One expensive wedding photograher

[ssim]

I picked this up from the Gary Fong newsletter. One wouldn't have to do many weddings in a year to live quite royally.

http://www.storybookweddings.com/pricing3589/coverage.html

[reidr]

After about 20, you could retire...

[Jesper]

Huh?! $10,000 per HOUR?! Does he mean US dollars?
Who is this guy Gary Fong, is he so famous or special that he can ask rates like that?

Edit: I just clicked to see his resume etc. I didn't know people could even get that rich and famous with photography..... :rolleyes: I think he must be a really good businessman.

[smittymike19]

Huh?! $10,000 per HOUR?! Does he mean US dollars?
Who is this guy Gary Fong, is he so famous or special that he can ask rates like that?

Edit: I just clicked to see his resume etc. I didn't know people could even get that rich and famous with photography..... :rolleyes: I think he must be a really good businessman.

yes

[JohnEBongo]

I don't care how popular a photographer you are, those prices are ridiculous.

[OceanRider]

His pic are nice but yes that is ridiculous. Some people MUST pay these crazy prices or they feel they did not get the "best"....they are the fools here. They probably brag about how much they paid for the pics--the joke is on them.

[PhotosGuy]

Gary worked in hospitals, labs, emergency rooms... Looks as if he has the right training for weddings!

[Belmondo]

That's about $119,900 more than my wife and if spent on our entire wedding, pictures included. (Thanks, Mom.)

[TSEE]

DANG! That's just INSANE to pay that much for wedding photos, its a rip off IMO. But I guess, if people are dumb enough to pay that then I guess more power to him!

[Merle]

Gary Fong is one of the top names in the Wedding Photography industry. Gary spent many years perfecting his craft, he has geared himself and targeted the upscale clientele. When you are considered one of the best you can and will command those kind of prices.
No, it is NOT A RIP OFF. People with money, (especially old money) do not think like the average person. I charge up to $2,500 for a complete wedding package. When Bill Gate's daughter gets married, I know Bill won't even consider me for the assignment because I don't charge enough. In Bill's mind, "If I don't demand a high price, I must not be a good photographer" When in fact I am not only good, I'm very good !! I choose to build my reputation among the middle class and so my prices reflect that. ;) :) :D

[stoneylonesome]

WOW! he gets paid more than any national sports hero. :lol: :lol: :lol: That is totally ridiculosus.

[DocFrankenstein]

LOL

Photographers like him don't live long. Usually, if a photographer screws up, he gets a lawsuit.

But if Garry Fong screws up, his "upscale clientelle" can just pop him!

[PacAce]

Gary Fong is one of the top names in the Wedding Photography industry. Gary spent many years perfecting his craft, he has geared himself and targeted the upscale clientele. When you are considered one of the best you can and will command those kind of prices.
No, it is NOT A RIP OFF. People with money, (especially old money) do not think like the average person. I charge up to $2,500 for a complete wedding package. When Bill Gate's daughter gets married, I know Bill won't even consider me for the assignment because I don't charge enough. In Bill's mind, "If I don't demand a high price, I must not be a good photographer" When in fact I am not only good, I'm very good !! I choose to build my reputation among the middle class and so my prices reflect that. ;) :) :D


I just upped my hourly rates. I'm now charging 10,000/hour. Just let me know if anybody's interested. And, btw, if you have to ask me if I give discounts, then you can't afford me!

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[mdm]

Errr, I guess I could charge 20,000 a hour plus milage. Hey, now I can plan on getting a new lens.

[Belmondo]

Is this the same Gary Fong that sells the Tupperware bowl that slips over the flash attachment?

If so, I wonder what people think when he whips that bad boy out. $10K per hour for that?

[roanjohn]

WOW!!!

I'm not surprised though..........Annie Liebowitz charges more for a portrait session in her studio.............

.......but thats Annie............who in the world is GARY??

Ro1

[BearSummer]

And the best bit, thats not the all in price, you have to pay for the album and prints on top of that.

My gast has never been so flabbered

BearSummer

[aam1234]

Is this the same Gary Fong that sells the Tupperware bowl that slips over the flash attachment?

If so, I wonder what people think when he whips that bad boy out. $10K per hour for that?

Ha ha. I nominate that for "best line of the week" :lol: :lol:

[cactusclay]

Humm, mabey it's time for a fuel surcharge.

