Pros versus Parents

Interesting Read.

I guess it's more of the same old story...

But with all due respect to Mr Harte, watching client numbers steadily decline until they hit rock bottom without changing tack is probably indicative of bigger issues within his business.

He would do well to have a chat with Haim Ariav...

This type of issue has been challenging professtional photographers for some time. The lesson must that you have to find a business model that works. Complaining about GWC's will not put bread on the table.

One thing that seemed amiss was that this guy was selling $500 packages to student atheletes for exclusive coverage. It's interesting that people who were willing to pay $500 for the shots are suddenly all satisfied with a couple freebies from a GWC.

In any case, it's time for a change in approach. I make some money shooting youth sports but this would be a killer job to try and make a full time living from.

Would anyone argue the fact that, with the advent of digital cameras and what they can accomplish in the hands of an armature, it is easier for mom and pop to take an adequate image.
For years the Pros had a virtual lock on the business because of the skill level involved...'taint the case anymore as Mom and Dad can now take that adequate image.
When you couple that with today's economy being in the doldrums, is it any wonder that your potential client list is either in, or headed into, the toilet.

Class Pictures, a subject that from parents point of view, I am familar with, got nine of the cherubs...have any of you guys noticed the quality, or lack thereof, that is being churned out nowdays...'tis sad.

Maybe, for the few really great ones, the ones that are doing well now, but for the corner pro photog, IMHO, things are not looking good.

This part is just too funny. but the sad truth of the entire digital revolution

“We get a lot of parents coming up to us and asking how to operate their machinery,”

Perhaps the "pro" sports photographers should try to get into shooting "pro" sports. or at least college/university sports or something. $500 for a disk? that sounds a little much to *me* for a highschool football game. Heck there are people that pay $500 for a wedding! (not that I would recommend it!).

As mentioned maybe those "pros" should try to do indoor sports such as hockey where the lighting conditions are more difficult and they would see more business. I can't fathom how they could make a living off of it, I could just see it as a way to make some money on the side.

chauncey wrote in post #8795767
Would anyone argue the fact that, with the advent of digital cameras and what they can accomplish in the hands of an armature, it is easier for mom and pop to take an adequate image........

It actually doesn't matter, because Canon marketing/advertising makes them think that they can.

I've seen many disappointed parents' laments, including:
1. My camera isn't performing; I should be getting (what you get)
2. I think something's wrong with this lens
3. I need a better lens
4. I need a better camera
......and more.

What I never hear is "I need to work on my technique"

..and I'm just a part-time paid PWC.

I have a couple of pro friends -- They've stopped shooting all but T&I now.

Even that, they walk away from when the organizations get greedy on % of gross revenue.

I continue to believe that sports photogs should focus their energy where:
(a) The sport is extremely expensive; Hockey, Gymnastics, Dressage
(b) The sport has fine technical points (Dressage/Gymnastics)
(c) The sport is played in very poor/tricky light (Hockey)
(d) The sport is very fast and reach is required (LAX, Soccer)
(d) In wealthy zip codes only.....

Like I said, I'm not a pro photog, but I am a businessman, so I did evaluate my local market closely to see if it would be worth my time.

Honestly, it isn't, and I feel bad for people who try to make a living doing it because, if you broke down the pay by hour spent, they might not be at minimum wage.

I suspect they'll have to convert to video, actually, or wait for gear which is dual-use that they can afford, like RED (http://www.red.com)

[x] armature in this thread

Also, I really don't get the fuss. If a parent wants to take pictures of their own child...keyword their own child...who are we to get upset about it?

If people would rather pay an amateur $300 for a CD instead of the professional $500, well, the pro needs to get better or charge less.

This is the one thing I hate about photographers...the sense of entitlement. Just because you've been doing it longer doesn't mean you are guaranteed, or even should get the money. The internet is out there and people are now figuring out how to do this stuff on their own. Maybe parents think they are getting screwed by the photog's prices, so they do it on their own.

Every business needs to change. Canon isn't getting rich off of selling AE-1 bodies...they updated their products with the times, now it's all digital. You just have to adapt. If only Canon whined about it every time someone bought a nikon because canon refused to update their product.

All I can say is, "that's life". Technology advances and lets non-pros get results that at one time only a pro with a big investment could get. The same thing happened with the PC and the laser printer. At one time if you wanted a flyer or brochure, you had to pay a printer to design and offset print it in big batches. Now you can do it yourself at home. All it does is weed out the hacks because the true pros will adapt and step up their game.

If the GWC's shots are so terrible, why is this guy so threatened? Every business has to deal with being undercut by lower quality competition. You can either focus on keeping your quality high and taking care of your customers or you can whine about it.

mike_d wrote in post #8796442
If the GWC's shots are so terrible, why is this guy so threatened? Every business has to deal with being undercut by lower quality competition. You can either focus on keeping your quality high and taking care of your customers or you can whine about it.

Almost every time there is a thread or blog post on this topic this same disconnect appears.

First we are told that the technology is so easy and these 'stupid' amateurs are so willing to give away their work that nobody can make a living.

And then we are told these GWCs are such hacks that their work is terrible.

The two positions are mutually exclusive.

Seems to me that for the latter case any professional photographer should be able to outhustle the GWCs and deliver a better product. And if the former is the reality then I suggest going back to school for a degree in nursing or computer science or something as photography will be a dead end.

it funny how the wife stops at our booth to check out samples of our shots then the husband goes "lets just bring our camera tomorrow and take pictures of our child" then the next day, goes back to our booth and asks "did you take any photos of our child?"
the reply goes: sorry ma'am we only do pre-orders since there's 60+ games...haha

JeffreyG wrote in post #8796469
Seems to me that for the latter case any professional photographer should be able to outhustle the GWCs and deliver a better product. And if the former is the reality then I suggest going back to school for a degree in nursing or computer science or something as photography will be a dead end.

And in most businesses, the ability to sell yourself and your product is probably more important than the the product itself. A true pro will know how to get the shot, process the shot, and SELL the shot. The GWC might get some nice shots but without any business skills, he's not going to get much business. Maybe the guy in the article was just used to being the only game in town and never really learned how to promote himself. Now that there's a viable alternative to his services, he's up the creek without a paddle and no idea how to make one.

I saw this same article on sportsshooter... interesting read for sure...

Competition is healthy in everything you do. It forces people to improve or get left behind.

canonnoob wrote in post #8796505
I saw this same article on sportsshooter... interesting read for sure...

same here...