I am sure that many here would agree that it is important to create the perception in your clients mind that you are successful in what you do.
Clearly the images you make are the number one priority. Assuming that you are making great images then hopefully you are charging accordingly. So far so good........ So when you turn up to a job in your car do people see you driving something that is consistent with your prices ?
I bet some of you have great cars....... I would love to see them Here is mine.

Nice car, i think it is partly important to show your "success" to your clients. Unless you're just getting started, if you've been many years in this business, you want to have a decent car to show up at these venues.

How are gas prices down there in Australia? Here it's over $9.50/gallon...

it is about $7.00 a gallon here. I was in your part of the world again last month & it was more expensive there.
I don't let it bother me too much.

Studio58 wrote:
it is about $7.00 a gallon here. I was in your part of the world again last month & it was more expensive there.
I don't let it bother me too much.

I know..you can't really let it bother you..i fill my car with 75 euro and it's a 2.2 turbo diesel motor. USA is still quite lucky with the $3.50/$4 gallon prices. I just don't know what's gonna happen when it gets to $8 down there...it seems like those Caddys will be long gone..

there are commentators who say it will settle down to about $90 per barrel. It will work itself out in the long run. There may of course be a massive mid East war which might screw it up for all of us for a while..... what the hell. Throw another shrimp on the barbie & pass the Fosters.

Hi agree with the image thing, I always go for a quirky car in a funky colour, it seems to fit my personality! However at the moment I have a suburban-mum car that is very boring so I hide it round corners when on appointments and weddings!

Nicola

Studio58 wrote:
I am sure that many here would agree that it is important to create the perception in your clients mind that you are successful in what you do.


If they have hired you to photograph their wedding then they should know your capabilities. You're there to capture their wedding photos, not run a car show.

What car you arrive in will do nothing to help you take better pics .. it may however turn off potential clients if it looks too expensive. And if it looks like some tacky rig a gansgta would roll with then you may also turn off potential clients by showing off your bad taste in cars.

Studio58 wrote:
there are commentators who say it will settle down to about $90 per barrel. It will work itself out in the long run. There may of course be a massive mid East war which might screw it up for all of us for a while..... what the hell. Throw another shrimp on the barbie & pass the Fosters.

Very philosophical - my friend
You would'nt have given the same answer if the question was, "how much are the 1Ds3's"

I shelled out the asking price & I wasn't too phased

Mike Mahoney wrote:
Studio58 wrote:
I am sure that many here would agree that it is important to create the perception in your clients mind that you are successful in what you do.


If they have hired you to photograph their wedding then they should know your capabilities. You're there to capture their wedding photos, not run a car show.

What car you arrive in will do nothing to help you take better pics .. it may however turn off potential clients if it looks too expensive. And if it looks like some tacky rig a gansgta would roll with then you may also turn off potential clients by showing off your bad taste in cars.

What car you arrive in can give the guest the impression that the couple have not spared cost. Your referals will be generated amongst the class then that you seek if you are aiming for the higher end market.
That is basic marketing, surely you know that.

Marcus Watts wrote:
What car you arrive in can give the guest the impression that the couple have not spared cost. Your referals will be generated amongst the class then that you seek if you are aiming for the higher end market.
That is basic marketing, surely you know that.


The days when a pretentious automotive display generated additional business were over some years ago, about 1980.

I keep seeing words like "perception" and "impression" in this thread .. which have nothing to do with delivering solid wedding photos. If the car you drive is basic marketing to you then good luck in your efforts but it sounds pretty feeble to me.

A car is just one element in producing the perception of quality and class.

This isn't actually mine (I've yet to take a decent photo of my own one) but I've got one of these

www.bellis.me.uk/mr2/photo.jpg

I have to store my Tamrac backback in the passenger seat because it won't fit in the joke of a "trunk" but it nearly always gets appreciative comments when it's cleaned and polished...

...as they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression.

nice one Chris.
In my early days of learning one of the guys I used to assist owned a $200k Porsche. He made a lot of money over a long period. His studio would be shooting 5 or 6 weddings on a Saturday, & he had some good operators shooting for him. ANyhow,one time he said to me that if he were getting heart surgery he would want the guy with the biggest (expensive) car in his driveway. In part tongue in cheek but the basic message being you want the most successful professional you can afford to undertake an event of any major importance in your life.
In my case my prices are high, it would look a little inconsisitent to turn up in a run of the mill car.

we show up in this...

