Sorry Marti, I have to agree with some of the others in here, and this is not out of a desire to insult you. Starting at $895 makes you the guy that most people complain about on here that undercuts them with ludicrous prices. Imagine charging two and a half times that. That means you only need 20 inquiries instead of 50 and would be working less.
As someone who went from $1000 per wedding to $5000 in the last 4 years, let me tell you something: When you raise your prices you get better clients, better venues and better weddings. At $895 you will always get the bottom of the barrel bargain hunters.
Sergio Mottola wrote:
this guy thinks I live in New Zealand hahahaha. I shoot 18-25 weddings a year, not ten, and I shoot them all over the world. I live in Tacoma, WA, USA, Marti the illiterate. you see a NZ wedding on my blog because I was commissioned to go out there. as well as china, Hong Kong, Greece, Germany, australia. must be hard for you to wrap your head around I just sent a $3100 quote for an engagement session in macchu pichu. and I was being generous considering the travel... I don't let the economy effect my business.
Hmmm.... marti... I dunno, but when someone builds their biz like this, you might actually want to see what he has to say instead of labeling him an overpriced tog. And the only way someone can be overpriced is if no one is willing to pay him. Also, it's amusing that you call him overpriced when everyone is telling you how under-priced you are, and while you're complaining about brides not wanting to pay your underpriced fee.
marti.g3 wrote:
I was contacted today by a bride getting married next March. Church wedding locally, reception at the Hilton Doubletre Ontario, not cheap by any means.
The coordinator there told her to call me. She did, I spoke with her, all the usual yada yada.
"Oh xxxx told me you had some great pricing".........." Do I get a big discount, two photographers"..............." ?"..........my mental state at the time........
I emailed her my pricing, contacted her later for verification and her reply was " Oh im sorry but your pricing was just way out of our budget for photography"...........WTF ? Really ? How much was in your budget for photos ??
It never ceases to amaze me how brides will spend tons of money on their reception, all the showy stuff, but then want their photography for peanuts. I know how much it costs to use the Hilton Doubletree. I've been on their vendor list for over ten years. I photographed the wedding coordinators there and we have a great relationship.
$895.00 is too much ? OMG........the world is going to end.
My 4 hour shoot and burn is almost double what you charge and is still considered cheap by many. No one books it either. Well, I do get maybe 1 or 2 weddings a year that choose that package, but it is always a bride that loves my work but can't afford more. She could easily go to someone and get a lot more coverage and an album or a session for the same price, but she doesn't because she wants us there.
But yea, raise your prices. Just try it. I have noticed the higher my prices get the more money people spend on add ons. I am attracting a different type of bride. I always had sweet budget brides thankfully back when my prices were lower but they didn't buy albums or prints.
People are giving you good advice. May not be saying it in the nicest way, but then again you aren't being kind either.
Inku Yo wrote:
Oh and I'll also agree with getting out of Rancho Cucamonga. Being listed first on Google for that town seems like being listed first for "Cliffside Park wedding photographer".
Target a bigger metro area. You're only what, 40 mins outside of LA? Why can't you be an LA photographer? Or a Southern California photographer?
I see your point, but you move out here and try to get SEO to click for you in the LA market, much less "make it big." It's an amazingly dense-packed market, with brutal competition, and not many deep pockets. I understand the philosophy of up-pricing, but a lot of times I hear the advice coming from Austin and not downtown LA.
eNoBlog wrote:
I see your point, but you move out here and try to get SEO to click for you in the LA market, much less "make it big." It's an amazingly dense-packed market, with brutal competition, and not many deep pockets. I understand the philosophy of up-pricing, but a lot of times I hear the advice coming from Austin and not downtown LA.
I call BS... NJ is the most densely populated state in the country...
friscoron wrote:
There are several things I don't understand here. One, marti's attitude in this thread is no different from anything I've seen from him the last few months. He's like form on anti-depressants. For someone who's been in the business as long as he is, it shocks me the questions he asks on here, like he needs someone else's (some person on a forum?!) to advise him about the very basics of running a wedding photography business. And what amazes me is how many ppl respond to him.
Then he complains they're not being helpful? This guy should be paying $1000/yr to FM for all the advice he gets.
But more importantly, sure, the economy downturn means that fewer people are spending more on wedding photography but there's still a solid number of brides out there spending $3k or more on their weddings. There are lots of wedding photographers, doing 100, 150, and even up to 300 weddings a year -- although obviously many use associates as primaries. But if you offer $895, that's what you're going to get. Someone said he's missing out on the higher-end market cuz the brides will think something is wrong here, him charging so little, and they'll pass on him. I couldn't agree more!
But what really needs to change is marti's attitude. Until he sees his situation as a challenge, he can't win. All he does is freakin complain. But I have to admit, I get a kick out of all this. I'm just glad I'm not down there looking up at the mean 'ol world all around me, and all these mean 'ol FMers who won't empathize.
Sorry, I'm new to this, but I'm busy. I got a bride to call back. ...Show more →
By the way ... I heard she's about ready to sign a $12 million dollar book deal elaborate on her, ummmm, "adventures". The book company is hoping to take advantage of Clinton's re-newed popularity right now.
I just sent a $3100 quote for an engagement session in macchu pichu. and I was being generous considering the travel... I don't let the economy effect my business.
