Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/01/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]HI Ted; All very good points. And with the pool of BW shooters dwindling exponentially with this digital frenzy, upping the rate makes more sense. S. Dimitrov - ---------- >From: Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca> >To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us >Subject: Re: [Leica] Baryta prints >Date: Mon, Jan 19, 2004, 2:55 PM > > David Rodgers said: > Subject: Re: [Leica] Baryta prints >> One local portrait photographer charges at least double what the >> competitiion charges. His business hit the skids like everyone's in 2002. >> But this past year his business grew leaps and bounds.<<< > > Hi David, > Along those lines. A couple of portrait photographers in London, UK closed > their studio, completely re-furbished and stopped doing colour photography > even when a client asked for colour they said... "We do portraits in B&W > only." Yep they lost a few. However! :-) > > At first they thought they might deep 6 themselves to the dump in standing > firm on B&W only, not only did they do that, they also tripled their prices > from previous sitting rates. > > In the front windows of the studio were huge B&W stunning portraits > beautifully printed and framed. They did an excellent ad campaign and within > three months had doubled their appointments, even with the higher prices. > > The main theme of their ad was similar to my on going comment regarding B&W > verses colour while photographing people. "When you photograph people in > colour you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in B&W > you photograph their soul!" > > Their change over was a few years ago, last I heard they were still going > full speed! :-) > > Never does any good cutting ones rates as the client who usually gets a > break will become your worst case nightmare. Best to charge high and loose a > few who never paid on time anyway or were constantly whining! :-) > > I ask photo students which would they rather do, work one day for a $1000.00 > or do ten days work coping with dumb ass clients at $100.00 per day? > > The first time I started charging $100.00 per day plus all costs imaginable > I was told by several people I was completely crazy and they'd never hire me > for anything at that rate. They were right, they never did higher me at > $100.00 because I had warned them it was their choice, but they should keep > the following in mind. > > If they hired a shooter who screwed-up and they called me to bail them out, > my day rate would double to $200.00! :-) Then they really thought I had lost > my mind. ;-) > > However, the first one to call me ten days later to cover his ass I reminded > him of the rate increase and he hung-up. A couple days later he called me > back, apologized and hired me. The re-shoot was charged at $200.00 per day, > not for one day, but for three days @ $200.00 per day! :-) :-) Why? Because > the previous guy had told him he could "knock it off in one day!" OOPS! :-( > > And from that day on the client never went anywhere else, even when prices > increased and with each one his response was... "'You're worth every > dollar!" :-) Sometimes it's tough loosing an assignment because you charge a > higher rate, but in the end, what's the point of producing top end > photography and not being paid properly for your photo eye and experience. > Go cheap! Get cheap jobs! > > Charge high and people will hire you because human beings always think, "My > God if he charges that amount he must be very very good, get him we can't > afford any screw-ups!" ;-) Little do they know. ;-) > > But I guarantee my work and if a screw-up occurs and it's my fault I > re-shoot at my expense completely! And does that ever keep you on your toes > about everything being right on the ball! > > ted > > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html