Not sure if others here have seen this before. I stumbled across this video today on thephotographybiz.com website. It is a great reminder.

As a photographer working to build my business, pricing was one of the first challenges I encountered when starting up. I am at a point where I don't have to do as much pro-bono, but I still have (and probably always will) clients who insist on me lowering my prices.

Luckily, I am comfortable enough telling potential clients that 'I may not be the right photographer for the job...' and moving on. It isn't always easy, but once I realize that the negotiations have moved beyond the point of making it worth my while, I just try and cut my losses and focus my energy on another aspect of my business.

Hope the vid helps some of you working to establish the value of your work in your market.

Client-Vendor Relationship Video

I showed my roommate the video and said, "this has happened to me more than once," and he was shocked.

Greg, that's a really good idea.

EDIT: Umm... Greg's post disappeared...

Mr. Hawkins seems to have become an un-person here on FM.

Seems that the uproar over his behavior finally had some effect upstairs.

<Chas>

PS Sorry to hijack the thread

Sperry> but once I realize that the negotiations have moved beyond the point of making it worth my while, I just try and cut my losses and focus my energy on another aspect of my business.

This is a key item that one should discover and practice early in their career. I still remember wasting over 30 minutes with a guy who kept telling me my prices were too high and I (naivete) starting listing the costs of doing business ...

Finally I realized he wanted everything for nothing and I was wasting my time. That was my first successful use of "No thanks" (politely) and walking away. The second time was even easier.
Best,
Andy

AndyKellett wrote:
Sperry> but once I realize that the negotiations have moved beyond the point of making it worth my while, I just try and cut my losses and focus my energy on another aspect of my business.

This is a key item that one should discover and practice early in their career. I still remember wasting over 30 minutes with a guy who kept telling me my prices were too high and I (naivete) starting listing the costs of doing business ...

Finally I realized he wanted everything for nothing and I was wasting my time. That was my first successful use of "No thanks" (politely) and walking away. The second time was even easier.
Best,
Andy


Yes. It can be hard when you are just starting out. The last thing you want to do is pass up work that you feel will help your portfolio and/or build clientele. Of course, it all depends on what type of clientele you are trying to build. A very fine balancing act.

advertising, company management, promotion and projects take lot of time. No lowballing customer is worth your time which would be better spend even on SEO optimization of your website.

You have to consciously make the break away from hobby and into business. If you have any hobby thoughts left in your head it is just too easy to keep dropping the price in order to do the thing you want to do...take pictures.

Might have to download this. When ever I have a client that comes in that wants to negotiate I'll play it for them!

Unfortunately, there are two different scenarios:

1. Negotiations BEFORE you provide the goods / service
2. Negotiations AFTER you have delivered the goods / service.

It is much easier to walk away from situation #1; sometimes you can make a counter-offer, and give a one-time discount (that's right, NEVER lower your price - offer a one-time discount, and show it as such on the invoice). By the way, in my state, you are responsible for sales tax on the retail price, so be sure to collect it.

In situation #2, you have to bite the bullet and try to get something. Small Claims Court is time-consuming, and you don't always win.

harrygilbert wrote:
Unfortunately, there are two different scenarios:

1. Negotiations BEFORE you provide the goods / service
2. Negotiations AFTER you have delivered the goods / service.

It is much easier to walk away from situation #1; sometimes you can make a counter-offer, and give a one-time discount (that's right, NEVER lower your price - offer a one-time discount, and show it as such on the invoice). By the way, in my state, you are responsible for sales tax on the retail price, so be sure to collect it.

In situation #2, you have to bite the bullet and try to get something. Small Claims Court is time-consuming, and you don't always win.

This is why you are paid before ordering and delivering goods and services.

thats maybe truth in US. Almost all our projects are paid after delivery but we do not have many issues.

Just starting out, did the first two weddings free then, $500 for the next 3, but had to walk away from the last 2 weddings as they wanted it for 1/2 of that. That's with the prints
The first one was hard to do, but not the 2nd one.
Also I shoot sports and have been offered $1 for my 5x7's, had to eat them but have leaned not to give them away, and this maybe wrong, but I don't even point the lens at they kid anymore.