How do you compete with this?

Ah, I was wondering about the defect clause you had but now it makes since. My thoughts were if they had it frammed somewhere or they did it, results could be costly.
I also have all my prints done by a lab I love there Luster results. They also do all my mounts and stand behind there work, which allows me to do the same. Never gave a thought to size changes.
Thanks for the clarify.

USER876 wrote in post #11173530
A few people have asked me if they can get a cd of the entire shoot. when I tell them I don't offer that they showed me this ad from craigslist. How do you respond to this and not lose a customer?

The Wife knew she'd run into this, so has an option for folks to buy a DVD of the images with a personal use print license, sized to 5x7, which is the largest size most of them will ever want anyway. She certainly doesn't give it away. For anything larger--wall print, gallery wrap--they still have to come back to her. It's worked out well for her, but as with all business models here, YMMV.

TopHatMoments wrote in post #11182675
Ah, I was wondering about the defect clause you had but now it makes since. My thoughts were if they had it frammed somewhere or they did it, results could be costly.
I also have all my prints done by a lab I love there Luster results. They also do all my mounts and stand behind there work, which allows me to do the same. Never gave a thought to size changes.
Thanks for the clarify.

It's all about reducing objections to purchase. I've actually never had anyone make use of my guarantee and warranties, although there have been a couple of times when I didn't see enough positive body language during a sales presentation that I offered another session free of charge...and only one time that they took me up on it.

I've had a couple himm hauu a bit at the front end. I offered to do the shoot and then if they like, they could pay for the session and prints. They catch me in an ahh mood, anyway the few times I have done them only had one not or say the didn't like them. I bid them my well and packet everything up. As I was about out the door. Hey maybe we might be interested in a few of the prints. Seems the wife and his daughter did very much like the work, only he thought he would bargain and I would give in. Sorry sir I have several sets like we discussed and they are each basic in price. No more unless we add it on, no less, unless I take it off. He had a blank look of, well ? On his face. I simply said. I never do! And shut the door behind me, with his mouth hanging open. Not two steps away you could hear, from inside. You blankity, blank S.O.B. I told you not to pull that stunt cause he wouldn't go for it. We had our hair done, our nails, I even made your changes ready and easy to get at. Your sorry $@&%. He came to us at our request, the pictures were great ( and they were pretty good if I do say- it was a fun shoot, he even had a blast ) I stuttered there listing to a good bit of it ( I paid to listen ) she let him have it too. For a small lady she had a set of vocals on her I tell you what. - You try this crap all the time, 2 days I set up for this, your daughter is in tears, I'm feedup.. Things started to quiet down so to my jeep I went. She railed on him, it was payment enough for the time. She made good tea.
I sent her a 4x6' and an 8x10 of the best pose of her and her daughter. That was years ago. I did her daughters senior work, her engagement work. ( I explained that since it egged him that maybe I could suggest a photog for the wedding) she was happy. I do her daughters family work still today and she has two kids of her own.
I know rambling mindlessy.

Cpt. Kirk above ( see my sig) reminded me of something. Body language. The potential Client say a lot with there expressions. As a photographer you start to just see that and remember, that would make a great expression of them in print. You remember what was being said at the time so you can skate around it again or something close, in hopes of conjuring up that look. It is different with every one. Some daily chit chat subjects are a given but the defining look is what you want and to get it you have to be on there thought pattern. Now it don't always work as the gamble with the above took a twist. I'd liked to have gotten the expression on his face when, I walked out the door. ((Õ¿Õ))

Bosscat wrote in post #11178062
They said the same thing about Betamax and VHS and where are they now?

Betamax format never really caught on. VHS still lingers today, even with DTV if connected to a converter box. But I'm not really sure these technologies compare with social networking technology since sharing a VHS tape is more cumbersome and limited to shipping the actual tape to another person, than shooting someone a file over a network to their computer or mobile device, or posting it to Facebook account, all within a matter of a minute or less.

I saw an article today... "Facebook has over 500 million active users, including more than 150 million who access the site through their mobile devices. The number of registered Twitter users is estimated at more than 165 million."

http://finance.yahoo.c​om …-social-rb-391635045.html

Yes kids! Today is a far cry from Romper Room and the Magig Mirror. Why to you can call all the across the street and never have to come down the the light pole. I bet in the next hundred hears or so they'll have gadgets that you can even call across town on and stay dry when it rains. Who knows maybe even be able to call out of state. Gee now that would really be swell!

