Does anyone else feel this way?

[luvmyfamily]

Is there a trade where this doesn't happen? There will always be under-qualified people trying to get work in every field, and there will always be people who cannot afford anything but the low quality they'll get for the low prices the under-qualified generally offer. The under-qualified who charge higher prices will go down in flames when the product doesn't meet the price point, usually, so it all tends to work itself out.

There are always exceptions, of course, but life goes on. Not worth the time or effort to worry or get mad about it, IMHO.

Exactly!

In my building there are 3 other "jewelers" that compete with me. I have had my regular customers (retail stores, I am a trade shop) use them when I am too busy. I end up getting the jobs to fix. I ask why they don't send it back and have them fix it. They tell me I'll do it right. I have had another customer seeking cheaper prices send work to one of the other three. Again, they sent the work back to me to fix.

These three other jewelers have had their own businesses for much longer than I have. I am younger than all three. They have been doing this longer than me as well. Lesson? Just because someone is in business, and has been for years, doesn't mean they are any good. How are they still in business? Cheaper prices, and customers that shop for price over quality. They accept poor work, because the price is right. I have had new people come in to bring me work, and they balk at my prices. I laugh them out of my shop. I suggest the other jewelers, and they say they don't good work. DUH! They want my quality of work, at their prices. I laugh at them. Literally!

This isn't just a phenomenon that happens with "photographers". You can also have bad photographers that have been in business for years. Proof is in the pudding. Not the years of experience, nor price. Pretty basic stuff.

My 10 year old son's football team had their team photo's done. I felt like I could have done better with a point and shoot! My son's photo was blurry. So, I agree that there are many bad photographers that have been in the business for years. I am just a hobbiest, however, I have seen some pretty crappy professional photos as well. Just like what you find attractive in the opposite sex....it's all in the eye of the beholder. People who aren't into photography don't understand what crappy work is so I don't know if I agree with you on people pay for poor quality work over price. At least the not as good photographers are charginging lower prices. You get what you pay for.

 

[greybeard]

Until there is some kind of requirements for being called a "professional" we are going to be stuck with a lot of hacks mixed in with the truly professional ranks. It doesn't bother me but I do find it amusing when I come across someone charging money for what is definitely substandard work. However, the public is to blame as much as anyone else for this. How many times have I seen a person willing to spend a ton of money on the reception hall or gown for the wedding and then plead poverty when it comes to the pictures. And, the 1st thing they do is look for a friend of a friend to do this. Think of how it makes a true professional feel who has spent a bundle of time and money honing their craft!

 

[Tee]

Until there is some kind of requirements for being called a "professional" we are going to be stuck with a lot of hacks mixed in with the truly professional ranks.

There's always the PPA which has a credidation process and provides valuable information to photographers. Interestingly, the same people on here that chide and turn up their noses to the PPA are the first ones to jump all over a newbie for not having training and their legal ducks in a row. Flame on.

 

[sm4him]

Look, if someone buys high-end operating room tools doesn't that qualify them to announce they are professional surgeons

Well, there ARE cr*ppy surgeons, just like there are cr*ppy "pro" photographers. Only difference really is that the surgeons DID have to go through medical school and all the rest to be able to qualify as a "professional." But it didn't make them good, just educated.
Point is, there are skilled and not-so-skilled professionals in just about every field you can think of. You can let it p*ss you off, but there's really not much you can do about it, other than to try to avoid using them and try to keep your loved ones from using them.

Just last week a nurse friend of mine shared how worried she was about the surgery one of her patients had the next morning. Her patient was older, had no family in town to help with decision-making, the surgery was a pretty major one and in my friend's words, "he's not that good a surgeon."

Kinda makes ruined wedding photos pale in comparison...

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Not getting at anyone, but.........................

I get tired of seeing people spending money on a "pro" Camera and then announcing themselves as professioal photographer. I share your frustration :

Welcome to the free market.

A fine attitude when people go out with all the gear and no idea and ruin the most memorable day in a brides' life. Free market? Keep it!

You don't seem to understand that there are crappy people in all professions. You can't always check their work prior to hiring them either. You can't always garuantee you will get what you expect even when you can check out past work. I have tons of examples. My webdesign guys did some ****ty work for me, but their portfolio looked great. I had windows installed by a company that came highly recomended by three different people. **** work, took them to court and won. Hired roofers that had good reviews. They installed the ice guard wrong, and had to have someone come out and redo it. You wouldn't believe the number of hack jewelers working for reputable companies. If you don't know what quality work in any profession is, you are at a disadvantage.

