|
It just shows that a majority of people dont have a clue what we do, the investments weve made or the time spent learning the craft.
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
I spoke recently to a professional piano player, and he says that 1 second of his play would equal 100 hours of practice. That's how he justifies his prices.
I'd say it would be similar with photography: lots of knowledge, experience and hard work is involved in the process; not mentioning long hours spent being the camera and in from of PC/MAC.
PS.
Did I mention equipment cost ?
Travel, car, insurance ?
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
IMO it's not a well thought out arguement albeit typical, and it's not a well thought out reply albeit typical. A couple examples from what I read: "A person makes $3000 a month and a wedding photographer wants that in a day." What's your point: some people are paying some photographers 10 times that amount. "Don't these brides know we have rent to pay, and equipment to buy." Sooo, when was the last time you made a major purchase and were worried about whether the salesmen could pay his rent on the amount you wanted to pay?
Price is determined by demand and supply. Demand of the photographer is based on quality, popularity, style, etc for a given amount to be paid. Supply is based on how much time and material the photographer wants to supply a client with for a given price. Don't like the cost: find a substitute. Don't like the price, find another career. That's the way it rolls.
Originally posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
JimPeel edited this topic 4 months ago.
|
|
Wedding Photography's a luxury item, just like healthcare in America. It costs.
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
+1 jim, thats the best breakdown of this argument ive heard in a long time
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
** I just wish people would be more realistic. **
Trying to place this sentence on the correct side of the argument... ;-)
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
Eh. People will bitch about any prices because they don't understand.
Why is any profession expensive? Why do you pay for a licensed ___ instead of doing it the cowboy way?
Compare court-appointed lawyer. Wedding photography is a luxury service.
Do I bitch at BMW for costing so much when I can get a Ford instead?
Originally posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
Chris[topher] Lin edited this topic 4 months ago.
|
|
I like Nikki's response
www.petapixel.com/2012/01/26/why-wedding-photographers-pr...
Does she post here???
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
OMG why is gold so expensive????
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Basically the CL "bride" (assuming it is indeed a bride and not someone trolling photographers... successfully, I might add) is making a benchmark without any sort of research or actual estimation.
It's like calling writing a book 'just pushing buttons' or 'dragging a pen across paper'.
It could be a factor of what kind of jobs people have--hourly or salary, for instance--and whether they attach the value to the expertise, or the presence of just showing up. In some sectors in the US, one's compensation from one's employer is based on whether or not you get the assigned tasks done. How many jobs are routinely 50, 60+ hour/week jobs? Are these more often than not billed hourly?
Basically, she thinks her evaluation and analysis are correct and is angry because the reality does not match up with what she came up with. There are some people who, faced with an explanation, will come to that 'aha' moment and realize they were wrong. Some people are so fixed in believing they are right and cannot be wrong that they will just reject any arguments to the contrary.
Even with regrets.
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
its funny , but some people see some professions as not worth the money but you let a mans toilet be stoped up, need an attorney or DR and they see the cost, let them have bad photos at an event , and then they see the reason I wish to this day i had spent the money or asked my best friend who was a pro photographer to take them
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Oh believe me... This Craigslist rant is all over the Wedding photography forums and blogs.
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
its funny Mrbrent, and the reality is even at 5,000 most photographers work hard for one single wedding
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
It's all about expectations Anthony... someone who pays $5000 has high expectations... and in fact a large part of the $5000 is probably...
Separate Day Shoots
Expensive Wedding Albums which need to be laid out
Lugging extra equipment which may not be in a less expensive wedding
Extra Shooters
Extra hours on Post
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
MR brent :) most people will think nothing of paying 10's ot 1000's for wedding halls, dresses, cakes, music etc and still some how think the photographer is not worth the money
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
Photographing a wedding is one of the most stressful jobs out there. It is one day full of pure agony without resting, and in most cases without even eating any food for the whole day...Everybody at a weeding gets the chance to relax, drink, eat, chat, dance, and pose for good pictures; while the photographer is making sure every detail gets documented.
And this is only the first part.The second part is even harder than the first one. This is where the photographer has to sit in front a computer for hours during days and/or weeks to filter out and retouch every single the image he/she considers to be the keeper....This might sound easy, but having to go through 1,000 - 7,000 RAW files one by one is way more stressing than many people think.
In addition, designing a wedding album takes a ridiculous amount of time as well. Every wedding is different, so in my case I'm constantly redesigning the album layouts and colors to better mach the wedding's theme.
...and let's not forget about our own expenses like assistant, gears, insurance, transportation, prints, etc.
In conclusion, I think even $10,000 is still too little money for all that work that will last a lifetime...These pictures will be the only thing from the wedding day that can last even longer than the couple themselves.
Originally posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
1D-Photography edited this topic 4 months ago.
|
|
|
Part of the $5000 is because other people will pay that much to have this particular person do it, or someone of the caliber. The cost is basically how much it would be to reserve the photographer's time so that they don't go do the same for someone else.
There are photographers whose base package starts at $5000, and separate shoots and albums and other product are additional.
But pricing is a different topic internally here.
Clients don't know the details of it, so some will fill in what they think it is (partying and hanging out for 8 hours) and then base the value judgement off of that.
Hopefully if brides (and grooms) take the time to learn (and you as the photographer take the time to educate those who wish to be) then it is more likely that you can make those conversions and make those bookings.
It's a luxury service. People have different priorities. Do piano dealers get on their boards and complain about people who want to buy grand pianos and pay keyboard prices?
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
Bambi Cantrell's weddings start at $10,500.
And she's busy.
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
I think the last line says it all
Maybe there are cheaper photographers that will read this and LOVE to take my photos
I am a wedding photographer for the last 27years in Ireland and there is one thing I have leant, price/cost is in the eye of the beholder.
No matter what price you charge, there are people that will think it too expensive and those that think it too cheap. It's a case of " you will never please all the people all of the time"
The customer doesn't care what your overheads are, they just care about the price and what it will cost them, so I never bother to try and explain my prices to customers that ask why am I expensive. ( I don't think I am) I just say, " If you like my photos and want my services then thats my best price"
The customer can shop around for different prices and services from different photographers. That is their choise. And remember the opposite is also true, the photographer can also deciede if he/she wishes to take on the contract of photographing the wedding. I have turned down (politely "sorry I'm booked that date") three weddings in all my years as a professional photographer, because I couldn't get on with the customer at the first enquiry.
I remember a seasoned photographer telling me once what he thought of price comparisions.
" If you had a brain tumour which doctor/surgeon would you pick.
Doctor A..............€500
Doctor B..............€5000
Doctor C..............€15000"
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Or if you needed your appendix removed?
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Maybe I should have called the doctor/surgeon, Doctor Nick Riveria. :)
Posted 4 months ago.
(permalink)
|
Would you like to comment?
Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).
|
Wedding Photography /
Discuss
![Chris[topher] Lin is a group moderator](http://l.yimg.com/g/images/icon_moderator.gif){kind=icon}
Feed – Subscribe to Wedding Photography discussion threads