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Originally Posted by sk66
As far as "uneducated" goes, I think there is a difference. When you buy a car it has to be 100% right, or you're seriously unhappy...same with most any other product....buy meat from the grocer; it had better not be spoiled. As a minimum the basics have to be there.....IMO, "the basics" of a "professional photo" is not simply a capture of a scene....that's a snapshot.
But with a lot of photography it's more like "yup, it's a picture of me/us/it printed/presented nicely...good enough". If it's just an ok picture; of course they would be happier with a "better" picture, but they don't know what "could have been". And even if it is a truly great picture, they are not any "happier" to have recieved it for the same reasons.
Others "expect more" but can not convey "what" they want or "why" because they really just don't know. Those types of clients are generally unwilling to pay for "the more" because they have no concept of what "the more" is and what is required to deliver it.
None of this is either necessarily good or bad, but it does make things very difficult for an "aspiring pro/pro" to differentiate themselves from the masses and develop a "good" client base. By "good" I'm talking about clients who know what they want, why they want it, and are willing to pay for it.....those are the clients of a real pro IMO. (yes, there are many "levels" before that, but "real pro" is where the real money/reputation/esteem/demand is at)
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I don't necessarily disagree with you on these points. But what I kind of hear with this is that the customer should like my product and conform to the way I do business and to what I think is best instead of the photographer conforming to the wants and needs of the customer.
Making a living in photography is difficult...but being successful in any business is difficult. As a grocer selling necessity products, you still have to distinguish yourself from your competition, which is legion. This is nothing new.
Each has it's own roadblocks and challenges. But I still don't completely buy the uneducated stumbling block. Customers are smarter than you think. Even knowing that prime rib or ribeye is the better meat, most will still buy the eye of round cheap steak because they can't justify the price. People know when a photograph is good. They may not be able to explain why, but if they are willing to pay for the cheaper and less talented photographer, the product is good to them. Is it possible there are better products out there? Absolutely! But it may not matter to that customer. There will always be a better artist, a better price, a better deal. But if the customer is willing to pay, and customers continue to come, it doesn't matter. You are fulfilling a market demand.
With any business, there is always a need to educate the customer about your product or service; that's what salesmanship is all about. It's not easy. But it never has been. There have been up times and down times, but overall, business has always been challenging. To many, the challenge is what makes it worth while...finding new and better ways to grow their business. Some cringe at new technology because it takes them out of their "comfort zone". Others thrive on it and use it to make their business even better.
People are initially resistant to change. It takes us to the unknown. But change is inevitable in a dynamic economy. Those who accept it usually do well because they try to use it to their advantage. I may be unpopular for saying it, but I think many reasons people want more regulation or more controls over a particular career field is so they can continue to work within their comfort zone and not have to worry about being innovative or finding new ways to do things. Photography is changing, but then again, it always has been. And it will continue to change. To be successful, you have to learn how to be succesful with inevitable change, even if it means redefining your entire job description.
The frustration you are describing is shared by anyone in any field who is passionate about their "craft". Nobody appreciates what has been sacrificed to produce the final product when viewed from the creator's eyes. And as someone who is passionate about your product, you can appreciate when the product is bad, good, or outstanding. The customer usually doesn't share this passion. They only want a product that fulfills a need, either real or perceived. When they find it, they buy it. To make a living as a photographer, the goal is to provide legal products and services people want and are willing to pay for, not just products we think they should buy. That's the bottom line if you want to make a living.
Sorry...I get a bit wordy! I learned it from my wife!
