Actually, I frequant Neiman Marcus often. It offers much in how to clothe your clients for locations. I'm also subscribed to about 5 or 6 trendy fashion mags. Not a blog but it offer much in was of eyegasims. I make my rounds from the Fmers here. There are LOTS of guys here that post 2 or 3 times a year that blow my mind.
I'd love to check out more European work -- where are you guys? I don't actually have anyone's sites bookmarked and only visit on occasion or when someone suggests it. I'm with Sam - I'm tearing spreads from Fashion mags. If I have a really tough shoot coming up, I'll look at a few blogs, but I get most posing/lighting from mags.
Some photogs -- Susan Stripling, Cliff Mautner. Um, a few on this site as well. I visit maybe once a month/every two months.
Right now I'm tearing spreads from Men's Journal, Outside, Vogue, and J Crew. Looking for more inspiration. I don't like Vanity Fair because there's usually only one or two shoots that I like. I find Vogue has a lot more. I'm thinking of subscribing to Naples Illustrated and Gulfshore Life. Just to get some local flavor.
I'm overly obsessed with Ed Pingol... I can't get enough of him... Marcus Bell, Tricoast Photo, Sallee Photography, Doug Gordon, V Gallery Studio... These are just a few of my favs that are not local to me.... In my area? Of course my own, Jesse Reich, Art by Keira, and Traina... You should check some of these out... The crazy thing? Keira, who I feel is doing an excellent job, is so freakin young... But then again I'm only 30 been shooting for 13 years and average over 50 weddings a year for myself, studio shoots around 300.... It's an addiction for me... It's my drug.....One day I WILL BE BIG!
mzpictaker wrote:
I'm overly obsessed with Ed Pingol... I can't get enough of him... Marcus Bell, Tricoast Photo, Sallee Photography, Doug Gordon, V Gallery Studio... These are just a few of my favs that are not local to me.... In my area? Of course my own, Jesse Reich, Art by Keira, and Traina... You should check some of these out... The crazy thing? Keira, who I feel is doing an excellent job, is so freakin young... But then again I'm only 30 been shooting for 13 years and average over 50 weddings a year for myself, studio shoots around 300.... It's an addiction for me... It's my drug.....One day I WILL BE BIG! ...Show more →
Sorry man..but at $125 for 3 hours of photography coverage and $40/hr additional time....How do you make any money at those prices...
I make everything on the print, high res disc, & album pricing... Once you get em through the door, get em booked and shoot it... Then they have to order... In my region there is an average of 200 pro and semi-pro wedding photographers, there has to be some way to stand out. Most people offer the package thing starting at 1500 or so right? So by strippin it down to the bare minimum to get the client to the door it appears to be more affordable to the average bride. 90% of my brides decide to purchase the Elite package which includes no photography coverage... only a print credit and high res files. So you see in the end for that plus on average 6 hours of coverage in the end they have spent close to 2K... That's per wedding... Take that times on average of 300 weddings per year (I have 5 shooters)..... So does that $125 look so bad to ya now?
mzpictaker wrote:
I make everything on the print, high res disc, & album pricing... Once you get em through the door, get em booked and shoot it... Then they have to order... In my region there is an average of 200 pro and semi-pro wedding photographers, there has to be some way to stand out. Most people offer the package thing starting at 1500 or so right? So by strippin it down to the bare minimum to get the client to the door it appears to be more affordable to the average bride. 90% of my brides decide to purchase the Elite package which includes no photography coverage... only a print credit and high res files. So you see in the end for that plus on average 6 hours of coverage in the end they have spent close to 2K... That's per wedding... Take that times on average of 300 weddings per year (I have 5 shooters)..... So does that $125 look so bad to ya now? ...Show more →
Yes it still looks bad...I'm sorry....that many weddings, with that many shooters and a studio....to me says high over-head and many associated costs.
I look at it this way...at 6 hours for $2000 minus what you pay your shooters, minus time to edit, minus album costs, minus print costs, minus meeting time, minus travel time to wedding as well as meetings, minus a % of studio costs..it does not seem like much would be left over. I understand the stand out part...trust me I do...I just talked with a wedding planner here the other day and she told me that she suspects there are close to 800-900 pro and weekend warrior WP just in my city alone.
Anyway all the best...you must be doing something right at 300 weddings a year...I guess we just run our business differently...that is all.
gabe.....
thanks for not knockin off the horse too much... it works for the studio... its been in business for like 60 years... same location, same building.. no overhead except employees. And I only have 4 there during the week... 2 who edit weddings and build albums.. 1 who answers phones, emails, and places orders... and 1 who does portraits, bookings and others misc stuff... so it works...
