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How to kill empathy?

CalvinWallace (Photographer)

5 months, 3 weeks ago

Hey everybody,

I really need your advice and help. First off, there is a time when photography becomes a business and more than making art. I've gotta pay my bills, or at least get some noodles.

I am a recent college graduate. I have lived all my life without money. I struggle everyday without it, especially during school. I know what its like, I've been there. Photography is my only source of income right now, as I don't have a full time job.

Now that I'm done, when people approach me for doing photoshoots, I get this sudden overwhelming sense of empathy for them and their situation, when they say my prices are too high, or can't afford it. As they are students as well, or just starting out, or just starting a new business, or a starting band, etc.

How do I just kill that feeling of empathy for them and charge my full value of what I am worth? Is it just constantly saying NO and sticking to it? I find that if I say no, they just search around for the lowest price guy out there that just bought the latest camera equipment and calls himself a photographer... :(

My prices are reasonable for the time and effort put into my work. Is there a way to show them how much time goes into it? (planning/driving/concepts/editing)

My current rate is $250 for a 3-4 hour shoot, unlimited clothing changes they want, and 20 retouched photos.

Any advice? Sorry I had to rush typing this thread to properly organize my thoughts.

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Last edited by CalvinWallace 5 months, 3 weeks ago

carmina

carmina (Photographer)

5 months, 3 weeks ago

There is always going to be someone cheaper than you. Even free! You can't compete based on that. You can only compete based on being better, or delivering what you deliver, etc.

I think you will find that you are losing money at the rates you have posted there. This stuff takes time, and your gear costs money too. Look here > http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/cdb/cdbcalc.cfm Filling it out will be good for you.

Trying to educate people on why you should cost money is absolutely the wrong approach to take. No one cares. And in that vein, maybe you should not care about their sob story either. Its not like you're withholding water from a dying man. Photography is a luxury service that not everyone can afford. There are people who will do it for free (hobby guys & people who don't mind losing money to do something they like), you need to decide on a case by case basis if you want to be one of those people.

As far as empathy goes, there will come a time where enough people 'use' you that you get sick of it and it gets easier to say no. There are a lot of broke people out there that can still afford to party every weekend, its all in the priorities.

Big topic, no easy answers. Hope that helped.

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Last edited by carmina 5 months, 3 weeks ago

CalvinWallace

CalvinWallace (Photographer)

5 months, 3 weeks ago

I appreciate that so much, thank you! and yes... I've been slowly working myself to debt and losing money. Things aren't good.

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Last edited by CalvinWallace 5 months, 3 weeks ago

This post was deleted by CalvinWallace - 5 months, 3 weeks ago

carmina

carmina (Photographer)

5 months, 2 weeks ago

Its a tenuous time for photography right now. I'm not sure what the profession will look like in 5 years. My overall take is that the BEST will do ok (though not as good as in the past), and the rest will be ground down to a nub in the margins. Essentially the middle class of photography professionals will go away, and we will find 2 categories. 1) Very skilled, highly individualized, great business-people will do ok. 2) Everyone else does it for free/cheap. I don't see much of a middle ground in the future. Either people will value your work with dollars, or they won't.

I'm thinking that as a business model, flighty broke young model girls are not going to provide you with the income that you need. Its best to look to other avenues, and shoot them to work out your technical kinks.

CalvinWallace

CalvinWallace (Photographer)

5 months, 2 weeks ago

Yeah it's kinda scary to think of that happening! I'm definitely not marketing myself to the right clients, and wedding photos are not something I am willing to do.

J.Quinton

J.Quinton (Photographer)

5 months, 4 days ago

I hear ya...I have a hell of a time selling my photo services. It's scary. I started off undercutting the competition, only to get undercut myself. I invested in pro gear and 2 years practicing with it and priced myself within the range of the other locals photographers. I advertise, I'm better then a lot of my competition. I give it everything I got and people just aren't buying. I'm never going to quit photos, but as a career choice it's been very frustration.

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