Everybody wants a bargain.

[mlee]

Forgive me as I lay a rant today. I just feel a little bit frustrated as to how a lot of people think photography is meant to be cheap (or worse, dirt cheap.)

I was browsing through craigslist the other day and can't imagine how these customers are expecting 'everything all in' for a price that might not even cover travel fees getting the event.

Sample ad # 1:

Hi, we are looking for a student photographer interested in boosting their portfolio by shooting our wedding. Photography experience and portfolio is required, but wedding experience not required- The wedding will be in July, and the pay will be $200.00 for about 2-3 hours worth of time, plus putting the photos on disk for us.
Thank you!

ad # 2:

• Bridal Prep at 8am – 1 hour
• Ceremony – 1 hour
• Bride & Groom formals – 1 hour
• Reception – 2 hours at the most. No bridal party, just immediate family.

5 hours of work. All images in CD no prints, needed.
$300 - email if interested.

The prices these people are asking for are ridiculous. The investment alone in acquiring equipments already margins at a minimum of $8k for me. It feels insulting to me to be asked for this kind of a bargain.

*sigh* Must grab some coffee.

[Cardiiiii]

I don't think it's a matter of people being cheap. Some people might just not realise the cost involved with photography. My mom was shocked when I told her the cost of my camera, even though $900 isn't much. When it comes to weddings, I guess people will tend to spend more on the decor, dress, etc. etc. Even I was a bit shocked to learn the price of pictures on a DVD. Most people think photography is just taking pics with a P&S. I mean that's what most people have on them on a night out or a friends dinner. So when it comes to a wedding, they just assume 'oh some guy will probably be taking pictures with a P&S, how expensive could it be'.

[mlee]

Hi Cardiii.

it does feel a little degrading as pros we invested on equipments - the cost of running a business from home alone (not having a studio yet) would atleast require someone like me to charge about $1500 to break even.

[SusanH1970]

And my advice to the people that hire photographers that are willing to take those jobs: Don't be disappointed. You get what you pay for.

I have a listing on eventectives.com. Although I don't shoot weddings, I'm emailed leads to people that are looking for wedding photographers. I am AMAZED at how many say their budget for the entire wedding is $10K or even $20K, but they stipulate that their budget for the photographer is $500. WTF???? lol....

[fantasmic2tek]

I have shot two weddings. One was for a friend and another was at a Civil War Reenactment, which I didn't intend to do but when I was shooting the bride and grooms cameras broke so I was there to save the day. I didn't charge them for the wedding since I was already there. However they did insist on paying for the pictures. I made around 200.00 USD for the pics. That paid for my gas to the reenactment(on the west coast of Florida), food and other expenses.

What I am getting at is people do not realize how much goes into shooting a wedding. No matter what type it is you are shooting. There is the shoot itself, the post processing( weeding out the good and bad shots and then showing them to the couple and then the decision of which ones the want. Finally printing them and then the mailing or delivery or the pictures.

In all I spent about ten hours on each wedding. The cost they are looking for is not worth your time.

[mlee]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

am AMAZED at how many say their budget for the entire wedding is $10K or even $20K, but they stipulate that their budget for the photographer is $500. WTF???? lol....

ouch. that is one fact that surely hurts. lol

[lynweber]

The pictures of your wedding are priceless as you dont see everything being the Bride and Groom. I do think that some are way overpriced and when i got married I was shocked. I agree dont be cheap but be reasonable. Explain why and what you get.

Wow! $200 and $300!? I wish I got paid that

As a second-shooter, I usually do it for $100. I used to do it for free (as it's a lot of fun), but my friend forced me into charging something (I think he felt bad). I don't shoot for 5 hours either...usually 8-10, depending on the wedding.

If I saw either of those ads locally, I'd e-mail them in a heartbeat. Sometimes it's not about the money. It's about the challenge. The experience. The thrill of a good shot.

[elkidogz]

the sad thing is that someone will reply to that request. instead of no one replying to it, which would (to me) mean that they need to think about that price they are offering for the one thing that they will use to cherish and remember the event at the divorce hearing more than anything else.

[Jim Bryant]

The problem is there are many snapper clickers who look on photographer as a side job to make money. There are also many shooters who don't take in account of what their actual Costs of doing Business" is and not "educating" those clients in the true costs of upgrading cameras and lenses, computers, software and all business expenses that go hand in hand in establishing and or maintaining a photography business. First you have to "educate" yourself in order to "Educate" your clients. True, most don't know the true cost of business and it's our job as photographers to learn and educate others.