Why Can Photographers Command Such High Fees? Number 3

[I recently posted an article entitled, 10 Reasons Professional Photographers Charge What They Do. As I was writing this article, I realized my 10 could be expanded and have even more detail. So this is the start of 10 Reasons Why Photographers Can Command Such High Fees.]

3. Ever try to get great customer service at a chain studio? They only make money in quantity – the more people in and out, the more they make. So their goal is to rush you in and out as fast as possiblepeople.

A professional photographer isn’t just an order taker, she provides total customer service.

Professionals photograph dozens or even hundreds of clients a year. They understand what looks good, how to put together albums, and how to group multiple photographs together. Their goal is to provide you with what you need and what’s best for you – not just have you sign on the dotted line.

Are you promoting these facts to your clients? Do they know you only book one client at any given time? They can make special requests, and get your opinions because you know what’s best?

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Why Photographers Shouldn’t Use A Website

9 out of 10 photographers are using their websites incorrectly.

  • They create a small, brochure-like site with just a few pages, and let it sit for months (even years) without a change.
  • They create Flash driven websites that make look good in action, but do zero for marketing online.
  • They add a few of their best-of images to their online gallery, and expect to look different from the hundreds of other photographers online.

Are you one of them?

What should you be doing? How about blogging?

Blogging gives4-low you the ability to create your own content whenever you like, control your content 24/7, and be able to connect with prospects and clients anywhere, anytime. Imagine being able to show 50 images from a wedding you did on Saturday on your blog on Monday afternoon.

And with the functionality of a blog, your images could be seen by people all over the world – giving you access to clients from all over the world. I loved traveling to Phoenix in February (lots of snow in Denver) and loved making connections with people outside of my normal region.

Blogs make it possible. Are you ready to blog?

Why Can Photographers Command Such High Fees? Number 4

[I recently posted an article entitled, 10 Reasons Professional Photographers Charge What They Do. As I was writing this article, I realized my 10 could be expanded and have even more detail. So this is the start of 10 Reasons Why Photographers Can Command Such High Fees.]

4. Have you ever visited a discount store’s photo studio, and asked if they’ll do something special, just for you? My bet is you’ll either get a blank stare or a lot of laughter.

The chains make their money because they  have systems in place. Come in, stand in line, stand on the X, smile, move to sales room, buy packages, walk through store in hopes you’ll purchase more items.

Professional photographers will do it all. Want to get married at the top of a 14,000 foot high mountain, where the only way up is a 30 minute ski-lift ride? A professional photographer will be there. Want a portrait running through the waves on a Southern California beach? A professional photographer will be there.

Even if you’re staying in studio, and will be using backgrounds, its a completely different experience. Your time is your time. You can bring in your own props, ask for changes, and work exclusively with the photographer to get the exact results you’re looking for.

As a photographer, are you promoting this feature?

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Why Can Photographers Command Such High Fees? Number 5

[I recently posted an article entitled, 10 Reasons Professional Photographers Charge What They Do. As I was writing this article, I realized my 10 could be expanded and have even more detail. So this is the start of 10 Reasons Why Photographers Can Command Such High Fees.]

5. When a consumer grabs a camera, snaps a picture, and runs down to big box discount store to have it printed, the only cost is associated with the simple act of printing.spotlight

A professional photographer has many more jobs, and must be all things at all times. They have to be CEOs and marketers, and bankers, and salespeople, and production workers, and janitors, and buyers, and negotiators, and networkers, and drivers, and organizers. And photographers. That’s a lot of skills for one person to master.

In order to create a successful business, a photographer has to incorporate the cost of wearing each hat at different times, and make sure their business runs profitably. They have to learn how to do each job efficiently, or hire it out to someone who can. They have to master certain skills (like marketing and sales) in order to continue to offer you top quality services.

