Red, Seriously, that's your ride? Customized Citrion?
I drive an '89 Toyota van that came with a custom package, custom paint job (nothing too fancy) and mag wheels. You don't see many of that model around here anymore and the young couples think it's cool when they see it. I don't think it gives the impression of my being "high end", which I'm not, but maybe individualistic, which I am.
Hassy mentioned dressing to give a high end impression at weddings. How do all of you dress? Especially the guys.
I've heard of people checking out the kind of shoes a person wears as part of assessing them. Some are hyper-aware of all those little details and what they convey. And there are plenty of millionaires who assess people based on different criteria than that.
I have personally experienced and heard from other family therapists, examples of teens creating major family dramas over what car they get to drive. For one, being grounded meant he couldn't drive the Beamer on Friday night, he'd have to take the Toyota wagon. It was a major crisis and he was ready to break furniture and punch out both mom and dad over it.
When my parents tried to use "the car" as leverage, I got a bike. 1967-70, I was the only college student in Hutchinson or Lawrence, KS, riding a bike and carrying a backpack. Years later, people thought I was ahead of my time.
Back OT - I know a guy whose inlaws so ardently disapproved of their daughter marrying him that they refused to attend the wedding. Why? His family wasn't on the social registry. People use all kinds of criteria to differentiate themselves and identify with a particular social group. There are studies on the behavior of different socioeconomic classes that suggest that wealthy and powerful people tend not to trust outsiders unless they're introduced and recommended by their friends.
I think there is also a big aspect of this discussion largely missing .. and that is many young people (<30) have a very real distaste for pretentious cars.
Many also have values that give at least some consideration to conservation and equality .. in other words don't use more gas or resources than necessary to get your butt back & forth and maybe spend a minute thinking about the millions who are malnourished or dying for lack of basic medical attention before budgeting your car lease payment.
I think there is also a big aspect of this discussion largely missing .. and that is many young people (<30) have a very real distaste for pretentious cars.
this can go 50/50. you should be able to get a wedding job without the client knowing what kinda car you drive. but also if your car is raggedy, and has trash/clutter all over and the client DOES happen to see your car, theyll give it another thought about hiring you. as long as the car is kept clean and you yourself have good hygiene, then you should appeal to anyone.
I think there is also a big aspect of this discussion largely missing .. and that is many young people (<30) have a very real distaste for pretentious cars.
Many also have values that give at least some consideration to conservation and equality .. in other words don't use more gas or resources than necessary to get your butt back & forth and maybe spend a minute thinking about the millions who are malnourished or dying for lack of basic medical attention before budgeting your car lease payment.
I'm one of the people Mike's referring to. I would be completely turned off by someone showing up in an unnecessarily flashy, expensive or petrol-guzzling vehicle. It would have the opposite effect to what some of you may expect... that is, I would be entirely UNimpressed and much more likely NOT to choose you as my photographer. It gives some insight into where your money goes, and to some extent, what your values are.
Don't assume that because someone is driving around in a raggedy old vehicle, or riding a bike, that they don't earn a lot of money. They may just spend it a lot more wisely than most.
Just wanted to add my thoughts to the discussion in case someone finds them interesting (and I figured they were sufficiently relevant to the original post - apologies if you disagree). FYI I'm 27 years old, and a post-grad student (who likes to frequent this forum, mostly to read & learn solely for interest's sake, at this stage).
Here's the car I use when I show up to shoot weddings. Some people say that people use cars to compensate for other things, but I can't disagree more. I just like the styling of this ride.
I agree and disagree with this idea. I think that there are a lot of things that will add the perception of success to a potential client, and usually that perception is ingrained in their mind upon first point of contact.
So, most of my clients first point of contact with me is through my website. That means I need to keep my website up to date, easy to view my portfolio and get the information that they want. So far, all my clients tell me that my website is much better than my competition, so that's a good start.