[Longwatcher]

Hmmm...
I may need to up what I charge if some one is crazy enough to hire me to do a Wedding,
I tell people I charge $4000 to SHOOT the wedding and provide digital proofs.

But then I don't shoot weddings and really highly don't want to and don't think I should. So if someone can actually get that much, I may need to up my wedding rate just to be on the safe side. I figure if someone takes me up on the offer, I will happily do the best job I can, but with the written and signed caveat they get what they paid for. A slightly above average portrait photographer.

[PacAce]

Hmmm...
I may need to up what I charge if some one is crazy enough to hire me to do a Wedding,
I tell people I charge $4000 to SHOOT the wedding and provide digital proofs.

But then I don't shoot weddings and really highly don't want to and don't think I should. So if someone can actually get that much, I may need to up my wedding rate just to be on the safe side. I figure if someone takes me up on the offer, I will happily do the best job I can, but with the written and signed caveat they get what they paid for. A slightly above average portrait photographer.
Heck, Tim, if I were in your shoes and got hired to shoot a wedding at your asking rate, I'd go hire me a real pro wedding photographer at his (lower) rate. Just sub-contract, man! ;)

[Longwatcher]

Sshh!! don't tell anybody that was my secret assistant trick. I don't have to tell them who took which pictures.

[PacAce]

Sshh!! don't tell anybody that was my secret assistant trick. I don't have to tell them who took which pictures.
Oh, OK, you're secret is safe with me. I'll be using the same "trick" myself when I get calls from Hollywood love birds to do their weddings.

[cmM]

I think that's crazy.... like beyond ridiculous if you ask me.
I say that in comparison to other BIG names in wedding photography like Yervant, or Joseph Victor Stefanchic, David Beckstead, and so on (we're talkin Pulitzer prize winners and stuff like that), who don't charge nearly as much and their photography is jaw droping.

[rich29488]

A friend of mine charges about $20,000 for a wedding. I have seen his work and I have seen alot of other "Wedding Photographers". The quality of his shots are much higher quality. I personally know that he has about $50,000 worth of equipment. Including a mac with RISC storage of about 50 gigs. He has about $5,000 worth of software for photo correction. And then there is his Cameras. I believe he has about $30,000 worth of camera equipment (not sure about this one).

I can assure you he can smoke a guy with a digital camera who does wedding shop.

[BearSummer]

Hi Rich,

this really is a case of "it's not the equipment that's important", it's the eye, brain and finger. Some photog's ony give you one of the three, the really good ones give you all three, if you know what I mean :) I've spent more than that on equipment, doesn't make me a great photographer, just a guy with deep pockets and poor impulse control.

BearSummer (2 outa 3's not bad)

[Maureen Souza]

I think the guy is probably a bit full of himself and has way too much expensive equipment. I wouldn't want that kind of pressure on my shoulders as I am sure everyone expects perfection. Heck, I do wedding photos for family members and friends (who ask nice) for free! And free is the best...no one has the nerve to gripe about freebies!!

[Big_B]

I'm not sure why you are all being so hard on the guy. He clearly has rich clients who are prepared to pay his prices. Good luck to the guy.

Don't forget that he's not alone. I have a friend who is an investment banker and earns crazy money (unlike me I should add). He recently spend £2000 on a diamond encrusted cigarette lighter. Is it any better then a 30p plastic one? Of course not. Why does did he buy it then? Because he work on average 100 hours a week and spending money makes him feel that it is all worth while.

Alternatively, I'm sure some people might think that buying L lenses is more about status then visual quality. (although please lets not start a debate on this ;) )

Now I'm not trying to argue about the rights and wrongs of doing this, but just pointing out that people have a variety of reasons for spending crazy money on things without receiving an equivalent amount of intrinsic value.

If someone finds away of making money out of these people, then good luck them.

[PhotosGuy]

He clearly has rich clients who are prepared to pay his prices. "My kids wedding cost more than your kids wedding! (You looser!) ;-)

[Big_B]

"My kids wedding cost more than your kids wedding! (You looser!) ;-)

Quite! :)

[Belmondo]

I think I have this figured out.....

He charges $10,000 per hour based on the amount of time the shutter is open.