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Why Can Photographers Command Such High Fees? Number 6

[I recently posted an article entitled, 10 Reasons Professional Photographers Charge What They Do. As I was writing this article, I realized my 10 could be expanded and have even more detail. So this is the start of 10 Reasons Why Photographers Can Command Such High Fees.]

6. When a client hires a professional photographer, they desire Photography Business - Studio Lighting - Digtial Photographythe output – the final photograph. But what they don’t see is how long it takes to get to that final image. Have you ever been asked why you can charge so much for one image, when they can run down to their favorite discount store and get the same size for a few pennies?

Professional photographers can spend hours producing one professional photograph. Time can include:

  • creating the marketing to draw a prospect in
  • answering emails and phone calls from prospects
  • meeting with the client to talk about the event
  • setting up for the event
  • drive time to and from the event
  • time for the actual photographing
  • running to and from the lab
  • meeting with the client for previews and decisions
  • processing the image
  • retouching the image
  • mounting the image
  • framing the image
  • packaging the image
  • dropping off final images
  • production work
  • follow up work

Add it all up. One portrait session can take hours worth of work. Can you really expect someone to spend hours in production, and charge just a dollar or two for the final product?

It’s impossible to stay in business if you only make a few pennies per client. If you have clients asking about your price, create a handout showing the time and care you put into each portrait. Once your customer understands it, they’ll be more excited about your portraiture, not your prices.

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Why Can Photographers Command Such High Fees? Number 7

[I recently posted an article entitled, 10 Reasons Professional Photographers Charge What They Do. As I was writing this article, I realized my 10 could be expanded and have even more detail. So this is the start of 10 Reasons Why Photographers Can Command Such High Fees.]

7. Don’t you just love that feeling of creating the perfect image? You know it the minute you look through the viewfinder. You know it as you’re setting it up. Because you’re a professional, it comes naturally to you.

Photographers don’t just snap a picture, they create a photograph.Dock in Mexico at sunset They understand positioning. They understand lighting. They understand placement. They do it again and again, so it’s not a matter of hoping for a great image – they know they got it.

With a professional, you’re not just paying for the ability to place a finger on the trigger and snap a picture. You’re paying for the years of experience it took to create the perfect image. It doesn’t matter if it only takes a minute for setup and for taking the image. What matters is the experience and education it took to be able to know how to take that photograph.

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Web 2.0 – Social On The Web – Must see video

If you are like me, spending your day on the internet is not a job, it is fun. I like to be very social online. Someone forwarded me a youtube video that I found very interesting:

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Why Can Photographers Command Such High Fees? Number 8

[I recently posted an article entitled, 10 Reasons Professional Photographers Charge What They Do. As I was writing this article, I realized my 10 could be expanded and have even more detail. So this is the start of 10 Reasons Why Photographers Can Command Such High Fees.]

8. When someone starts a career, they dedicate themselves to learning all they can about their topic of choice. A mortgage broker knows all they different types of loans available, and can help direct a client into an appropriateBusiness People - Photography Professionals loan. A hairdresser has full training in many types of cuts and colors, and can help you choose the right hair style for you.

A professional photographer is no different. They stay on top of all the latest industry trends, practice on a regular basis, and train under some of the biggest names in the industry.  They join groups like Professional Photographers of America or the National Press Photographers Association. They concentrate on becoming the best they can be.

You pay people based on their knowledge and their expertise. The more professional they are, the higher the fee they can command.

