I am FUMING mad!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SabrinaO]

I posted my photography ads on craigslist on my "Free newborn photoshoots" but they were mysteriously getting flagged, and therefore deleted. I suspected it could of been another photographer doing it because I saw their ads on there too. But I also suspected it could of just been a paranoid prude flagging it also. But regardless of the situation, it was upsetting and frustrating.

FLASH FORWARD to two days ago. I had my first newborn shoot and during the shoot the client told me that another photographer contacted her after she(my client) posted on my wall. This "photographer" was basically trying to get my client to go with her services instead of mines. But my client wasn't hearing it and closed the chat.

First of all, im a new photographer just starting out and im just trying to build up my portfolio and make a name for myself. And to have some %$#* lurk my page and try to steal my customers while im offering a FREE photoshoot stung really deep. So in the heat of the moment, after the shoot I left a message ON HER WALL basically saying how disrespectful and desperate her behavior is. I also said if she were any good and was confident in her ability she wouldn't feel the need to steal customers. Yes, that wasn't professional, but I didn't curse her out or anything. :er: But this "photographer" is the WORST PHOTOGRAPHER I HAVE EVER SEEN! She uses tons of cheesy, tacky and cheap props and gimmicks basically to compensate for her lack of photography skills. But people seem to be flocking to her because her prices are so dirt cheap. I guess people get what they pay for.

Anyways... over the past few days ive been getting messages from other photographers thanking me for speaking out. Apparently they have been told by their clients too that she was lurking their walls and contacting the people that post on their walls.One photographer told me she had to move because of how much business she was taking. (they had studios near each other.) Another photographer even told me that she was stealing her pics to use for her ads on craigslist.

Anyways so here I am right now.. extrememly discouraged and I don't know what to do. I blocked her fan page and her personal page from my fan page, but does that mean she can't see my page at all??? This is Facebook that I'm talking about for those of you that don't know.
I just don't know what to do. Should I lower my prices? The ONLY advantage this girl has are her prices. She does $20-$75 fly by sessions including cd's with "up to 600" pics. I mean I could do that too, but theres no quality in that, and I'm all about quality.

Anyways, thanks for letting me rant.

Also.. I don't care: Here is the link to her FB just so you know another reason why this whole situation is upsetting. Her photography is horrendous!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/KBG-Photography/138849616158510
http://www.kbgphotography.webs.com

 

[RauschPhotography]

Wow, that's terrible--both the situation and her photography! How does she think she'll even get your clients with business ethics like that, anyways?

 

[MegR]

OMG - I am still learning but I would like to say even my photos are much better then those. As a parent who loves pics of her kids I would be PISSED if those pics came back from my photographer. Eeeekkkkk =(

Honestly if you have a lawyer friend or an attorney on retainer I would have them send a letter stating if she doesn't stop you will take her to court. Even if you have no intentions of doing so it may scare her and she may stop.

Good Luck
Meg

 

[cnutco]

Welcome to the soccer mom's world of photography... sorry, but they are out there with nothing else to do.

Let's see some pics.

Good luck!

 

[bigtwinky]

I'm confused, some things you say kind of contradict each other. You say up top you are doing free shoots, but then near the end, you ask if you should lower your prices? Do you mean you will pay people to shoot them?

There are always varying levels of photographers to chose from. You have the bottom feeders, those who offer crap images for cheap, you have the middle of the road people, and you have the high end full time working pros. Prices vary at each level. If you truly want to make a name for yourself, the first thing to do is get yourself out of the bottom feeder level. Let your work speak for itself. It will be harder to build a client base, but if you build a base with good solid images, and not just dirt cheap prices, you are building a longer lasting client relationship. Again, it will take more time. Quick money is doing dirt cheap crap.

The photography market is huge with competition. Digital is so accessible and can produce good results even in automatic. So someone can shoot 600 images and get 10 keepers. I prefer to shoot 60 images and have 60 keepers (not like I do, but I prefer that )

I think that your reaction, while called for, is wrong. You should take the highroad and be professional. If you know what you did was not professional, then why did you do it? Do you expect to charge professional rates and get away with not acting professionally towards clients?

What you posted on your wall is seen by her fan list. All they see is two immature people posting sh!t at each other. If I contacted you for photos, and she contacted me, I'd compare and see the crap you guys are posting and say to hell with both of you, I'll find someone who can at least act professionally. You need to walk the walk. Nothing stops you from sending her a message or what not.

I've found that clients who always want dirt cheap stuff are often the harder ones to work with. And really, the bottom feeders can have them. I was asked to shoot a 14 hour wedding, provide all edited images on a DVD for $400. No thanks. Not even under the excuse of needing more portfolio stuff. I have set a standard for what I want to accomplish and will stick to that.

It is hard to have a consistent client base in any business. Nothing different in photography. Don't expect to get one when you are at the learning and evolving stages. But the one thing I can suggest, for the few you get, make damn sure they get a good service, a professional service, and top notch images so they WILL come back. Engagement or love sessions lead to weddings. Weddings will lead to maternity. Maternity will lead to newborn. Newborn will lead to family pictures. All the while referrals making their way out.

You should check the Facebook help pages for the blocking. I know when I block someone on my personal page, they dont see me, my images or anything I post. As I am the owner of the fan page, I would assume that blocking carries on to the page, but confirm with them.