Free market = Buyer beware.

Not all markets are regulated, and even when they are, licensing is meaningless in the end anyways.

 

[luvmyfamily]

Welcome to the free market.

A fine attitude when people go out with all the gear and no idea and ruin the most memorable day in a brides' life. Free market? Keep it!

You don't seem to understand that there are crappy people in all professions. You can't always check their work prior to hiring them either. You can't always garuantee you will get what you expect even when you can check out past work. I have tons of examples. My webdesign guys did some ****ty work for me, but their portfolio looked great. I had windows installed by a company that came highly recomended by three different people. **** work, took them to court and won. Hired roofers that had good reviews. They installed the ice guard wrong, and had to have someone come out and redo it. You wouldn't believe the number of hack jewelers working for reputable companies. If you don't know what quality work in any profession is, you are at a disadvantage.

Free market = Buyer beware.

Not all markets are regulated, and even when they are, licensing is meaningless in the end anyways.

Agreed, crappy people in all professions. Like the reputable carpet cleaner who came last week....errrrr, if i wasn't 5'4, 100lbs, I would kicked his butt!! He sure heard it though!!! Sooo, what constitutes a photographer that is able to open a business? Anyones work can be critiqued.....even the best....there will always be someone who doesn't like it.

 

[Jeremy Z]

I feel your pain. But you should turn it around from frustration into something else.

People will catch on. With photography, quality and the right results are what customers want. If he doesn't deliver, he won't be in business.

Also, remember that 'professional' just means that he gets paid for his work. (hopefully) It doesn't always mean better quality than amateur.

The pros have no right to get upset at these other "pros" whose quality is inferior. It's akin to comparing a top quality hamburger to one from McDonald's. Everybody knows McDonald's doesn't make the best hamburgers. But sometimes, we are not willing to pay or wait for The Best.

If you think you can do it better, then by all means, get a card made, put up a better site, and circulate your cards around. Maybe you can put up a studio in the garage or something? Or make one appointment a week to shoot on location somewhere?

I thought about doing some pro work on the side a while ago. Low cost, low stress weddings and such. I decided it was not worth the trouble. I'd rather enjoy photography, rather than turn it into another stressor.

All the best,
Jeremy

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

People will catch on. With photography, quality and the right results are what customers want. If he doesn't deliver, he won't be in business.

Not true.

He will always have a market for his quality/price. It's when price exceeds quality that there will be problems.
If McDonalds charged $12 for a Big Mac, would they still have billions and billions served? Hell no.

 

[luvmyfamily]

It's lunchtime for EST....McD's burger sounds kinda good, heehee....

 

[Buckster]

It's lunchtime for EST....McD's burger sounds kinda good, heehee....

What, are we on Facebook now?

 

[Derrel]

It's lunchtime for EST....McD's burger sounds kinda good, heehee....

What, are we on Facebook now?

Buckster, ALL the Cool Kids are on Facebook now!!!!

 

[DiskoJoe]

There will always be hacks that really suck and act like their poo doesnt stink cause they are ignorant to the fact that it does. Don't worry about this. What you should do is make you a business card and an actual website and set up shop. You say there are only two photogs in town? Then you could make a good third. Maybe then you could make some extra money and hire a baby sitter to watch the kids for a minute so you could go out and do something before you go crazy watching three kids all by yourself.

Sounds like your ready enough for me. Being pro isnt hard. Its the prices that you charge that mark your skill level. Have someone call the other girl and get a quote for services and see what they say. Then charge the same thing. If you work is better then theres then you shouldnt feel bad charging the same price they do. The customer would benefit from choosing you over them so no harm will come to anyone unless they go with her.

 

[MWC2]

As I said, I'm not interested in starting busy, not at this time in my life. I'm pretty happy just snapping pictures of my kids and the neigbour kids. It just rubbed me the wrong way that stuff that looks like what I was producing when I first got my camera is deemed "professional" quality photography.

I don't understand how people can't see green skin tones (really green), the whole picture turned a yellow/brown and really badly out of focus shots as artist and something you would want to hang on your living room wall?

 

[gerardo2068]

Sorry....I tuned out when you used the term DH (kidding but that term is like nails on a chalkboard to me).

LOL. . I find DH unbearable as well.

Lol

 

[vtf]

It happens everywhere and in every industry. Maybe since you don't want to compete with her maybe you should stop complaining and help her? That is if your work is that much better it would help? She just might be in awe of your work to cut you in on shoots if you helped her.
See how that worked?