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Video recorder the size of your iPod from Flip Video Mino

I love video and it is fun to watch what you record later on but hate to drag my clunky video camera everywhere I go. Flip video has a new product named Mino that is as small as an iPod Nano. Here is a press release information on the product:

 

Pure Digital Launches Super-Slim Flip Video™ Mino

3 oz. camcorder is the ultimate accessory for the social networking generation

June 04, 2008 — San Francisco, CA

Pure Digital Technologies today introduced Flip Video Mino, the company’s latest innovation in its popular, critically-acclaimed Flip Video family of camcorders. Weighing in at just over three ounces, the remarkably slim yet powerful Flip Video Mino raises the bar for high-quality, portable, and easy-to-use video.  Smaller than most cell phones, Mino fits neatly into a jeans Flip Video Minopocket to capture life’s stories whenever and wherever they happen – at a party, a concert, the beach, even on a bike ride.  The $179.99 (MSRP) Mino also features Flip Video’s built-in software that allows consumers to simply plug the camcorder’s signature flip-out USB arm into any computer for immediate editing and sharing. For the first time, the Flip Video software enables users to upload video directly to MySpace as well as to YouTube and AOL Video, making it even easier to share video.
“Flip Video Mino delivers the perfect combination of high-quality video, sleek design, and ease of use,” said Jonathan Kaplan, CEO of Pure Digital Technologies.  “For the millions who share their lives online every day, it’s more than a camcorder – it’s a fun tool for communicating and creatively expressing themselves.”
With 2GB of on-board flash memory, Mino allows consumers to capture up to 60 minutes of high-quality video using the camcorder’s intuitive new touch-sensitive buttons to record, play, fast forward, rewind, pause and delete.  Users can instantly play back video on the camcorder’s 1.5-inch anti-glare LCD display. Mino uses an internal, rechargeable lithium-ion battery that conveniently recharges whenever the camcorder’s USB arm is connected to a computer and provides more than four hours of recording time on a single charge. 
Using Mino’s built-in software, consumers are able to edit and share videos instantly from a PC or Mac. In addition to quickly posting videos on sharing and social networking sites, they can email videos and video greeting cards; create custom movies with their own music; capture still photos from video; save and organize videos on the computer; and, for the first time, seamlessly order and send DVDs anywhere in the world.

“Video is a major part of the MySpace experience and the Mino’s portable design means MySpace users can capture their life as it happens,” said Josh Brooks, vice president of marketing for MySpace. “We are excited to partner with Flip Video to make it easier than ever for MySpace users to directly upload and share content on MySpaceTV.”
Flip Video Mino Features
  • Weight: 3.3 oz.
  • One-touch recording with 2x digital zoom
  • Touch-sensitive buttons for instant recording, playback, fast forward, rewind, pause and delete
  • Built-in software compatible with PC or Mac:
    • Instant upload to MySpace, YouTube, and AOL Video
    • One-click emailing of videos and video greeting cards
    • Custom editing of movie mixes, with the option to set them to your own music
    • Capture of still photos from video
    • Order DVDs online and have them shipped anywhere in the world
  • TV connection for instant viewing (cable included)
  • Tripod mount
  • Available accessories (sold separately): AC power adapter, tripod, action mount, and pouch
  • At retailers nationwide including: Amazon.com, Bestbuy.com, Circuit City, Sears, Walmart.com, and TheFlip.com
  • Available in black or white; suggested retail price: $179.99

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Why Can Photographers Command Such High Fees? Number 9

[I recently posted an article entitled, 10 Reasons Professional Photographers Charge What They Do. As I was writing this article, I realized my 10 could be expanded and have even more detail. So this is the start of 10 Reasons Why Photographers Can Command Such High Fees.]

9. An amateur will take a few great images with their point and shoot, and think they should go into business. They don’t think about the thousands of other images that we’re gust “so so”. A professional can’t have thousands of “so so” images. They have to hit perfection 80 to 90  percent of the time Sure some will be better than others. But as a professional, you have to rely on the majority of the images you take to make you money. 50237

So instead of relying on a few consumer grade cameras, a professional photographer invests in a ton of professional equipment.  They spend thousands upon thousands of dollars getting multiple camera bodies, the finest lenses, flash equipment for every situation, tripods, light stands, backdrops, props, carrying and storage cases.

And it doesn’t stop there. As a photographer, you’re always on the run. What if something happens to a camera body or lens? You have to   get backups for everything to make sure you never miss an image.

View reason #10

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