What’s Your Preference?

Gina9942 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 10:10 PM

Ugh. I just need to vent for a second. I just found out what a "fellow photographer" is charging for her sessions. It makes me so angry. I worked so hard to get where I am. I practiced, I read, I took classes. I didn't start charging until I felt my portfolio was diverse enough, and I knew I could deliver photos. Well she is one of those people who got a SLR camera, and is now a photographer. She is mostly a nature photographer, but even those aren't that great, she still uses auto and she's charging $100, for an hour $50 each additional hour, she edits them and promises 100-300 on a cd! I know in the long run she is losing money because all of the time editing the photos and that fun stuff, but I still do not think she should be charging people.

I am not trying to be mean. If you take pics on auto that are portraits and not snapshots, that is awesome, I just feel that if you don't know your camera enough to shoot manual, then you shouldn't be charging that much for a sitting fee. It's people like that, that give you all the pics on cd that are ruining it for the people who hone their craft and really know what it takes to make a good photograph. I am really sorry if this sounded mean-spirited, that wasn't my intentions at all, it just infuriates me after working so hard to see things like that. I don't even charge that much!

Sime · #2 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 10:14 PM

I have one question...

"I don't even charge that much!"

Why not?

kirbinster · #3 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 10:20 PM

This is not meant as a personal attack, but stop whining. There will always be a competitor that charges less - it does not matter if its photos, cars, computers, clothing, etc.... Its your job to market your product so that you can compete. If you can't, its time to do something else.

Gina9942 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 10:23 PM

I have a set sitting fee for two hours, then I charge for prints. Think of it this way I am doing a newborn session, we know those always often go longer than the alloted 1-2 hours because they are unpredictable and you can't foresee what they are going to need. So sometimes they run over 2 hours, plus I don't do cd's I do prints. If she does 3 hours, that a $150 sitting fee, I dunno it just seems way overpriced and the wrong way to approach pricing a sitting fee. And honestly her work just isn't there yet. I guess I just follow don't make people pay for product you can't deliver, ya know what I mean.

Gina9942 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirbinster

This is not meant as a personal attack, but stop whining. There will always be a competitor that charges less - it does not matter if its photos, cars, computers, clothing, etc.... Its your job to market your product so that you can compete. If you can't, its time to do something else.

It's really not whining, it was a rant. She's the one person who I always feel goes out of her way to mimic me, trust me she is not competition. I live in NY real competition is rampant around these areas. It's just annoying that every person with a SLR camera is a photographer, competition is fine, it makes me a better photographer.

Sime · #6 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gina9942

I have a set sitting fee for two hours, then I charge for prints. Think of it this way I am doing a newborn session, we know those always often go longer than the alloted 1-2 hours because they are unpredictable and you can't foresee what they are going to need. So sometimes they run over 2 hours, plus I don't do cd's I do prints. If she does 3 hours, that a $150 sitting fee, I dunno it just seems way overpriced and the wrong way to approach pricing a sitting fee. And honestly her work just isn't there yet. I guess I just follow don't make people pay for product you can't deliver, ya know what I mean.

Certainly, but if you'll allow me to make an observation... It sorta sounds like you're less happy with you than you are with her? Maybe you need to work on a strategy for better business for you and then you won't need to rant? (but hey, rant away..hehe)

Sime · #7 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 10:34 PM

but but... everyone with a dSLR *IS* a photographer... heh

On a serious note, what makes you a photographer and her not?

S

nickbedford · #8 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gina9942

It's really not whining, it was a rant. She's the one person who I always feel goes out of her way to mimic me, trust me she is not competition. I live in NY real competition is rampant around these areas. It's just annoying that every person with a SLR camera is a photographer, competition is fine, it makes me a better photographer.

The amount of people buying a DSLR and instantly becoming a "pro" and starting up their Facebook Joe Bloggs Photography business is ridiculous.

I'm at the stage where I'm still proving myself to... myself, though I know that I'm on the right path and besides, I barely have enough gear to even warrant being a business. That is, variety of lenses for different situations, backup gear, some lighting gear etc and probably most of all... experience.

That being said, it's pretty easy to want to rant about this. The kicker is that it's been done before time and time again I'd imagine. You're probably just adding to the growing list of DSLR rant threads.

filemanager · #9 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 11:40 PM

I've seen a lot of those types of people around. I wouldn't stress about it, the "quality" of her work will show through, and she may end up with a lot of disgruntled and bitter clients :P