Comments on: Commentary: Photography in a Funky Economy

By: Fotofill1969

Fotofill1969 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:09:02 +0000

It’s always good to share!

By: Fotofill1969

Fotofill1969 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:28:06 +0000

Agreed. It is frustrating to see potential clients being robbed or defrauded by the untrained and untalented.
The problem is that there is such a wide variety of “photographic styles” that people find acceptable. A few years ago I was more than just a bit annoyed by the “quality” of the images that were printed in an Abercrombie and Fitch catalog. The posing was bad, the lighting was terrible, and even the products looked bad but those images still made it to print.
I think the best thing to do is the best work you can and then get better like Steve wrote in his first point ( I also agree with his other points). Then we have to market to the people that appreciate higher quality work.
Clients appreciate a photographer that can portray them at their best. They will always be disappointed with the images that come from the unskilled. Some will blame themselves, saying, “I just don’t take good pictures.” Others will say nothing at all and never go back. Some won’t let themselves admit that they made a mistake. And, some others will learn from their mistake and try an established pro the next time.
We may think that choosing us (established pros) is a “no brainer” but the public doesn’t see it that way, which is why we have to have a plan and market our brains out in order to attract the right clients, the people who appreciate us, into our studios.

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:43:13 +0000

With all the home based studios (freelancers) it’s making it more and more difficult for real studios. These home based studios are selling the idea of natural portraits. As if real studios are incapable of natural sessions. They are also charging much more that real retail based studios for session fees. Most of them are charging $250 on up for a location session (because they don’t have a studio). Why are clients willing to pay more for semi pro images thet are mostly overexposed, unretouched, non directional lighting etc? One of my regular clients was telling me that the persona of these semi pro freelancers working out of their homes is that they are less expensive and more creative than real studios. In order to survive we need to educate our clients?

By: Fotofill1969

Fotofill1969 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:23:53 +0000

Diversify.
Naturally everyone has to make their own decisions on the type of work that they want to do. Some people very strongly believe in getting into a niche and staying there. Others, like myself, believe that diversification is a better method of staying afloat. Keep in mind, market size, will dictate which business model can be employed. I live in a small town in a 900 square mile county that has a population of about 30,000 with an average age that is approaching 40 years. I’ll photograph portraits of children, HS seniors, families, the elderly along with groups, and sports teams. Light commercial photography is not out of the question, nor is copy and restoration. The good thing is that I have to skilled in all of those areas.
This has been a challenging year and next year will, no doubt, be a challenge too. But, positive planning and diversification will keep us going in 2010, in our small market.

By: Steve Rouch

Steve Rouch — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:52:13 +0000

I would love those stories. Very relevant!

By: Luigi Barbano

Luigi Barbano — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:55:58 +0000

Hi Steve,
great article… but when you talk about the difference in quality people will pay for I have to tell you my italian experience… after years of cheap photography (the kind of crisis you have now in USA is normal for us in the last 20 years!), also magazines started to use cheap pictures and the average people is so used to ugly pictures that lost the ability to see the difference. A research I read about years ago was explaining that you can see the colors you have the language to describe, in some cultures where people have the language to describe few colors they really distinguish just few colors, they are not able to see the little tonal differences, they see red everything going from pink to purple.
The same happen with the quality.

But I continue to be optimist and create always something new to get new clients, make my actual clients happier and reeducate the people to see the differences.

Ciao

Luigi

By: Steve Berian

Steve Berian — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:37:06 +0000

Steve -
Does this website have a utility that functions similar to [members-only] Yahoo-Groups? If yes, I’d be interested in joining a marketing-discussion oriented group. But would rather not post to an openly-viewable bulletin board.

By: Steve Herzberg

Steve Herzberg — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:07:35 +0000

Hi Steve,
Many of those holding their own in this economy have carved out niche markets — and I’ve not heard of any more creative than yours.

Recently, I’ve heard that the largest “emerging” audience on Facebook is adults around 50 years old. I can’t confirm this but it might change the dynamic, somewhat, if that older group chooses to use Facebook or Twitter to shop for a wedding photographer. I remain skeptical.

Eventually, I will have to use Facebook and Twitter to let people know when I’ve put more posts on this site. It was in the original plan but I’ve been dragging my feet for the same reasons you have — I just don’t want to keep up with it.

However, I do have a plan for when I do — I’ll pay my daughter, or another kid who is always up there anyway, to maintain my sites. What do you think?

On a slightly related topic, I’ve been getting a lot of private emails from people who want to explore marketing and survival stories with each other, and am thinking about dedicating some space on the site to doing so. Anyone out there interested?

By: Steve Berian

Steve Berian — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:12:16 +0000

Steve – Thanks for the article. My market specialty is “wedding: 2nd time arounders”. Me thinks that most of them are not Facebook, nor Twitter savvy. I’m certainly not. But I also wonder who will keep-up my postings on these media, should I embark there-on? I don’t have the time, nor frankly the inclination. Are there marketing types out there who can help?

By: prairiefire

prairiefire — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:28:03 +0000

Mitch,

Funny you should raise the “Facebook/Twitter” trend. I’ve been struggling with a yet to be made decision about using both to draw some readers to this Blog. I am AMBIVALENT — can’t make up my mind.

Both probably have their place — but the key is defining the place and understanding what they can do and what they cannot.

I’ve got some other thoughts about marketing on Facebook that I may write, later.

My perspective may be different — I have a 17 year old daughter who feels strongly that Facebook is the place of kids not grown ups, and feels about vendors the way many feel about door-to-door salesmen or phone solicitors. And, as a parent, I have some concerns about grown ups who market to kids instead of their parents.

Anyone out there want to pitch in and put up a comment that might start a discussion?

I’d like to build a community where we can exchange ideas and experiences. It all starts with a comment from one of you. All opinions are welcome and will be treated with respect.

Mitch, thanks for the kind words and starting off the thread.

sjh