I love the freedom and quirkiness of my moped......and especially with the bride tightly wrapped around me as we do laps around the church parking lot !

I'm with Mike on this one........do you really think the guests really care what car you are driving ? What next, color or your hair, latest sunglasses, whether you are caucasian, black or hispanic ? I mean come on, if a car has such an impact on future bookings, then that would be minor compared to YOU and your appearance......

Maybe some people don't want a certain race shooting their wedding....makes as much sense as the car you show up in..............go rent a Porsche Carrera for the day.....that will really wow them........

(As tomatos are flying my way now)..........hahahahahaahah

I agree that you don't need a porsche carrera but if you're charging over $3k and have over 40 weddings a year you should be driving this 1980 geo sephia

hassy501 wrote:
I'm with Mike on this one........do you really think the guests really care what car you are driving ? What next, color or your hair, latest sunglasses, whether you are caucasian, black or hispanic ? I mean come on, if a car has such an impact on future bookings, then that would be minor compared to YOU and your appearance......

Maybe some people don't want a certain race shooting their wedding....makes as much sense as the car you show up in..............go rent a Porsche Carrera for the day.....that will really wow them........

(As tomatos are flying my way now)..........hahahahahaahah

Yes they do. This isn't even debateable amongst the top end of the market. Wether you think they should or not is a different thing.
Did someone say a car was a substitute for you and your experience? Perhaps you should read the original thread.
Intersting that you say rent a Porche, that's what i do but for the weekend.

Marcus Watts wrote:
Intersting that you say rent a Porche, that's what i do but for the weekend.

As much as I would like to stick around and discuss cars with you guys I have to go shoot a wedding .. and take my humble VW Jetta.

But if I was to rent a Porsche I wouldn't waste in on a wedding !!

Brian Lingle wrote:
A car is just one element in producing the perception of quality and class.

you nailed it. any great marketer will tell you it's not enough to just deliver superior product; it's the service you deliver and the overall experience that creates buzz, yields results, and keeps people coming back for more.

the most successful folks are the ones who take the time to pay attention to the little details that create the whole package.

the appearance of success, in all it forms, is definitely a piece of the puzzle.

ksmahgrts wrote:
Brian Lingle wrote:
A car is just one element in producing the perception of quality and class.

the appearance of success, in all it forms, is definitely a piece of the puzzle.

yes..... my point exactly. It is reinforcing the constistent message, nice looking studio, great images, high prices. The expectation will have been created that they will be paying top dollar & getting a fabulous result.
I recently did a wedding shoot in Paris, you can bet for sure the images will be the cornerstone of my marketing for a while.

Oh Yeah - I am loving this thread - I am such a car girl - !
Here is my Monte Carlo SS - it's an HDR shot (-:
I am proud to show up in my car - I love it's look and it has room for my equip.
I previously had a Toyota Previa that I loved also - but I don't have to haul kids around as much anymore - so a car makes more sense.

This was a gift from my wife, waiting in the driveway when I got back from Iraq.

Marcus Watts wrote:
hassy501 wrote:
I'm with Mike on this one........do you really think the guests really care what car you are driving ? What next, color or your hair, latest sunglasses, whether you are caucasian, black or hispanic ? I mean come on, if a car has such an impact on future bookings, then that would be minor compared to YOU and your appearance......

Maybe some people don't want a certain race shooting their wedding....makes as much sense as the car you show up in..............go rent a Porsche Carrera for the day.....that will really wow them........

(As tomatos are flying my way now)..........hahahahahaahah

Yes they do. This isn't even debateable amongst the top end of the market. Wether you think they should or not is a different thing.
Did someone say a car was a substitute for you and your experience? Perhaps you should read the original thread.
Intersting that you say rent a Porche, that's what i do but for the weekend.

How many HERE on this forum are in the top end ? If you are Yervant, Mike Colon and charge 10,000.00 and up, then yes you have a perception to uphold.....but for the rest of us NORMAL shooters, it's a non issue.....

For those who consider themselves HIGH END, please raise your hand....

As i stated, a car, your clothes, your sunglasses, your race, the way you look, do you have a moustache, clean cut, long hair, short hair....it doesn't REALLY matter.....your work is all that matters.......if having a NICE car gets you bookings, then so be it.....but it's not a priority to being successful.........that's such a fallacy.

And i'm not talking about a Dodge Magnum or 300M......if it really matters, then roll up in your Lamborghini or Rolls Royce...anything else is just par for the course.