If I were to talk to a potential client that just called me out of the blue, and had no other contact with me except my business card, or through some type of advertisement, I need to make sure that they would be impressed enough to call me from my advertisement.
I think we dont realize that EVERY point of contact that we have with a client is an advertisement. Client meetings, telephone calls, emails, website viewing, proofing, blog, letters, cards, etc etc etc . . . IS an advertisement whether we like it or not.
I DO NOT agree that your car is going to make/break a deal with a client. I DO agree that it will add some kind of perception to the client, whether it be good or bad. It's just human nature to "classify" people based on appearances. If I were to pull up in a BMW over my Corolla, sure, the client might see that I'm more successful than expected. How much that really matters is really negligible IMO. If I pull up in my Corolla, they might not even think twice. If I were in a 1980 Dodge Caravan, they might think "who the heck is this guy?" and if I were in a 07 Corvette they might think "who the heck is this guy?"
My point is, you will be judged/classified by your appearance whether you like it or not. Whether it matters to the client is your best guess. I think that personal hygiene/dress is MUCH more important to a client than which car you drive. Your clients WILL notice your car, but it probably doesn't really matter.
In response to Gabe's remarks (of which I agree that I could care less about what my photographer should be driving), we need to think about our clients. Most of them don't know the difference between most photographers out there, they don't necessarily know what to look for. Every point of contact you have will effect their decision, period. Your attitude trumps everything about appearance / perception of success. You could drive a really nice car, but if your attitude sucks, goodbye to you sir.
Although I haven't been doing weddings for a long time, I am sure it helps to wear a $6000 Cartier, and drive Mercedes S55.
Here is me going to a wedding:
and here is my ride: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/2640105376_ae23a51fd3_o.jpg
By the way, having 7 speed transmission, I get up to 28mpg on highway, so don't tell me that gas prices are going up because of people like me!
Now I have to learn how to take pictures!
Sorry folks you have bought into the marketing lie.
Perceived value of you based upon your car is an illusion, your ride may give you pride or embarrasement but the bottom line is how the couple thinks they will benefit by what you provide to them.
One little note. I personally don't drive my car to impress someone. I just drive what I have, my last car was BMW M3. But I'll be a daddy soon so I needed a larger car.
What I wear and how I dress also got nothing to do with impressing anyone. It's just who I am. But no matter how you look at it if one shows up clean and nice looking, very friendly and provides good product and the other shows up looking less appealing and provides the same product, why not go with the better one. I am not trying to be judgmental, but when you go to the store and choose what apple to buy, why do you choose the ones that look better, they all taste the same! We choose better looking because we are selective. At least I am. My car is always spotless and I always get nice comments about my car. I didn't buy it to book more weddings, I am not a high end photographer...yet, but it sure gets the buzz out there around you which in return I am sure will help to get more bookings. People just feel they getting more for what they paid for. It's not like you drive a nice car and provide crap product and you will succeed, it's like you provide great customer service, great product, look very appealing AND drive a nice car, then the package would be a steal!
Just my thoughts...
On a comedic side note......I wonder what is going on in that driver's head that is sitting in the beater station wagon behind Victors car in the first shot, or the guy in the car to the left in the minivan on the second shot.
On a comedic side note......I wonder what is going on in that driver's head that is sitting in the beater station wagon behind Victors car in the first shot, or the guy in the car to the left in the minivan on the second shot.
You're killing me man!!!
Haha, the picture of the car was taken in the ferry, sure no traffic there! The picture with me was taken when I was in the middle of the bridge when they stopped the traffic to move the bridge so a submarine could pass through the movable bridge. While I was taking picture of this:
I used to get comments from the guys mostly.. it definitely left an impression, as much as I'd like to NOT admit that. I miss having a convertible and I miss that awesome exhaust sound.
I agree with Evan, however.. average car = no response. Anything outside the average will generate SOME response (either a real beater or a real expensive one).
BTW I took the money from the sale of the Mustang and bought a 5D, 24-70L and 300/2.8 IS
