told me she loved my style, but can't afford my prices and is having a friend do it.
Yup, I lost a customer, but I'm not gonna be out working my butt off for pennies on that day.
Personally, I'd rather volunteer my services than "lowball" . I just don't want to be that guy. I'd rather be the one that clients say "He's kind of expensive, but worth every penny".
BTW, I've been reading a book titled: Mastering Digital Wedding Photography by James Karney (ISBN-10: 1598633295 ISBN-13: 978-1598633290). Awesome book. I highly recommend it for anyone into or getting into wedding photography. It's put a few new ideas in my head.
Link to book at Amazon
Message edited by author 2007-08-07 12:39:22.
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08/07/2007 12:33:03 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
If you want to start a charity for people that won't spend the money on photography they just say so! :P If it's important to them they will spend the money needed to get what they want. If they only spend $700 it's cause they don't place much value on photography. |
Ive said this in other pricing threads, dont be afraid to walk away from a deal. If the person seems to into your price and not as much into your art, dont be afraid to get up and walk out. "I can see that your main focus for this decision is the price, so I will let you know right now, Im not going to be a good fit for you because my focus is making your big day as memorable on film, as it will be in your mind (or something cheesey)" and leave. A lot of times they will call you back, chase you down on your way to your car, etc.
This worked with copiers at least....and sales is sales haha.
Message edited by author 2007-08-07 12:34:33. |
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08/07/2007 12:33:33 PM · #7 |
Prof,
I totally aggree with you. I've just started doing wedding photography (and lord I pray I get better...lol) but I've purposly started by charging close to what I know the other photographers in the area are charging. do I need to charge that much? no not really... I could afford to charge much less, but I know a few things in life
a) people dispite what they may say, know that in general you get what you pay for. if something is too cheap they start to wonder what wrong with it
b) charging too much less sends the wrong message. again going back to the get what you pay for. what message to you want to send to the people who muight want to hire you?
c) If I charge too little now, what's going to happen if my cost suddenly go way up (like I want to get a proper studio space)? suddenly people start to wonder why you're 'so expensive' now. not a good thing either.
I also agree with the sentiment on lowbaling in general... it hurts us all. |
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08/07/2007 01:06:29 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
BTW, I've been reading a book titled: Mastering Digital Wedding Photography by James Karney (ISBN-10: 1598633295 ISBN-13: 978-1598633290). Awesome book. I highly recommend it for anyone into or getting into wedding photography. It's put a few new ideas in my head.
Link to book at Amazon |
Yep, excellent book. I read it before shooting my first wedding in April. Although I had already thought about 50% of what was in the book (just from my own wedding experiences coupled with a photographer's frame of mind) there were several other good ideas I hadn't thought of, and it helped reinforce the ideas I already had.
Yes, for my first gig I only charged enough to cover my out-of-pocket expenses. I had no idea how I would perform, I had no portfolio to demonstrate previous work, and I had a client who couldn't afford to pay a photographer (they were going to have a friend do it until I convinced them otherwise). It went fine, I made a couple of mistakes, but I gave the couple over 200 excellent shots and now I have some experience, the start of a portfolio, and the knowledge that I can start charging closer to market rates. Had I come out of the gate charging rates like those, I'm not sure I would have ever gotten my foot in anyone's door. |
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