At this photography thing for 8 months....

[SabrinaO]

I picked up my first dslr 8 months ago

No offense, but you didn't have to tell us that, we could tell it

Why did I just now realize advertising on craigslist is gonna get me NOWHERE?!

There is a sea of people fighting on craigslist and almost no one looking there for photographers. I'd recommend you get a good solid foundation in your abilities before even thinking of trying to charge someone. Even if you find someone ignorant enough to pay you, later one they'll be pissed they paid you when they realized what they could have gotten with someone else.

Where do you all advertise?

You're asking us to tell you where we advertise? Lol! Most pros won't even share business knowledge like that with their best friends.

You are funny! I've read your posts... you spend your time here comparing your photos to everyone else's like yours are some sort of standard or something. WOW... the delusions of some!

 

[SabrinaO]

I think a watermark would solve the problem? Or at least make it harder or deter people from printing?

 

[Kbarredo]

^^^

I picked up my first dslr 8 months ago

No offense, but you didn't have to tell us that, we could tell it There is a sea of people fighting on craigslist and almost no one looking there for photographers. I'd recommend you get a good solid foundation in your abilities before even thinking of trying to charge someone. Even if you find someone ignorant enough to pay you, later one they'll be pissed they paid you when they realized what they could have gotten with someone else.

Where do you all advertise?

You're asking us to tell you where we advertise? Lol! Most pros won't even share business knowledge like that with their best friends.

You are funny! I've read your posts... you spend your time here comparing your photos to everyone else's like yours are some sort of standard or something. WOW... the delusions of some!

 

[Overread36]

Maybe we are looking at this wrong. Maybe we should charge extra dollars each session for the ease and convenience of printing off Facebook, forget the cd's and prints. Offer it as an option for additional $150 or so.

Both methods are valid approaches for photography businesses - the key is working out your overall approach to where you make your profit margin from.

If you are making it from selling prints to your customers then you've got to ensure that you are getting the print sales. That means both preventing your customers from easily getting cheap prints (even if rubbish in quality - when something is free quality isn't worried about) and also perfecting your sales technique to ensure that you can pitch and sell the prints to your clients. Many try this through online portfolios and setups like Smugmug - however that approach is cutting out the salesman. It gives you no chance to put your sales technique to work and to encourage your clients to buy - instead they'll buy fewer shots overall and will more look at price than anything else (and also at how easily they can print screen your site ).
The bonus with this approach is you can charge less upfront for your sitting fees, provided you can then pitch the sale (and select your marketing so that you tap into the right client market - don't go too cheap or you just get freeloaders) so that you make up more income from the photo sales.


The other way to work is to charge considerable more for the sitting fee, but to then have a more lax printing aspect - either cheaper prints through an online gallery or even the CD with all the photos on. This might appear more attractive to clients - but on the flipside you've got to make sure that you pitch your price point correctly. Also don't fall into the trap of "giving them everything" or "giving them everything good" on the CD. You have to work within limits (because each photo is not just a snap from the sitting, but also represents your time in editing and processing) so if they order a 10photo CD package they get 10 photos. If you get more than 10 good ones you can always let them choose (pitching sale environment again) which ones they want with an additional processing fee if they want additional photos.

 

[expo]

I can quickly see this is a really crappy 'forum'. I've lost count of the 'high posting' trolls already!??!
Good luck Sabrina. I'm outa here - what a shi&&y vibe this place has.

 

[Gaerek]

ROFL! I literally LAUGHED when I read your post... it was truly hilarious, because it was so ignorant and full of incorrectness. It struck my curiousity to look at some of your "work" and I laughed even harder... thanks for making my day!

You mean how I laughed when you said reflectors are for, and I quote, "rank amateurs"?

I don't think you're in a position to criticize anyone.

On a related note, did anyone else find it interesting that kbarredo or whatever his name is and dallasimagery agree in this thread. I guess misery really does love company.

LOL

 

[Overread36]

I can quickly see this is a really crappy 'forum'. I've lost count of the 'high posting' trolls already!??!
Good luck Sabrina. I'm outa here - what a shi&&y vibe this place has.

Naw its all good provided you stay away from weddings
Come to macro - we are nice in macro!

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Lol pot or kettle we are both still black. Just because I suck doesn't make you any better. At least I'm not in denial about it. Right now you are turning alright to good. You seriously need to be knocked down a peg. Also no one has complemented your pics on this thread they have just been giving you business advice. Open your eyes. Go ahead ask bitter if he thinks your pics are awesome.

Her work is worlds better than yours. Awesome? Not yet. Will she get there? Probably. Would you like to know what I think of you?

 

[SabrinaO]

Lol pot or kettle we are both still black. Just because I suck doesn't make you any better. At least I'm not in denial about it. Right now you are turning alright to good. You seriously need to be knocked down a peg. Also no one has complemented your pics on this thread they have just been giving you business advice. Open your eyes. Go ahead ask bitter if he thinks your pics are awesome.

NEWSFLASH! I didn't ask for a C&C in this thread now did I? Of course they are giving me biz advice because (surprise!) that is WHAT I ASKED FOR. No one else seems to get their feelings hurt (except for Dallas... which I know why) that i'm new to this and charging. What is it to you?
Anyways I get positive reviews on my C&C's alll the time.

 

[Gaerek]

anyone can charge doesn't make you good. You're the prime example. What's worse is you can dish out but you cant take.

But you CAN take it? Is that why you have Bitter on ignore?

BJ is one of the most helpful people here. IF and only if, you're willing to listen to it. The fact that you want to ignore him tells me a lot about you.

 

[Kbarredo]

Ever notice how bitter and tyler always defend each other. I guess husband and wife always do have each others backs.

 

[vtf]

+1. I'd add that the white balance is off, the composition is poor, and the poses look like copies of other posts on this forum - cliche, static, amateurish and uninventive.

So are your posts.
First new low for a troll. I guess I haven't seen everything. Go ahead and pull up all my past threads, I need the views.

 

[Kbarredo]

Lol pot or kettle we are both still black. Just because I suck doesn't make you any better. At least I'm not in denial about it. Right now you are turning alright to good. You seriously need to be knocked down a peg. Also no one has complemented your pics on this thread they have just been giving you business advice. Open your eyes. Go ahead ask bitter if he thinks your pics are awesome.

NEWSFLASH! I didn't ask for a C&C in this thread now did I? Of course they are giving me biz advice because (surprise!) that is WHAT I ASKED FOR. No one else seems to get their feelings hurt (except for Dallas... which I know why) that i'm new to this and charging. What is it to you? Anyways I get positive reviews on my C&C's alll the time.

You also get negative ones also. Most of them odd poses like I mentioned

 

[SabrinaO]

I can quickly see this is a really crappy 'forum'. I've lost count of the 'high posting' trolls already!??!
Good luck Sabrina. I'm outa here - what a shi&&y vibe this place has.

You gotta have a thick skin. I tell you what my skin did get thicker being part of this forum! In a way this forum sucks because some can be too critical or too technical, but on the other hand it is helpful in improving your photography.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Ever notice how bitter and tyler always defend each other. I guess husband and wife always do have each others backs.

So much for your maturity cred.
I thought I was on your ignore list?