Bill Zaspel
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Brian Rice wrote:
I agree with most of what you said Brian Lingle, especially the part where everyone is free to choose. And that those that spend themselves into debt have only themselves to blame. However, I find it beyond belief that the full-time photographer only makes 10K after expenses, in fact, this is so beyond belief that I'm certain that we can throw away the findings of this survey and dismiss it all entirely. Heck, I'd like to know what their expenses are, because they are definitely out of wack. I also have a feeling that although Doug Box may be a great photographer. He's a bit more in touch with the photographer and a bit out of touch with the typical wedding couple. He's likely old school and is forgetting there no longer a need to outlay $400 for film each and every wedding day, not to mention spending another $400 to get that professional film processed at a professional developer house or go the route of spending hours in time and hundreds in materials developing the film yourself in your very own darkroom. Man! When I think about it, it's dirt cheap getting into the photo business now vs. just one short decade ago! If you're relying on Doug, Doug needs to update his material with the new milenium!
I'd also like to add that I feel that having a good photographer document your wedding is the best decision that anyone could make. The importance is proven everytime a fire or flood has barreled into someone's house. I always hear how that after the family is all safe that the first thing that they always retrieve from the house are their precious photographs and memories.
As for assuming way too much without any hard facts hassy501, I'd like to know what the hard facts are. I'm trying to be as factual as I can be on my end of the posts and would love to be proven wrong. In fact, I'm begging to be wrong about my assumptions as this will allow me to come to couples with some ammo as to why they should be spending a small fortune that compares to a nice used car.
BTW, I'm having a bit of fun with this topic and feel free to pummel me with some facts to combat my assumptions. I'm not against learning anything and I know that I'm stirring up the hornet's nest. So feel free to let me have it....Show more →
Ok, here's my facts. I'm new at this only having been working at this for two years. I feel that makes me the new kid on the block. I've been studying everything I can find and working out all aspects of my business with the goal of being full time, some day, maybe. Until then, I will continue to study and work to learn my art. That's two years of education so far. That might equate to a two year degree, maybe not.
So far I have spent lots of money that has come out of pocket. Kinda like books and tuition for my two years of education. So far, I have shot about eight weddings. During the entire time I have been working towards my goal I have been actively seeking to shoot as a second to enhance my skill and add to my education. No luck yet, but I will keep trying.
I have a business plan that is laid out for five years. That has been discussed in detail with my wife as my only partner, in this business as a silent participant (her choice) and in life as my mate. All expenses have been cleared through her as a joint decision since those purchases have impacted OUR bottom line. Of the eight weddings that I have shot, I have charged for only four. The others have been free because of my lack of experience as a "student" or "on the job training" with the full knowledge of my clients. I have attempted to deliver the same level of product to every client that I would deliver to anyone, paying or not, regardless of the price/package they select.
I have bought:
computer: $1,200 macbook
software: $1,000 photoshop, lightroom, MS outlook, etc
cameras: $2,000 nikon D50 & D70 with three different base lenses
website: $50 month
lighting equipment: $600 nikon speedlights with umbrella, etc.
lab fees & samples: $2,000
That's just the basic stuff and I'm sure that I have left out hundreds of dollars in misc expenses that my wife would remember because they cost us more than the dollar value on the receipt.
Right now I'm sitting in a budget hotel charing batteries for a wedding that I am going to cover tomorrow. I have the gas to get here, the lodging to stay for two nights, and the food that I consume that is more expensive that what I would eat if I were at home.
I have calculated that I spend 30 to produce the final product for each wedding that I shoot. That includes the meetings, shooting, post-processing, and delivery of the products. The other ten hours I spend working my ass off studying and looking for my next gig. And I have digging and working and trying to be the best. I am committed to making this my full time job and I am doing everything that I possibly can to be successful.
Your calculations are absurb and I am working with the absolute minimum equipment that I can afford and still produce a good product. I dream of someday having the equipment that most of you guys chat about as if it were laying on the picnic table outside the motel that I am sitting in as I write this. D200? D3? D700? Someday, with nice new lenses that will make my job easier and a web site that I can brag about because it is flash based and wows my potential clients.
The costs associated with managing a full time business including filling taxes and advertising and production are all part of it and your statements that we are overcharging have dismissed those things as if they didn't exist or aren't part of business. And we haven't even discussed the costs in setting up a studio with rent and utilities and staffing. I will be remodeling a part of my home to use as a studio in advance of that part of my dream that someday I might be blessed enough to need a real studio and be able to hire staff to assist me.
Please don't insult those people here that are trying to provide a service at a fair price in response to the needs of brides/grooms that need and want the service.
Can it be done more cheaply? Yah. Can uncle bob handle the job? Sure. Should we just ignore the fact that there are people who want to hire us to satisfy a specific market segment? I believe in what I am doing and I am sure that many of those reading this do as well.
I have calculated what I think I need to pay my bills and build my business into a successful venture that will contribute to the household income of my family. Some of those expenses are unknown and I would like to believe that there should be a small amount of profit to improve my quality of life personally.
Are there people out there overcharging? Probably, but I can't fix that. I can do my best to be my best and provide the best service I know how to provide. I have learned a lot from many of those contributing to this forum and I will continue to read. I hope that I will someday be able to contribute and help those who are new and looking to learn, as I am today. I won't come along and just rain on their parade. I plan that the success that is m goal will provide me with the experience and opportunity to share that success with others.
I've said enough, and I've offered a look into some very personal information about my business with the hope that you might understand and maybe be a little more flexible in your review. I have to go change the batteries in my charger...
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