Monday, November 5, 2012

Why is custom photography so expensive?

Many people are used to going into a retail chain studio, waiting for 15 minutes, having someone show them their background choices, spending 30 minutes trying to get their kids to give a geniune smile, then after the portraits are done (usually with the photographer getting frustrated with your kids not doing what they want them to do), you wait for 30 minutes, view your pictures, pick the one pose you like (which your free or promotional package is then stuck with), then you see the really good poses (you want those as well), and after it's all said and done, you have bought $200 worth of portraits you don't need just to get the poses you want, and usually another $30 for your sitting fee (unless you got a free promo), and if you want any custom portraiture you are spending another boatload of money! All of this for mediocre images without any real meaning.


Want to become a photographer? It's harder than you think!

I can't count on my hands how many times I have heard people on the street, as well as friends and family say, wow that's so easy, I could do that! Look how expensive this is! I could do the same thing by clicking a button and it wouldn't cost $3000.00. Ha!
Amazingly, most people think we just shoot pictures for fun for the day and never give a second thought as to what goes on after the shoot is over to make sure those photographs are beautiful works of art. I can attest, editing usually eats up at minimum 30-40 hours a week that I am at the computer finalizing images for a client. I want you to think about the following, and I am going to use an excerpt from a photographer responding to a bride who complained on craigslist about $3,000 for a wedding photographer, and how she couldn't find one that was "fun, professional, took great images, and readily available for her with decent prices". Click on the link below to read what she said.

Angry Bride's Post

 Here is just one of the many responses she received:


Friday, November 2, 2012

Thumbtack Listing, A great place for leads for Photographers!

We have recently joined thumbtack.com and added our listing there for everyone to check our verifications and to generate some more much needed business! I love taking photo's and if I get a chance to list my business in a high traffic area, I sure do it! Thumbtack has been great so far, and for only $39.99 a month I get many interested clients seeking a local photographer. I can submit quotes to each client and communicate directly with them to get exactly what they are looking for! As a bonus for me, I get more access to more people looking for a photographer, which is of course my ultimate goal! I hope if you do photography, or any other business for that matter, that you check out Thumbtack.com and get your business listed and verified.
To sign your business up for thumbtack.com, please visit this link! We get 15 points fo every referral that signs up (and it's free to sign up), get your business noticed in your local community!