Confused #2

[metric_photography]

As for my quality of work, sure family and kids is not where I started. Did you guys see my band pics? That is where I started but I recently changed my website and made it less all about bands. I also have a lot of landscapes that are HDR/ more creative, but I took them down too. Maybe I need to change my site and take down the wedding stuff and replace it again.

Event Photography | Live Performance Photography | Band Photography

As for quality of work, there is another photog I know one city away and I don't really think her work is the best (too close crop where tops of heads are cut off, etc) and she is getting tons of work through word of mouth. Maybe she is really cheap, I don't know.

I was also surprised about Photobooth guy's comment about not charging. I have been on other threads here and EVERYONE says you should charge (whether with or without a discount). I did pics for a few people for free, but those people are very close friends or close family members. The facebook friends are friends from 10+ years ago that I haven't seen since when I was in school. I think it would be okay to charge them (perhaps with a small discount).

[graciousness]

Give them discount. What is important is not to get paid at this time, but to get your portfolio shots built better.

Put it this way, for months this year, I shot umpteenth birthday parties for free for friends (close and not so close) for practice and portfolio building. Then I would post the photos on my facebook for the parents. And then they posted the photos on their facebook for their friends to see. It got to a point where I started getting comments and enquiries from those friends of theirs about my services. My friends have started insisting on paying me to take their family photos and at this point, I didn't refuse. They also have told everyone about me and guess what, word of mouth is out there that I am a photographer and apparently, a good one. So I have started getting enquiries and even bookings.

It is through free shoots with my friends that I booked my first wedding in a couple of weeks and another wedding later this year. I've done a few family photos for friends, too, paid.

When you are just starting to build your business, what's important is to set up the base core of it. Your portfolio is what will sell your work. Don't wait for paid work to get the shots you need to make your portfolio stronger; if it requires for you to do big discounts for your friends and family, even to the point of free for your close ones, then do so. Don't be blinded with getting 'profit' at this time as that will only misguide you to how to set up your business. Have patience, look at your work, look at your competition and see why it works for them and not you.

Don't look at your photos and theirs and make a self-evaluation as to why your photos are better than theirs. You need other people's input on this.

At this point, it's not all about pricing. Just because your competition is selling better than you doesn't mean that they are possibly cheaper. It's all about quality of work, style, and how they market themselves and package their services.

If you are ready, we can offer feedback on your photos and website/pricing and advise where you fall short on them. But only if you are keen on this.