bishopb1 wrote:
What Lee said about the parent that gives away everything. Parents would rather have crap from free than pay for something good. The photographers that I know that are successful, do something similar to the GF Crew method, where you prepay.
There's always two ways of looking at things, right ? I photograph my grandson's soccer games. Always off to the sides and out of anybody's way. During the course of the game I also grab shots of other players on the team and out of my own pocket I print up an 8x10 magazine cover of each player that my son(coach) hands out at the last game of the year with the trophy presentation. The parents are super appreciative to have something special of their child. Now, if I was handing out business cards and directing people to my website to purchase prints I feel that would be wrong. Parents are still purchasing the lazy, uninspired, tilted horizon, pole sticking out of head, snapshots that the paid "pro" is peddling. Making the assumption that someone like me using a combo that can be purchased for under $2000 is producing garbage compared to the "pro" carting around $16,000 worth of equipment is snobbish and arrogant. Just a few garbage snapshots from last night's game while relaxing in my lawn chair. using a Nikon 300 PF draws absolutely no attention, which is great. Unless of course you crave attention Put out a product that people feel they have to have and you won't need to complain about someone stealing your business.
Gary
And just for the record, this comes from someone who was the "paid pro" for 10 years. Weddings, senior portraits, youth soccer, youth softball, dance recitals. I didn't pay attention to what other parents were doing around me. I focused on the subject and tried my best to give the client something that we could both be proud of.
Jun 17, 2022 at 11:23 AM
Previous versions of sum1sgrampa's message #15969890 « Youth Sports Photography Business Start Up »
Put out a product that people feel they have to have and you won't need to complain about someone stealing your business.