DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Business of Photography >> what rich vs. poor photographers say
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 19 of 19, (reverse)
AuthorThread
07/06/2015 12:36:23 AM · #1
I thought this site was interesting. I especially like #15 for rich photographers ha!

//www.milliondollarphotographer.com/15-statements-poor-photogra.html
07/06/2015 10:13:31 AM · #2
I looked at the author's website. He's selling portraiture as a luxury good. No print smaller than 30", all done up in gilt frames, in the style of painted portraits that the wealthy used to commission back when painted portraits were a thing. The photography itself is fine, but not extraordinary. I'm sure print quality is the same. Where he has succeeded is in marketing his work as a status symbol to the new rich with empty walls to fill in their big houses.

I agree with him that "poor photographers" are often focusing on the wrong things, but his business model is based primarily on having the right connections, which isn't as easy as he makes it sound.

And there's no way this is recession proof. Even Rembrandt's portrait business wasn't recession proof.
07/06/2015 01:34:44 PM · #3
Judge for yourself...
07/06/2015 02:53:01 PM · #4
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Judge for yourself...


So, Gregory Heisler he ain't. But, but... gilt frames!
07/06/2015 03:13:38 PM · #5
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Judge for yourself...


My Goodness, that is nauseating. Hard to say who is the more tacky and tasteless; this bloke or his clients.
07/06/2015 03:46:38 PM · #6
Originally posted by ubique:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Judge for yourself...


My Goodness, that is nauseating. Hard to say who is the more tacky and tasteless; this bloke or his clients.


well, it's all one ecosystem.
07/06/2015 03:46:48 PM · #7
Originally posted by ubique:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Judge for yourself...


My Goodness, that is nauseating. Hard to say who is the more tacky and tasteless; this bloke or his clients.


It is not possible for me to agree more!!!!
07/06/2015 04:18:28 PM · #8
A challenge, perhaps?
07/06/2015 05:21:23 PM · #9
I always get a chuckle when we look down our artistic noses at someone who is doing something they love, they way they want to and being really successful at it. I mean, isn't that what we always preach on here? Shoot for yourself and not for others?
07/06/2015 05:27:58 PM · #10
I did not know "mastermind" could be used as a verb in quite that way.

Message edited by author 2015-07-06 17:54:06.
07/06/2015 05:55:58 PM · #11
Originally posted by smardaz:

I always get a chuckle when we look down our artistic noses at someone who is doing something they love, they way they want to and being really successful at it. I mean, isn't that what we always preach on here? Shoot for yourself and not for others?


I don't see any evidence that he's actually a photographer. The yelp reviews for the studio generally don't mention him at all. Someone named Randy takes the pictures, and Janice sells the prints. It sounds like a bait and switch operation where people win a charity auction, get to the studio and have their session, then Janice gives them the hard sell on a $5-10,000 print.
07/06/2015 06:22:27 PM · #12
Originally posted by Ann:

Originally posted by smardaz:

I always get a chuckle when we look down our artistic noses at someone who is doing something they love, they way they want to and being really successful at it. I mean, isn't that what we always preach on here? Shoot for yourself and not for others?


I don't see any evidence that he's actually a photographer. The yelp reviews for the studio generally don't mention him at all. Someone named Randy takes the pictures, and Janice sells the prints. It sounds like a bait and switch operation where people win a charity auction, get to the studio and have their session, then Janice gives them the hard sell on a $5-10,000 print.


Like this one?
Originally posted by yelp review:

Our family won a charity auction. We had no problem scheduling our appt. and the very professional photographer coaxed our two boys (6 and 9) with their two cellos, into very dignified poses that we will cherish. I think the time, travel, and service were ALL very much worth our final portrait.


I saw a bunch of other positive reviews but that's not really my point. My point is that someone has a method of photography that they deem marketable and there is a clientele that want that type. So what? Find a need a fill it, create a service and provide it. To me the only thing tasteless and tacky is taking shots that the people who enjoy the work or want their portrait done in that style.
We would never allow members of this site to be called out like this but apparently if it's someone who is not on DPC then it's ok.
07/06/2015 06:23:22 PM · #13
These people are just living in an alternate reality from 99.9% of the rest of the world ...
07/06/2015 06:27:19 PM · #14
For such a rich guy, he sure runs a pathetic web site.
07/06/2015 07:22:04 PM · #15
that guy absolutely rocks it! and to say much anything else is, well, um, what's that phrase about when the stuff you use to make wine isn't any good... ;-)

i'd never judge a photographer's competence by what's on their website, unless all they're shooting for is facebook fodder. i'm quite sure nobody books ol' bradford because of his online portfolio. more than likely, his prospective clients have seen his stuff hanging in their contemporaries homes and offices.

and regardless of who's clicking the shutter on those puppies, i'm willing to bet that every single one of them has less than a half-percent deviation in style and quality from the others. part of his success is due to absolute consistency. he's not experimenting from one client to the next, he's not trying to find himself. hell, he's not even trying to necessarily find his client...other than to connect with them long enough to coax enough of a pose and expression out of them to make it work. and i'll guaranty that one of his sessions isn't one of those 15-minute mall sessions. more likely, his sessions are as long as it takes for everyone to get comfortable, relaxed, and calmed down.

this might seem other-worldly to us 99'ers, like it or not, there's a lot of wisdom and lessons to be learned from him and his ilk.

just my 02 :D
07/06/2015 07:57:39 PM · #16
I feel about this like I do about Madonna: I don't like her music, but I sure as heck admire her marketing skills.

This guy's work is not my cup of tea at all, but clearly it is for a very affluent some.
07/06/2015 08:35:33 PM · #17
My favorite is #11
"11. My work immediately communicates professional. " Is that the diction of professional? I are thinkin knot.

I know the Tony Robbins crowd and their lust for money is the flavor of the moment, but I still find this naked avarice pretty gross, crass, and mind-killing. Listening to this guy is like having Donald Trump talk about top quality classiness. Buzzwords and bloviation.
07/06/2015 08:47:08 PM · #18
Originally posted by BrennanOB:

My favorite is #11
"11. My work immediately communicates professional. " Is that the diction of professional? I are thinkin knot.

I know the Tony Robbins crowd and their lust for money is the flavor of the moment, but I still find this naked avarice pretty gross, crass, and mind-killing. Listening to this guy is like having Donald Trump talk about top quality classiness. Buzzwords and bloviation.


This sentiment is also funny to me. Why is it when successful people want to share how they did it, people bash them for it? I am reminded of the the time DrAchoo was kind enough to tell us how his DPL team helped him get his ribbon winning shot and he was thoroughly persecuted in the thread for it. I guess when you take something artistic, get it down to a science and make gobs of money from it, then you have somehow "sold out"

I watched a tutorial by Peter Hurley for his head shot business. He unabashedly described how he get's people in, has a makeup artist do her work and then does not even retouch the photos but uploads them to the lab and lets the actor and lab decide how to retouch. All at $1100 a person. Al I could think was how awesome it was that he showed his whole process and thought "I could do that!"
Peter Hurley is THE head shot guy in New York, so while some people may consider what he does "soulless" I bet he could care less. He is doing what he loves and making a ton of money. I am sure it much the same with Bradford. His advice is there if you want it and doesn't matter one iota to him if you think it's worthless, but he didn't have to share it in the first place.

Message edited by author 2015-07-06 20:48:39.
07/07/2015 12:23:09 AM · #19
.

Message edited by author 2015-07-07 04:02:09.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 01:57:22 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 01:57:22 PM EDT.