guitarkid
TPF Noob!
i have a day job and started doing video production about 5 years ago because i love working with it so much. not to be conceited, but we are one of the best production houses in the area, which makes this story more disturbing. we take pride in our work and are by no means a cookie-cutter shop. all digital, filming and editing, FX, DVD authoring, etc. i have spent too much of my personal funds to advertise for it. the most biz we saw was about 5 weddings and 2 bands per year. i made no money. i do it for the love of it, but i have to tell you, that only takes you so far after 5 years.
fedup, i turn to photography. i have been into photography, video and audio engineering for about 12 years. i decide to upgrade photography stuff and really push that. we got 8 weddings in the first 6 monhts. hey, that's great but they were all SMALL WEDDINGS! either on tight budgets or only needing 4 hours coverage. only made $450 per wedding. that money went into the biz.
our photos are really very nice, and we are learning all the time, just like everyone else. i offer online proofing and ordering, wedding albums, always have 2 photographers for the price of one, and i have even included all photos on CD! am i too expensive? too cheap?
i don't get why studios are raking in the clients at $1800-$2500 and they get no album and no photos! i'm charging $1600 and i include a leather proofbook and all photos on CD with 2 photographers! i always seem to get the cheap $450 weddings...table scraps. IF i get calls or emails, i never hear from most of them again. being in video, i created a beautiful photo montage of some photos set to music for mailing out to potentials when they inquire. still NOTHING!
i realize the market is full but i only get about 4 inquiries a month. only 1 wedding comes through once every couple months IF I'M LUCKY. i'm spending more money than i'm making. i want to rely on word-of-mouth but since we have only done photography for 6 months, that won't happen much. i advertise in the knot......that's a joke. tried modern bride, thinking it would be huge! i canceled that contract after 6 months....never 1 call or 1 email !!
is anyone else in the same boat? should i raise my rates to be $2000 ?? $3000 ?? then will i be taken seriously?
this bride came over last week to meet in person. she saw the site, the photos, the pricing, talked to me on the phone twice, and was very interested. she comes over and says "we'll think about it and let you know." i don't get that! why waste my time or yours. she saw the pricing and the site and the work before she came over. what are we doing wrong? and we're in chicago serving the city and burbs. people getting married all over.
stressed,
Steve
fedup, i turn to photography. i have been into photography, video and audio engineering for about 12 years. i decide to upgrade photography stuff and really push that. we got 8 weddings in the first 6 monhts. hey, that's great but they were all SMALL WEDDINGS! either on tight budgets or only needing 4 hours coverage. only made $450 per wedding. that money went into the biz.
our photos are really very nice, and we are learning all the time, just like everyone else. i offer online proofing and ordering, wedding albums, always have 2 photographers for the price of one, and i have even included all photos on CD! am i too expensive? too cheap?
i don't get why studios are raking in the clients at $1800-$2500 and they get no album and no photos! i'm charging $1600 and i include a leather proofbook and all photos on CD with 2 photographers! i always seem to get the cheap $450 weddings...table scraps. IF i get calls or emails, i never hear from most of them again. being in video, i created a beautiful photo montage of some photos set to music for mailing out to potentials when they inquire. still NOTHING!
i realize the market is full but i only get about 4 inquiries a month. only 1 wedding comes through once every couple months IF I'M LUCKY. i'm spending more money than i'm making. i want to rely on word-of-mouth but since we have only done photography for 6 months, that won't happen much. i advertise in the knot......that's a joke. tried modern bride, thinking it would be huge! i canceled that contract after 6 months....never 1 call or 1 email !!
is anyone else in the same boat? should i raise my rates to be $2000 ?? $3000 ?? then will i be taken seriously?
this bride came over last week to meet in person. she saw the site, the photos, the pricing, talked to me on the phone twice, and was very interested. she comes over and says "we'll think about it and let you know." i don't get that! why waste my time or yours. she saw the pricing and the site and the work before she came over. what are we doing wrong? and we're in chicago serving the city and burbs. people getting married all over.
stressed,
Steve