I guess people get what they pay for.

Aren't you shooting for free? Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[New Hampshire]

OMG - I am still learning but I would like to say even my photos are much better then those. As a parent who loves pics of her kids I would be PISSED if those pics came back from my photographer. Eeeekkkkk =(

Alas, this is the problem in general (and why this woman is obviously still in business). You see you, I and we know what accepted standards are...what is good photography and what is not. But most parents don't. All they see is something that looks better than what came out of the $100 WalMart point and shoot. And they are happy with that. And I guess if they are happy then that is all that matters. But it is kind of a travesty that so many parents will accept that kind of standard. And a bit of the "my child" thing probably plays into it also. They sit there and think everything about their child "is sooooo cute", even if poorly photographed next to a cheesy prop. And obviously this woman is playing off that sentiment to selly her poor photography.

But, all that aside, I agree that her business practices alone make her a pretty poor excuse for a human. I don't think she is doing anything "legally" wrong, but it is very deceitful, underhanded and low.

Brian

 

[bigtwinky]

Honestly if you have a lawyer friend or an attorney on retainer I would have them send a letter stating if she doesn't stop you will take her to court. Even if you have no intentions of doing so it may scare her and she may stop.

Take her to court for what?? She isn't a registered business, she is just someone with a camera learning and shooting.

Seriously, again, take the high road and differentiate yourself with your images and professional service.

Build a solid business and a solid reputation..and they will come

 

[Robin Usagani]

LOL.. this is why I am staying away from "Family Portraits". If someone asks me, ill do it.. but i wont advertise left and right. The market is just full of _ _ _.

 

[cnutco]

Seriously, again, take the high road and differentiate yourself with your images and professional service.

Build a solid business and a solid reputation..and they will come

NICELY SAID!:thumbup:

 

[rambler]

Take bigtwinky's advice. You will always have competition. Do not lower your prices. In fact consider raising them. Maybe that would lead to fewer customers, but you could do an even better job with each with more time per customer. Having fewer customers who pay more equals more customers at cheaper prices. People who spend more, will expect more, too.

When Tiffany's could not sell an expensive necklace from out of the display cabinets, they put it in its own special display case in a prominent position and raised the price. The piece sold quickly.

Friends of mine who rented out a first floor apartment in their home had problem with renters leaving without paying rent and taking poor care of the place, complaining. So, my friends raised the rent and ended up with much better renters who paid on time and took better care of the place.

Maybe you could use discounts or specials, but do not let your competition determine your pricing. Don't be out to gouge people, but consider what your work is worth and price accordingly. Think quality rather than quantity. In your promo take a photo from that competitor and have it next to one of yours to point out how your photo is better.

My daughter was married recently and the photographer had a wide range of options and pricing. We selected an option she had of spending an afternoon hanging out with the wedding party the day before the wedding. They were all surfing at the beach. Some fun photos in the relaxed setting resulted.

Do not let your competition get you down. Do what you do best and go with it. You can learn from good competitors, too.

I have a friend who is a successful professional. During recent hard times and lay-offs, he has many calls from people with digital cameras wanting to learn from him on "how to do it". How to make money from photography.
It took him many hours of hard work when he started out especially since he started in the days of film only.

One of his jobs was to sit in the center field bleachers, and with a huge telephoto lens, take a picture of every single pitch of a World Series. Another of his jobs took him to Egypt to take pictures for the annual report of a fine arts museum. He has photographed musicians of symphony orchestras for advertisements. In the beginning he chased ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks. A dramatic shot of a fireman rescuing an infant won him notoriety. I rarely see him without his camera. Hard work usually pays off. Don't get discouraged.

Another photographer I know takes portraits of peoples pets. Oh, well. Another pro was also our kids nursery school teacher. We have some treasured black and white photos of our kids smeared in finger paints and working seriously at block building. Have fun.

 

[Village Idiot]

Honestly if you have a lawyer friend or an attorney on retainer I would have them send a letter stating if she doesn't stop you will take her to court. Even if you have no intentions of doing so it may scare her and she may stop.

Take her to court for what?? She isn't a registered business, she is just someone with a camera learning and shooting.

Seriously, again, take the high road and differentiate yourself with your images and professional service.

Build a solid business and a solid reputation..and they will come

Like this person:
Copyright Infringements and a 5 year old.... - Canon Digital Photography Forums

I read this the other day and was shocked by the alleged actions of the offending party. The OP however (haven't read this since Friday) has chosen not to retaliate, which is smart.

 

[kundalini]

Old Abe was a wise man.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

bigtwinky ain't too shabby either.

 

[Bram]

So if I get this right, you're running a free photography business through facebook?

 

[mwcfarms]

Take this energy you have and direct it towards bettering your craft. There are always people like this out there. I wouldn't worry about it. Chances are you don't want her clientele if they are satisfied with her work.

 

[ababysean]

I shot a boudior seminar a few months ago, it was a paid thing, and taught posing and how to use the lights....
I posted a few pictures on facebook and I had a local boudior/pinup photographer send me nasty mean messages about how she is the ONLY photog in my area allowed to do Pin Up because she did it first!
Ummmmm what? Pin up photography was done before we were born!

I just laughed and let it slide.

But we work with many of the same models and have similar friends and I hear it through the sewing circle that she talks badly about me every chance she gets..... sigh.