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[eal76]

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[pixmedic]

the industry has been "dying" for decades, like every other industry that has to change with modernization.
this was the same question asked when roll film was replaced with canister film and people started shooting weddings and portraits and other events with the cheaper 35mm "budget film and cameras" instead of the traditional medium format. the 35mm film format opened up photography to a much broader spectrum of people in the same way that modern, inexpensive digital cameras have.
this is not a new phenomenon.

I do think there is a two-fold issue that affects photographers directly.
first, everyone has a camera in their pocket now. compact, smart phone, mirrorless....and everyone is taking pictures. of everything. everywhere. at all times. everyone is a photographer now.
which leads to problem #2. people dont know what "good" pictures are anymore. that's really a loaded statement though, as "good" is subjective. what is good enough for one person may not be for another.

I dont really think the industry is dying, per se, it just requires the right amount of work, sales, and business sense.
Im glad me and the wife stopped doing weddings. I was starting to hate photography, and having to explain to someone almost every week that I was not going to do portraits for them for $40, or TFP their wedding even though a dozen Craigslist/FB photographers would.

being a Paramedic is far easier than being a wedding photographer for 10 years was. Less stressful too.

 

[snowbear]

I understand the same thing happened with smaller publishing companies in the '80s when desktop publishing came about. The same thing will happen to book publishing: a time will come (sooner than later, I bet) when fewer physical books will be published in favor of e-books.

 

[robbins.photo]

I dont really think the industry is dying, per se, it just requires the right amount of work, sales, and business sense.

Poppycock! The industry is in a Death Spiral. Death Spiral I say! I know because I read it on the internet. Lol

Im glad me and the wife stopped doing weddings. I was starting to hate photography, and having to explain to someone almost every week that I was not going to do portraits for them for $40, or TFP their wedding even though a dozen Craigslist/FB photographers would..

Not at all my cup of tea either. I think there will always be those who recognize the benefits of hiring a professional, and those that will wind up with a lot of bad snapshots and regret it for years to come. I doubt there's much that can be done to change that, other than specifically designing a least a portion of your marketing towards education some of the later and convincing them to become some of the former.

 

[ronlane]

Wow, that just helps adds to my list of why I don't shoot weddings. Bridzilla, Mother of Bridzilla, Don't want to be THAT guy.

In realization, I've decided that for a senior session or just family portraits that it's work. Don't compound that with pressure of having to correctly capture THE moment at an event of a lifetime for a couple. (Yeah I know with todays divorce rate this is over dramatic but they all think it will last for them.)

 

[robbins.photo]

In realization, I've decided that for a senior session or just family portraits that it's work. Don't compound that with pressure of having to correctly capture THE moment at an event of a lifetime for a couple. (Yeah I know with todays divorce rate this is over dramatic but they all think it will last for them.)

Wow.. see, now that's a marketing campaign. "Remember, marriage is the event of a lifetime, assuming your average lifespan is the next 5-10 years. So don't trust those precious memories to your dipstick cousin who you wouldn't even trust to ride in a car with, or some guy on craigslist that will shoot your wedding for $99.95. Ten years from now, when your staring down the barrel of an ugly divorce, you'll want to be burning quality wedding photos."

 

[ronlane]

In realization, I've decided that for a senior session or just family portraits that it's work. Don't compound that with pressure of having to correctly capture THE moment at an event of a lifetime for a couple. (Yeah I know with todays divorce rate this is over dramatic but they all think it will last for them.)

Wow.. see, now that's a marketing campaign. "Remember, marriage is the event of a lifetime, assuming your average lifespan is the next 5-10 years. So don't trust those precious memories to your dipstick cousin who you wouldn't even trust to ride in a car with, or some guy on craigslist that will shoot your wedding for $99.95. Ten years from now, when your staring down the barrel of an ugly divorce, you'll want to be burning quality wedding photos."

Dang it, you caught on to my scheme to make tens of dollars. But you forgot about the discount for shooting the ugly divorce proceedings. (half price under 5 years, 75% if it's between 5-7 years and 10% discount from 8-10 years)

 

[cherylynne1]

The best part of my divorce was throwing out the hideous wedding photos that a "photographer friend of the family" took. Finally, I didn't have to look at them every day... I didn't know anything about photography back then, but I knew that they were the worst pictures that had ever been taken of me.

 

[Designer]

So, is our industry dying? What are your thoughts, experiences, and stories?

Not dying, exactly but changing a bit. Not everyone will budget for a professional photographer, not realizing the difference between an experienced, competent professional and a "friend with a camera".

I do think you missed some sales by not "selling" properly. I think you need to become familiar with some fairly common sales techniques that will mean the difference between "just looking" and "signers".

Perhaps if you had told the young woman that "if you want photos that look like this one, you need to hire us."

There are proven ways to close the deal with curious shoppers.

I once worked for a man who couldn't design his way out of a paper bag, but he always had new clients (never repeat clients) because he knew how to promote himself.

The time spent learning sales techniques pays off.

 

[robbins.photo]

Dang it, you caught on to my scheme to make tens of dollars. But you forgot about the discount for shooting the ugly divorce proceedings. (half price under 5 years, 75% if it's between 5-7 years and 10% discount from 8-10 years)

My grandad always said, best way to get rich quick? Come up with a scheme that sounds like it might work to get rich quick and then sell it to a bunch of idiots who think it's actually possible to get rich quick.

Though this whole "Divorce Photographer" notion does have some merit. Not a well served niche after all.. lol

 

[bribrius]

for the average person yes, for the upper scale clientele no. ??

 

[xenskhe]

Friends can 'do wedding pics' now because w/photography has departed from the understood framework of what it depicted and how it was done. The snap modus has taken over. It's unsurprising this kind of things is now regarded as shootable with an iphone.

 

[407370]

I am not a pro photographer but I am quite well known for my photography within my social circle. I have been asked 4 times to capture someones wedding or special event simply because the pro was "stupidly expensive" . I refused all requests as I am not good enough.
The quality of the photos is not the issue but perception of photography in general has changed dramatically over even the last 5 years. Through social media people are exposed to set after set of what they perceive as good photography compared to what they themselves can get from a phone. These days the jump in quality from amateur with some skill to a pro is not so much of a jump but a skip and most people I know are oblivious to the nuances that define the difference.
One couple I know very well got a pro photographer to do their wedding and a more miserable man I have never met. He was at the point of myself and a few other guests having a word with him to stop being so rude to everyone. Anyway the pics came back and I have to say some were quite stunning but the 2 most expensive prints looked like they were tone mapped by a child. Of course I have never mentioned this as they are happy with the end result but between his attitude and the processing on those 2 pics I would never recommend him.

 

[Designer]

Hi! Can you please share a way that I could say that without accidentally insulting her friend's skills? I think you have an excellent point, but I wouldn't feel comfortable saying you "need" to hire us. Maybe something like "If you want your photos to look like this, you may want to consider hiring us and letting your friend enjoy the wedding as a guest." Generally these people also mention that this friend has "given the photography as a gift" which thickens the plot.

Just like that will be fine, IMO.

 

[ronlane]

I'm not sure how to say it but turning a question into an opportunity to educate people would be something that might work. For instance, you could ask how many weddings this other person has shot. Then you are in a position to explain how experience is key to this type of photography. (being at the right place and the right time with the right equipment).

I don't do weddings but when I have been asked, I have always offered up to the person that they need to spend the money on a good photographer. I have either given them referrals of people I know or offered to help them review images of a photographer they are considering hiring.

Honestly, you are going to probably insult as many or more no matter how you approach the subject of why they should hire you, but those people weren't going to hire you no matter.