If he takes 4 shots per minute, and uses a typical shutter speed of 1/60 second, then in the space of an hour, he would have taken 240 shots meaning his shutter has been open a total of 4 seconds.

Based on the hourly rate of $10,000 ($166.67 per minute/$2.77 per second), 4 seconds would be worth about $11.11.

So, his hourly rate is actually closer to $10.00 than $10,000.

[kawter2]

HAHA I thought Mike Colon charged an arm and a leg

[kawter2]

and p.s. for 120k per wedding, you would think he could get a website that doesnt blow chunks. half his images have broken links!!!

[Big_B]

I think I have this figured out.....

He charges $10,000 per hour based on the amount of time the shutter is open.

If he takes 4 shots per minute, and uses a typical shutter speed of 1/60 second, then in the space of an hour, he would have taken 240 shots meaning his shutter has been open a total of 4 seconds.

Based on the hourly rate of $10,000 ($166.67 per minute/$2.77 per second), 4 seconds would be worth about $11.11.

So, his hourly rate is actually closer to $10.00 than $10,000.

Brilliant! :lol: :lol:

[rdenney]

I don't care how popular a photographer you are, those prices are ridiculous.

Not if people will pay them, they aren't.

Cost is born by the seller, but price is determined by the buyer. If the buyer's price does not exceed the seller's cost, the seller finds something else to do with his time. If the seller has capacity to serve only two buyers, should he not serve the buyer willing to pay more? There are others with lower prices who can serve the other.

And maybe Mr. Fong doesn't really want to do weddings, but has had so many requests that he said, "Okay, but it will cost you."

Rick "a businessman who understands the difference between cost and price" Denney

[natalka]

Quote:
Gary worked in hospitals, labs, emergency rooms...

Looks as if he has the right training for weddings!


He went to school for medicine...that's why he has experience in hospitals and emergency rooms.

[Bruce Hamilton]

Gary currently migrates between his homes in Marina Del Rey, CA; Lake Country and Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia.

Only two homes? :shock:

[Mike H]

I have to wonder if the $120,000 fee has to do with Gary's famous (or infamous) sense of humor, though I would point out that Dennis Reggie charged $44,000 per wedding as of the time that I heard him speak a couple of years ago, and claimed to be booking 50-70 weddings per year. Dennis mentioned that as he raised his price over the years that people kept hiring him, so he keeps raising the price.

Gary's a good shooter. I've seen lots of his work. I've also seen the work of other people that are equally good, though. As several people have hit on, the trick to getting rich as a shooter is to

1. cater to people with deep pockets that are willing to pay big bucks to get what they perceive as the best, and

2. have the savy to convince them that you are the best.

Gee ... we're all so smart on here that we can figure this out. Why haven't we all gotten rich???

Mike H

[DocFrankenstein]

I imagine someone trying to make a psychological profile of this individual:

He refers to himself in the third person
He puts tupperware on his flash
His hour costs 10K
His time before weddings was spent in hospitals and emergency rooms...

[cmM]

though I would point out that Dennis Reggie charged $44,000 per wedding as of the time that I heard him speak a couple of years ago, and claimed to be booking 50-70 weddings per year. Dennis mentioned that as he raised his price over the years that people kept hiring him, so he keeps raising the price.
Dennis Reggie is like the father of wedding photojournalism, I can understand him charging 50 grand, but that's less than half of what Gary Fong is charging...

[Photonut29]

You know what I think he is WAY OVER PRICED! I just looked at his work its not anything spectacular I have seen better on here and I have a friend that has only been doing this for a year that does comparable work. I dont know anyone in there right mind that would pay for him. Even if I could afford him I wouldnt pay that much for a session with him. Did you guys look at his childrens work? Nothing that most of the people on this forum couldnt do. I am not impressed. and I think anyone that would pay that much for him are CRAZY.

[rdenney]

You guys are looking at this the wrong way. You're saying "I don't get paid within a factor of 100 that much, so why does he deserve more?" You should be saying, "He gets big money for he same quality I could produce, so how do I get more?"

The fact that a merely good photographer can command such a price is GOOD news. It means there is SOMEONE out there willing to pay high prices for photography.

Of course, we've seen his published prices. We haven't seen if 1.) his customers actually pay the price, and 2.) his customers pay that price twice.

Rick "who thinks the prices in the classified are what people are asking, not what they are getting" Denney