I have no technical knowledge.. Now give me money please.

[Blake.Oney]

I guess for me as a photographer I couldn't charge someone if I knew my photos really weren't somewhat on the professional playing level. I guess it's in the eye of the beholder. Something inside me couldn't condone the quoted line of thinking.

Define "professional playing level"

In my opinion, professional playing level is defined by the customer, not the photographer. A magazine editor is going to have a completly different expectations from a professional than a bride. From a brides persepective, "a professional" is someone who follows them around with a bulky camera all day long and gives them a photo album 2 weeks later. They want to see smiles, their gown blowing in the breeze, people jumping up and down and a shot or two with selective coloring. They will NEVER notice if a shot is under exposed, a horizon isn't level, there is a little bit of noise in the sky, or if the subjects don't follow the rule of thirds.

Understanding all of this is where I feel a lot of photographers fall short. A photographer that charges $10,000 for a wedding shoot may pick up an album from a guy that charged $500 and say, "This is aweful". But the bride will look at both of them and not notice a difference. The only difference is that one person got paid $500 the other got paid nothing.

I agree. I think a lot of professional photogs are going to be forced to lower their prices. It concerns me for some of the people I've met through photography, but it doesn't hit so close to home. If a lot of you guys heard me price a shoot you'd probably laugh. The area that I live in is low income. $500-$1000 is a realistic number for weddings here. Portraits are more like $50-$100. People here will pay more for different than they will for normal at Olan Mills, but if it gets too high they just can't afford it. I am able to offer rates they can afford because the cost of living is much much lower here than almost anywhere else. I used to work at ATT and for some reason everyone who called in would tell me how much cigarettes cost where they live. So the only way I know to compare is a pack costs $3 here. Plus there isn't that many people trying to do professional work around here. If someone pops up offering $20 portraits I'll be in trouble I guess.