Bosscat wrote in post #11173923
LOL.....people shop on price 9 times out of 10 these days.

I go out of my way to buy higher quality products and services, which generally means a higher price. I'm probably not the norm though, but there are people out there who value quality and service.

The public needs to be educated that very good looking photos do not come out of a camera looking as such. They need to be fine tuned and you can't fine tune 340 photos on a computer, shoot someone with 4 clothing changes all for $59 to run a successful business.

Even at the lightning speed of processing a photo every 30 seconds, 340 photos would be nearly 3 hours of computer work!

HappySnapper90 wrote in post #11191418
The public needs to be educated that very good looking photos do not come out of a camera looking as such.

Ooops. Maybe I did a bad thing.

I shot a portrait on location a while back using the reverse-color-balanced-gel trick to turn the background blue, overpowered the remaining sun at twilight and dragged the shutter to allow the streetlights to come through. Simple enough tricks when you know what you're doing, but when I gave the client a glimpse of the results on the LCD, she exclaimed, "Wow! I thought you had to do things like that in Photoshop!" So now she probably thinks you just need a really good camera.

The general public will price shop first. Even the private sector does this, sometimes with a large staff in order to save a buck. If they are not real picky about what is needed so long as it is close, can you guess which product they will purchase.*
*Photography was on the start very expensive for quality equipment and it still is today. With that said. You can take a 6 megapixel dslr and print 8x12 prints that sometimes have more detail than a female client may wish. Even larger prints are capable with the same camera.*
*My first digital was a 10D, purchased so I could see what and how they produced. *I had the glass already. It came With DPP and elements 2. Didn't take me long to teach my self that with Elements 2, I could layer this and that from the same photograph and produce fairly nice outcome. As a twist I started to use it at the end of basic portrait sessions, and when the outcome became clear I could hand a client a nice print from it. I did so ( I put the film print side by side with the digital print ) and for the most part walkins, basic portraiture, seniors, could not tell the difference.*
Now that was with a 10D and elements 2 and over time I moved away from film to 5D's still yet from there to the 1D flagship serious and even they keep moving up. ( small hint 90% light, 20% camera, 110% person using the gear ) if the numbers don't add up, there not suppose too. Most of today's point and shot are larger megapixel, (than my first digital) (some more than my DIII's) I have one that got's them beat there though. *P&S's that do automatic panoramas, HDR, facial recognition, movie........ They can send it to or take to any number of printers, some which are the same many pro's use. The print shop automatically fixes the flaws for them and hands over a print. Now some of these very same individuals think to them selves, everybody likes my prints maybe I could do this as a sideline. AND they do!! Some look to improve there abilities, finding there way here. I've looked at a few, some of which never seem to look anything up, ( as they have no free time with there new paying hobby ) it's the same for every subject. Why look it up when you can ask knowing there is never a shortage of answers to chose from.*
*That is what this site is all about, a place to discus and learn from what I have read in my short time here.*
*59$ 340 photographson a CD in the studio, preset for white balances, drop down backgrounds, lights already where they want. Everything pretty much on automatic. They can shoot in jpeg, already having the camera sharpness set for printing, yada, yada and so on. Very little PP needed and with a tethered system they can have them in the computer already doing what little if any at all PP is needed. With a fast computer it will not take 3 hours, it will at most be a 15 maybe 20 minute wait. (340 photographs on a CD is a hint to the size they put on it) Quick guess would be somewhere around 1.6-2 megapixel on average. *
Wana see how they do it, go for a session with them as a average Joe, off the street. Don't let on that you do photography also. Buy your ticket take the ride and *leave with a prize. Who knows they may try to sell you an upgraded package. ( you can print nice 4x6 from that cd but if you like we can make larger prints of the ones you chose) > at an extra fee of course.*

How do you compete with there system? SIMPLE - YOU DONT - !!

You either do it the way You do it, or you do it the way they do it..

You can get a nice suit at sears, you can also get a nice suit at a Mens Warehouse, with a bit of fitting thrown in, so it hangs on you better. Want a better looking suit that fits better, looks better, states who you are better, commands a better arena and draws more comments? Go to a Taylor! Have it custom made from scratch with a few fittings and your impute. They know how to and which way to arrange the material to make you look your best. That personal service designed for you, to bring out what you want, in a way that makes you look a cut above the rest. They will go out of there way to give you what you want ( with a price ). Will you wear your custom tailored suits all the time? Probably not but, there will be times, when you want it to hang a cut above the rest.
*
You don't compete with them or even try to out compete with them. (heck they have that overbearing, mom and pop killing large chain store beat) in the price war.*

You out maneuver them with a better product and only then when someone wants a cut above the rest.

