Professional photographers SUPPLY photographic services to consumers/buyers of those services. What has had the most impact on your willingness / ability (good or bad) to provide / SUPPLY photographic services in a profitable manner?
Number of sellers ... hands down ... you can only slice the pie in so many ways ... with so many willing to work at bargain basement rates ... it does have an impact on diluting both the quantity and quality of what is offered in the marketplace ... the key is to offer better quality and service than the masses ... targeting your marketing to those who don't mind paying a decent price for better quality ... once you have those clients continue to serve them well and you are less likely to lose them to the next guy with Rebel and without a clue ...
Too many instant professionals out there now.
Anyone can buy a great auto everything camera and flash, take a couple of good photos and now they is a "perfessinal fertergrapher."
I run up against them everyday. Some of them are charging less than WalMart so they can get the experience. They have a full time job or a spouse making enough money to cover expenses. Photography doesn't feed their family so they don't need a lot of money. They have no idea that they are ruining it in the long run for those of us that rely on the sales to pay our bills. They make their contacts at work or in social circles. By time the client finds out they didn't give the quality or type of photos promised it's too late, the session has been paid for and most customers sort of grin and bear it until next time. BUT - how many of these newbies will a family go through until the realize that a properly trained photographer is who they really need.
cpurves wrote:
BUT - how many of these newbies will a family go through until the realize that a properly trained photographer is who they really need.
I don't know, alot of them CHOOSE the cheapest route possible and are generally happy with the results, more or less.
Here ya go uncle bob, make sure to take lots of pics okay?
Too many suppliers ( people with a camera ) selling to novice buyers who have the impression photos are a commodity that does not vary. Only after they receive poor quality, dull images do they relate that creativity and knowledge and experience are required to produce images and not just a high priced camera.
Good points, but i think the real problem is that when a customer receives a mediocre photo, they simply don't know how much better it could - should - be. For most people, if they can see who's in the photo and it seems nice, they're happy. Part of the trick is finding clients who know better ot educating the ones that don't.
Good points, but i think the real problem is that when a customer receives a mediocre photo, they simply don't know how much better it could - should - be. For most people, if they can see who's in the photo and it seems nice, they're happy. Part of the trick is finding clients who know better or educating the ones that don't.
Yes.
Starbucks is still in business, and although the economic crash caused them problems in a number of ways, the Starbucks high-end philosophy is still a profitable proposition...Starbucks has caused McDonald's and Dunkin Donut to step up their games and introduce a higher line of products, rather than the economy causing Starbucks to lower theirs.
What this means to me is that if there are people still willing to pay $3.00 for a clearly nicer cup of coffee and a clearly nicer coffee-drinking experience, there are still people willing to pay my prices for a clearly nicer portrait and a clearly nicer portrait experience.
Starbucks is still in business, and although the economic crash caused them problems in a number of ways, the Starbucks high-end philosophy is still a profitable proposition...Starbucks has caused McDonald's and Dunkin Donut to step up their games and introduce a higher line of products, rather than the economy causing Starbucks to lower theirs.
What this means to me is that if there are people still willing to pay $3.00 for a clearly nicer cup of coffee and a clearly nicer coffee-drinking experience, there are still people willing to pay my prices for a clearly nicer portrait and a clearly nicer portrait experience....Show more →
Yep, they are out there. One thing Starbucks has is great marketing and customer experience. People who come to forms to always complain about how the newbies are killing photography obviously don't have these skills in marketing or sales. And the $3.00 is the low price being spent at Starbucks. Stand in line for a little while and you'll see $5.00+ being handed over on a daily basis. Not bad when a cup of Joe used to cost $0.25 not so long ago.
Yep, they are out there. One thing Starbucks has is great marketing and customer experience. People who come to forms to always complain about how the newbies are killing photography obviously don't have these skills in marketing or sales.
As I've mentioned elsewhere ... I'm coming to the opinion of how strong an influence OEM marketing is at changing the expectation of the public and the need for photographers to understand that influence (counter-education). Your point seems to be saying the same thing ... compelling the need to DO something to change where that expectation is on its sliding scale.
This isn't the most scientific survey around, yet it is enlightening & thought provoking for me. Fm'ers tend to be not easily swayed by mere words, but my .02 is that the combination of consumer expectations (via OEM & photographer) and the number of sellers are combining to form the majority of the impact to the market ... coupled with a decline in buyer's income (lesser impact).
For my paper, I'll of course report the findings from this survey as is. But as I am trying to understand the laws of supply & demand in this industry, it is becoming apparent to me that the antidote to 'more sellers' is changing the 'expectation of the buyer' (via marketing / customer experience or ??).
So ... since one has little control over the number of sellers, it becomes a matter of either be swept along with the market without doing anything differently, or swim against it by addressing the 'buyers' expectations'. It seems like the industry is full of many people (newbies / GWAC's) who may never really learn how to swim against the currents (ability to impact buyer's expectations), thus getting sucked out by the currents and eventually are simply lost in the vastness of the sea (sea of mediocrity) of competition.
For those who are trying to ride the waves without being a strong swimmer, it is only a matter of time till they become adrift at sea and drown. For those who know how to swim strongly, they will continue to reach the shore whether the currents are with them or against them ... even though the ride will perpetually vary, they continue to both survive in lean times and prosper in good times.
So, whether you are already in the water, or just thinking about getting in the water (current self), it would seem that one might consider this to be critically noteworthy for survival & success in the marketplace ...
Csae wrote:
I don't know, alot of them CHOOSE the cheapest route possible and are generally happy with the results, more or less.
Here ya go uncle bob, make sure to take lots of pics okay?
Score one for the uncle bob's of the world. Photography isn't like, say, dentistry, where education and experience are required before you are allowed to work on someone.
While weddings were not really my forte' back in the day (1980's), I would shoot them upon request with the caveat being:
"I can guarantee that I won't do as well as the full time pro's ... but I guarantee that I'll do better than 'Uncle Bob'."
Since I shot mostly them for military personnel who were on the same miniscual budget that I was, I knew their choices were:
A) Uncle Bob ... 'free' price point, at risk, unreliable product
B) Me ... modest price point, minimal risk, very good product
C) Full Time Pro's ... premiium price point, virtually no risk, exceptionally stunning product.
I always tried to let them know that their best option was to go with the pro for wedding work, and explain to them why. It was pretty well split as to which way they would go. For me, I could just as easily skip doing the weddings back then, but when it came to helping another servicemember who really wanted me to do the shoot ... hard to say "No."
I preferred doing commission work with models, kids & cars where I could always reshoot if necessary (had to reshoot some portfolio work for a model once). Point being that while I had very reliable gear, l still had minimal backup gear back then, which in the realm of a one time event incurs risk.
