Race to the bottom....

Kronie wrote in post #15811856
I care because if they ask me next year to shoot the prom I might do it for the experience.....and it would be nice to make a few bucks off the prints.

Plus I thought it would make good fodder for the board....

As far as wasting time, actually I am wasting the time of the company that pays me a salary to be here from 9-5....so its all good...

You're about to give the board really good fodder if you're not careful....

So "Homemaker Mom Photography, Inc." shoots the job. Then she has to take the time to go to the local mart and sit at the self print station to get the prints made. She'll be there an hour or so. When she buys the prints, they'll add tax to them as she probably doesn't have a resellers tax-free form from the local tax office.
All in all, she's going to be clearing pennies per print. If she's actually doing it to make some extra money, she'll learn soon enough. If she's doing it just to be doing it for free... mission accomplished.

^ even if her profit is $0, it may be completely worth it to her to have had the experience of doing such a large shoot. Further, as pointed out above, doing the shoot puts her in a good position to segue into doing senior shoots. Who are we to say that what she's doing isn't totally reasonable and totally smart from her own business perspective ?

I agree, though, that after doing this work she'll immediately understand how hard this work is and will obviously raise her fees.

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #15812241
^ even if her profit is $0, it may be completely worth it to her to have had the experience of doing such a large shoot. Further, as pointed out above, doing the shoot puts her in a good position to segue into doing senior shoots. Who are we to say that what she's doing isn't totally reasonable and totally smart from her own business perspective ?

I agree, though, that after doing this work she'll immediately understand how hard this work is and will obviously raise her fees.

It's perfectly possible she's happy to do it for "free". For her it could very well be a hobby and a way to give back to the community as well and the prices are simply to cover her expenses.

^Totally agree. I'm saying more, though. I'm saying her strategy (charge super low at first just to gain experience and leads) isn't entirely unreasonable from a business perspective.

It couldn't hurt to send her a note explaining why she can and should be charging more. She could be doing this out of the kindness of her heart or for the experience. But more likely she has no clue what she should or could be charging. One of the hardest things to figure out is how much to charge when you are starting out.

Kronie wrote in post #15811856
I care because if they ask me next year to shoot the prom I might do it for the experience.....and it would be nice to make a few bucks off the prints.

Plus I thought it would make good fodder for the board....

As far as wasting time, actually I am wasting the time of the company that pays me a salary to be here from 9-5....so its all good...

So... you are mad that she's hardly up-charging and you are thinking about shooting it for experience next year?

Kronie wrote in post #15811450
She's probably better. I mean, I have only been shooting an SLR for 30 years, have had numerous gallery shows, been published in a number of magazines and papers, shoot weddings, portraits, commercial work....

Plus, she has the job and I dont so that must mean something right?

Nah, she just knows somebody.

She'll know, eventually, that $1 is worth exactly $1. Wait until she gets complaints.

xchangx wrote in post #15812540
So... you are mad that she's hardly up-charging and you are thinking about shooting it for experience next year?

I am not mad I just wish she would charge more for prints. She should be charging at least $10 for an 8x10. I was going to charge $20, usually I charge $30 for portrait stuff.

As far as shooting it for experience, Its just a backdrop and two strobes. I have been working with strobes for years....but it might have kind of fun to shoot prom kids for a few hours. Something different.... I would have been shooting it for an experience not gaining experience if that makes sense.....

Kronie wrote in post #15811856
I care because if they ask me next year to shoot the prom I might do it for the experience.....and it would be nice to make a few bucks off the prints.

Plus I thought it would make good fodder for the board....

As far as wasting time, actually I am wasting the time of the company that pays me a salary to be here from 9-5....so its all good...

You are saying that the other photographers prices are too low, but then you say you may just shoot it for experience. Which is it?

Sometimes you just have to elevate yourself in the market place, you ultimately know how good you are.


To give you an idea, I charge 75 an hour for my consideration with ANY type of swim lesson. the average rate in my area is substantially less, but im also FAR more experienced.


What can you do to differentiate yourself from the pack? push the envelope?

For the momtagrapher, this prom gig may seem unprofitable, but she instantly gains access to a large pool of potential clients if she manages to capitalize and build client relationships.

It really doesn't matter how much this momtagrapher or whoever charges. It is their prerogative. Maybe she goes about with a 20d, 2 No-name Flash units and Craigslist muslin drapes. Maybe her cost is super low... her friend of a friend owns a print shop. Who knows.

My advise is for you to calculate your own COGS and charge what you feel is profitable to maintain your lifestyle.

veritasimg wrote in post #15812711
she instantly gains access to a large pool of potential clients

This is really and truly my gripe over anything else.....

veritasimg wrote in post #15812711
For the momtagrapher, this prom gig may seem unprofitable, but she instantly gains access to a large pool of potential clients if she manages to capitalize and build client relationships

i dunno about this...i thought i read that there were only 23 seniors in the class; if so, i would hardly characterize that as a large pool. now, if there were 200+ seniors, that would be a completely different story

Kronie wrote in post #15812729
This is really and truly my gripe over anything else.....

So your actual gripe is that she may have a better business strategy?

moose10101 wrote in post #15812780
So your actual gripe is that she may have a better business strategy?

If a better business strategy is to stumble on a job and WAY undercharge then definitely, the strategy is sound. In fact its such a good strategy that when she raises her prices next year by 30% no one will even notice because she will still be 40% lower than most of the photographer around here.