You give a personal service beyond anything they can do in there studio, you schmooze your clients with realistic commentary they bare interested in, adding a personal touch and a dash of flare. You do it with a reasonable price, outstanding service, unequaled ability, in a way that is flattering and honest. You direct them in such away they are unaware of it while at the same time compliant..
You make them feel good and look good. You do what it takes to get the expressions that flatter them in print. Involve them in a setting that tells a little about them. The list is endless.*
You don't compete, you offer a service that Over Competes, over the top hands down and always with a smile ( even if the flash scares the piss out of the lil one - literally - while setting on your props. ) take to long and there lunch will up and follow if they get nervous. Things are gonna happen, how you deal with it,you over the top, over compete the rest.*
*Some will like what you do! Some will not. Look for and search out the ones that will and let the rest follow as they may. * * * * * * *

For me, I have tons of amateur friends who are just now getting into the business of being a photographer - and they really don't realize what it really takes to do this full time, as a professional. I've had them come to me to ask me "is charging $500.00 for a wedding too much?" I usually start laughing, and educate them on what really is involved in shooting a wedding - it's not just showing up and shooting. Anyway, after I finished telling them I usually spend about 30-40 hours/per wedding, they sat down and re-evaluated their whole business model.

Time is your most valuable asset. Don't waste it on clients who demand the moon for the price of a rock. Instead, market towards clients who CAN afford the moon, and you know you can give it to 'em. It's that simple.

USER876 wrote in post #11173530
A few people have asked me if they can get a cd of the entire shoot. when I tell them I don't offer that they showed me this ad from craigslist. How do you respond to this and not lose a customer?
---------------

"we're offering slots at $59 in order to fill some vacancies. No catch or hidden fees. "

_340 photos taken ...
_Studio and Natural light setups ...
_Up to 4 changes of clothing ...
_Free Retouching ...
_Leave with a CD of all images ..

---------------

The studio actually does decent work too.......(at least on their website)

Original ad doesn't say that the images on the CD are high resolution... Probably just 400x600 or something not really usable for much. Nor does it say that they don't have massive watermarks across them.

Bait n switch... Take the pics cheap, then if they want high rez or prints, slap em with big charges.

I know someone who works in one of those "mall photo studios" that advertises a $60 "special" portrait sitting on the window in two foot tall lettering. She tells me their average sale is well over $400. Their trick is "Oh, we delete all the photos as soon as you leave." Now what Mom can stand to have her little Jimmy deleted! Pretty soon she's adding on lots of prints, to the "get em in the door" price.

Of course, the last place I want to get customers from is Craigslist... And the ones expecting to only spend $60 are especially poor prospects, the ones most likely to complain or bounce a check. So maybe I don't really want to compete for them.

You can't get me to even discuss a session if 60 bucks is already too much money to spend. That much gets burned up just planning the shoot.

The world is getting s snoot full these days. I walked by a Dr. Office in a strip mall, now the Dr. Has been there several years but, I never paid attention to the signs about the place. I thought as I walked by this time noticing a full office and some just outside his door puffing away. To say the least the joint was jumping. Sign fought my eye, Office visit $45.00 payment do at sign in. Flu shots $12.00, XRay,s $75.00 each. - those were the signs that cought my eye. They had all the other insurance mubo posted and such but me tink's dis Dr. is a- tilt in his rocker.
Then again when you walk to the parking lot there's a Mercedes with a hospital parking sticker on it in a reserved parking space. Nope not a clinic. Sign read Dr. ______ MD.
If I walk through the doors at my Dr. I just spent 75 bucks before I said hello to the receptionist, and that with an insurance card.
The world is falling for the ones that cant dazzle them with brilliance. Instead they look to be baffled with unlimited BS. Then they wonder why something seems out of place unable to put there finger on it.

There are some studios in the UK that are offering "makeovers" for £30-50 ($50-80). This includes a welcome drink (bubbly), hair cut and style, makeup, shoot and a free 5x7 print.

I wondered how they could run a business like that until I read about one such place - that they do a hard sell once the client is in - "you look wonderful, have you thought about modellling as a career, you need some good shots for your book, we can sort it out for you etc etc.

I heard about one poor girl who was so taken in by this that she ended up buying over £1000 ($1600) of services.

Sometimes things are not as they seem