Sears Portrait Studio

RDKirk wrote in post #11472521
Have you ever hired an interior decorator? Most often, they're hired to solve a single problem, not to redo an entire house. An interior decorator may do nothing more than recommend window coverings, a new floor, or new lamps. So, yes, if the lady wants something new, I'm trying to get her to buy wall portraits instead of new drapes.

You're a very smart guy, and you know when I said "I'm competing for the money she's budgeting for luxuries" that had nothing to do with "redoing the lawn because of his photos."

You're a wedding photographer. You know that when you state a price, a bride has to consider whether to spend more money on you or more money on the open bar or the meals or the flowers or whatever. You're in competition as well with complementary "expenses" (if that's the word you want to use. Your work and your marketing has to be good enough to convince her that it's better to spend more money on your photography than on some other aspect of the wedding.

Else she'd hire a cheaper photographer and have steak instead of chicken.

+1.

RDKirk wrote in post #11472521
Have you ever hired an interior decorator? Most often, they're hired to solve a single problem, not to redo an entire house. An interior decorator may do nothing more than recommend window coverings, a new floor, or new lamps. So, yes, if the lady wants something new, I'm trying to get her to buy wall portraits instead of new drapes.

You're a very smart guy, and you know when I said "I'm competing for the money she's budgeting for luxuries" that had nothing to do with "redoing the lawn because of his photos."

You're a wedding photographer. You know that when you state a price, a bride has to consider whether to spend more money on you or more money on the open bar or the meals or the flowers or whatever. You're in competition as well with complementary "expenses" (if that's the word you want to use. Your work and your marketing has to be good enough to convince her that it's better to spend more money on your photography than on some other aspect of the wedding.

Else she'd hire a cheaper photographer and have steak instead of chicken.

So then you do regard your competition as "anyone else who could get some of the client's money"

I was under the impression that your clients are loaded to the point of not having to choose between you and a diamond encrusted watch.

I don't approach it the same way you do. I simply get a request for a session and schedule one. I don't try to tell people I'm more important than any other thing they want...only that I'm the best choice if that thing they want happens to be photography. And really, I don't even do much of the latter anymore...their friends seem to be doing that for me.

MP4/8 wrote in post #11471452
Sorry,.... it takes virtually nothing for a lot of women with a lot of disposable income to completely re-do a room, based around a new vignette, at the drop of a hat.

.

Even without disposable income, just ask my wife!!

Mike R wrote in post #11478606
Even without disposable income, just ask my wife!!

Well, it gets thrown away so I guess that makes it disposable.

cdifoto wrote in post #11473813
So then you do regard your competition as "anyone else who could get some of the client's money"

I was under the impression that your clients are loaded to the point of not having to choose between you and a diamond encrusted watch.

They have luxury budgets, redecorating budgets, et cetera. I'm bogarting their luxury and redecorating budgets.

"Budget the luxuries first" -- Lazarus Long (Robert A. Heinlein)

I don't "try to tell people I'm more important than any other thing they want." You're trying to make this a moral issue by demonizing alternate business methods.

I talk to the client enough to find out what she wants, then I provide ideas about how my particular product can help meet her desires. I personally believe in the benefits of good heritage portraits.

ok i forgot what i started reading this thread for by this point...lol

Hm, something about window decor and sears photo studios... it has gone WAAAY OT