My website, your opinions please

It already looks much better!

Myboostedgst wrote in post #16673431
It already looks much better!

Thank you!!!!

Hikin Mike wrote in post #16672946
I helped another photographer-friend on her site a few years ago. PM me if you still need help.

I sent you a PM, thanks so much!

ldt_81 wrote in post #16672774
Basically the price is to cover gas, etc. That might be weird to some I guess. I wouldn't even classify myself as a true photographer, I still have a ton to learn.

Then don't charge and don't be in business.

When you charge $50 and give a disc of images, that is exactly what you are doing.

Learn, consistently put out a product that is professional and can charge you a good, sustainable rate and then charge.

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #16674934
Then don't charge and don't be in business.

When you charge $50 and give a disc of images, that is exactly what you are doing.

Learn, consistently put out a product that is professional and can charge you a good, sustainable rate and then charge.

I would like to hear your thoughts on how I should continue to build my portfolio and learn? I actually feel as though I have put out consistent quality photos. I personally would like more experience, but it's not free for me to drive all over town and take pictures, and I need subjects to take pictures of. Should I raise the price? I can offer prints, because I use a pro lab myself. How do I gain experience without invading people's privacy and randomly take pictures on the street?

Family members?

Friends?

Kids?

Pets?

Donate to a soldier's family?

You may put out consistent quality. Do you think your consistent quality is on the level of someone that can make a living shooting portraits?

I know others will disagree with me, but I believe that it isn't a smart business to start offering your services before you can charge at a sustainable wage.

When you do charge something like $50 and include a disc, you obviously aren't charging a sustainable wage. The first people that are going to book you are what is called your "Natural Market." This is friends, family, acquaintences. They probably already like you. And if your quality is basically worth $50, they likely won't be super pleased. They may not be like "Uh, these are a bit amateurish" but they also probably won't go sing your praises far and wide to everyone that will listen. This is an important thing for you.

You want your natural market to become Customer Evangelists. And that means not shooting them until you can really knock them on their ass with how amazing you are. Then they are going to sing your praises and your business will take off. And they will share you and then those people will share you, etc.

But when you are a brand newbie, you probably can't knock people on their ass with you being super amazing and it will be harder to get that ball rolling in a meaningful way.

Now, I know that 99% of photography businesses probably don't use this method. But I believe if you take a little more time on the front end and really hone your craft before you hang a shingle, then your business will take off much sooner and much more profitably than it would if you slowly got the ball rolling with cheap sessions.

The other thing that happens is that you burn your market whenever you have a significant price increase. So your $50 customers may love your work - for $50. But when it comes time to raise your prices to something like $100/session with no disc - you are getting the wrong referrals. Your clients are telling people how great you are and how you give a disc for $50, but you need to actually make some money at that, and you aren't doing that on portraits by including a disc. So now your new referrals aren't pleased and you have to start with a 100% organic search of new people because you burned your natural market and their referral base.

Now if you sit back for six months or a year and really focus on your technique and ability with subjects and become legitimately good, then you start off the business without including a disc and your natural market refers you out at a way that can sustain your business.

Again, most people don't follow this advice, but coincidentally, most photography businesses fail, and I believe a big reason for that is short-term thinking and failing to apply the same business principles that you would apply to any other business. Ultimately, you are a business person first, and the business you happen to be in is photography. You have to think like a CEO, not an artist for a lot of it.

Just my two cents.

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #16675139
Family members?

Friends?

Kids?

Pets?

Donate to a soldier's family?

You may put out consistent quality. Do you think your consistent quality is on the level of someone that can make a living shooting portraits?

I know others will disagree with me, but I believe that it isn't a smart business to start offering your services before you can charge at a sustainable wage.

When you do charge something like $50 and include a disc, you obviously aren't charging a sustainable wage. The first people that are going to book you are what is called your "Natural Market." This is friends, family, acquaintences. They probably already like you. And if your quality is basically worth $50, they likely won't be super pleased. They may not be like "Uh, these are a bit amateurish" but they also probably won't go sing your praises far and wide to everyone that will listen. This is an important thing for you.

You want your natural market to become Customer Evangelists. And that means not shooting them until you can really knock them on their ass with how amazing you are. Then they are going to sing your praises and your business will take off. And they will share you and then those people will share you, etc.

But when you are a brand newbie, you probably can't knock people on their ass with you being super amazing and it will be harder to get that ball rolling in a meaningful way.

Now, I know that 99% of photography businesses probably don't use this method. But I believe if you take a little more time on the front end and really hone your craft before you hang a shingle, then your business will take off much sooner and much more profitably than it would if you slowly got the ball rolling with cheap sessions.

The other thing that happens is that you burn your market whenever you have a significant price increase. So your $50 customers may love your work - for $50. But when it comes time to raise your prices to something like $100/session with no disc - you are getting the wrong referrals. Your clients are telling people how great you are and how you give a disc for $50, but you need to actually make some money at that, and you aren't doing that on portraits by including a disc. So now your new referrals aren't pleased and you have to start with a 100% organic search of new people because you burned your natural market and their referral base.

Now if you sit back for six months or a year and really focus on your technique and ability with subjects and become legitimately good, then you start off the business without including a disc and your natural market refers you out at a way that can sustain your business.

Again, most people don't follow this advice, but coincidentally, most photography businesses fail, and I believe a big reason for that is short-term thinking and failing to apply the same business principles that you would apply to any other business. Ultimately, you are a business person first, and the business you happen to be in is photography. You have to think like a CEO, not an artist for a lot of it.

Just my two cents.

Very helpful, thank you!

Thomas makes some good points. Either do it for free, as a gift or charge a real price. Now you're sending the message that a photography session with you is only worth 50 dollars.

Great website.

Although Weebly has its limitations, for a free platform it's excellent. Good luck with your photography habit

No price or package information... are your selling or just showing? The website suggests the later.

Social icons... way too small... look like they are a mistake as a result

I'd agree with Thomas too.

If you aren't ready to charge prices that create a sustainable income you aren't ready to be in business. This is the biggest thing most do who fail.

How many other businesses open their doors knowing in advance they can't sell their products at a high enough price or at enough volume in order to even cover their costs let alone pay their staff wages. The photography industry is full of these people who can only be described as being completely devoid of business common sense. IMHO people making business decisions like that don't deserve to succeed in business.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16679783
No price or package information... are your selling or just showing? The website suggests the later.

Social icons... way too small... look like they are a mistake as a result

I'd agree with Thomas too.

If you aren't ready to charge prices that create a sustainable income you aren't ready to be in business. This is the biggest thing most do who fail.

How many other businesses open their doors knowing in advance they can't sell their products at a high enough price or at enough volume in order to even cover their costs let alone pay their staff wages. The photography industry is full of these people who can only be described as being completely devoid of business common sense. IMHO people making business decisions like that don't deserve to succeed in business.

Yes, I took the session and pricing pages off for now, until I can decide on what I want to charge, and until I get more experience and a larger portfolio I'm proud of. Right now it's more of a gallery for people who are asking me to take their pictures. They can go to the website and get an idea of what my work is like. I have a lot of things lined up, like some maternity and newborn sessions, so maybe I'll be more confident of what to charge after I'm more familiar with those two areas. Then I'll know exactly what my time is worth!

bikfoto wrote in post #16679749
Great website.

Although Weebly has its limitations, for a free platform it's excellent. Good luck with your photography habit

Thank you so much!

I agree that the social media icons are too small -- I didn't even notice they were there.
Also, I think it's kind of weird that when I click on the facebook icon it takes me to your personal page, not a photography page. I'm not clear on how that helps promote your business/photography.