And you thought CL was bad!!

Anyone looking for a cheap wedding photographer?? This is an amazing deal..

http://livingsocial.co​m …trait-package?msdc_id=554

I can't imagine they've done too many weddings! They are offering a wedding for $200 on LivingSocial. I know...$200 is the standard CL wedding fee...but this is LivingSocial (Groupon knockoff..) so they will only get $100!

They're offering an E Session, Wedding, Reception and a few photos..


Not sure if the link will work, so I copied the text here.

Magical Image Photography
Wedding Day Photography Package with Two Photographers, Two-Hour On-Location Engagement Session, One 5x7, and One 8x10 Portrait ($200), or a Two-Hour High School Senior Portrait Shoot with One 8x10 Portrait and 10 Digital Images ($50)
$50
buy now!
send as a gift
82% SAVINGS 2 PURCHASED 6 Days REMAINING
We've found Aladdin's magic lamp, and inside are two camera-wielding genies ready to grant your every photographic wish. A deal this good has got to be supernatural: The husband-and-wife duo at Magical Image Photography is offering a wedding package that includes wedding and reception coverage by two photographers, and a two-hour on-location engagement session, one 5x7, and one 8x10 portrait, all for $200. That's a $1085 value, plus you get 10% off any additional purchases including portraits, artistic wedding books, and save-the-date cards. Or, pick up a high school Senior portrait package and pay just $50 for a two-hour on-location session with outfit changes, one 8x10 portrait, and 10 digital images to light up your Facebook. Great news: This treasure's in the Midwest, not the Middle East, and all it takes to awaken these genies is the

magical camera wielding genies huh? I don't know what's scarier, that they are only charging $200 for all of that, or that their regular prices are only $1000.

This is how we all need to market!

After looking at their website it seems like this couple has shot no more than two weddings. I'm guessing that they're simply using this to build their portfolio.

I have a feeling that they've just bit off more than they can chew.

Has it sold? I've considered doing this for boudoirs when my studio is finished. Of course I'm going to charge $350 for a 1 hour boudoir session but a girl in Phoenix does this and it always sells out!

Sign me up for working for WELL below minimum wage! Nice.

If you read the ad copy closely, they're offering one 5x7 and one 8x10 for $200. When has that ever been enough for a wedding? My guess is that they will nail their customers for additional prints/albums. The $1085 figure suggests the scale for extras, even at "10%" off.

As for the senior package, it's $50 for one 8x10 and ten digital images suitable for Facebook. Translated, that means RLR (really low resolution).

joedlh wrote in post #11981718
If you read the ad copy closely, they're offering one 5x7 and one 8x10 for $200. When has that ever been enough for a wedding? My guess is that they will nail their customers for additional prints/albums. The $1085 figure suggests the scale for extras, even at "10%" off.

As for the senior package, it's $50 for one 8x10 and ten digital images suitable for Facebook. Translated, that means RLR (really low resolution).

Yeah, and the real problem with this is that they are charging far too little, and on top of a super low price, they only get half of it! They clearly didn't think this through. After just their actual costs, they can't be making anything at all.

ShotByTom wrote in post #11984342
Yeah, and the real problem with this is that they are charging far too little, and on top of a super low price, they only get half of it! They clearly didn't think this through. After just their actual costs, they can't be making anything at all.

Not if they charge $20 for a 4x6 or $25 for one digital file. That can add up quickly when the couple wants more images from their wedding. Charge a grand above cost for an album and voila... you just made $1100 for a wedding off the album and what they paid alone. Not too shabby. Especially if the weddings they book each bring in a full paying referral.

PeaceFire wrote in post #11984627
Not if they charge $20 for a 4x6 or $25 for one digital file. That can add up quickly when the couple wants more images from their wedding. Charge a grand above cost for an album and voila... you just made $1100 for a wedding off the album and what they paid alone. Not too shabby. Especially if the weddings they book each bring in a full paying referral.

I don't see someone looking to pay $200 for a wedding photographer laying out an extra grand on prints.

You'd do it once you realized all you get is a 5x7 and an 8x10.

It's like the photographers where I got married. They show up for free and give you a free 5x7! Good deal right? Until they tell you each digital file costs $25 and an 8x10 is $30. Or you can get a package of 42 digital files and 15 8x10s for $1200. And most people I know who got married there around the same time I did forked over the $1200 for the package.

If they were also giving away the digital files then clearly they would be clueless, but they aren't, they are just using old fashioned pricing.

My friends got married 11 years ago and they paid their photographer 0 for attendance on the day ...... but £2,000+ for prints and albums afterwards.

The problem with using this pricing structure these days is that everyone expects the digital files so if you use this sort of pricing you should expect some animosity after the wedding.

Its the same sort of system that many portrait studios operate under, cheap upfront costs lots of emotive sales after the event.

You all have to understand though that these sites are not intended to help you make a profit but a way of marketing with no up front cost to you.They reach thousands of customers and get your name out there to help you market your business and make lasting relationships to bring in those customers back to your business! It's actually very ingenious and I've done it with Groupon before with huge success. I'm actually about to get featured on Groupon again in 2 weeks time. I sold out in a matter of hours and have had return business from it. Not a bad way to make 13K in one day either.

lapiqurestudios wrote in post #12001682
You all have to understand though that these sites are not intended to help you make a profit but a way of marketing with no up front cost to you.They reach thousands of customers and get your name out there to help you market your business and make lasting relationships to bring in those customers back to your business! It's actually very ingenious and I've done it with Groupon before with huge success. I'm actually about to get featured on Groupon again in 2 weeks time. I sold out in a matter of hours and have had return business from it. Not a bad way to make 13K in one day either.

I'm with you, the only thing kind of lame about their ad was the whole genie thing, but the actual price I don't see a problem with. You know people will book and you know you'll make a ton of sales.

Can I ask what your deal is? I've seen this for Boudoirs in my area but not for Weddings. I want to do both once my studio space is complete but I'm not sure what to offer. But I think this is the new way to advertise successfully.

^ I'm actually doing a portrait session really. I did not offer any kind of wedding package deal as it is not broad enough of a deal. I want to include everyone needing portraits and there are less people looking for a wedding package then people looking for portraits. I wanted to make this as broad as I could so it would be attractive for anyone thus increasing sales and the marketing ploy. I did change things up a bit because last year's deal was a bit overwhelming for my studio. I guess we just didn't really expect those kind of numbers hahaha.