Ideas getting busier, I need help :(

[shellie]

As I've said before, Thank you so much to all who have given positive input. I have made notes and will be addressing all of these things to better myself. As for those who have chosen to pick out a few things and make "non-helpful" posts I hope you are never in the position to ask for help and have a group of your peers make comments of the same nature to waste your time. I am glad that I was able to come on this forum and openly say "this is what I'm doing, this is where I need nelp" and get all this valuable information and all these wonderful suggestions. So I'm uncomfortable with my flash, that doesn't make me an unqualified photographer. It's just something I need to work on to get better with. Thanks to all of you who helped me. I hope one day I can come back and offer my knowledge to help some one who may be having trouble.

 

[orljustin]

So I'm uncomfortable with my flash, that doesn't make me an unqualified photographer. It's just something I need to work on to get better with.

Sure it makes you unqualified. That's what qualified means. A qualified photographer would be prepared to get the right images using the means necessary. Not to just be able to point the camera in the right direction in "natural light". But you didn't address why this didn't apply to you as well:
"There are so many "photographers" out there now because it seems like everyone who picks up a camera automatically becomes a professional photographer."

 

[shellie]

I don't need to explain myself or defend myself to anyone.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

You're mentioning throughout this thread your area is a weak market for photography sales. Perhaps some analysis on neighboring communities, reaching out further, and penetrating the more lucrative markets will make you profitable?

 

[shellie]

You're mentioning throughout this thread your area is a weak market for photography sales. Perhaps some analysis on neighboring communities, reaching out further, and penetrating the more lucrative markets will make you profitable?

Yes. I have done some advertising in several of the neighboring towns. Every time I go out of town I carry flyers with me and post them when I stop.

 

[spacefuzz]

Now nobody bite my head off for jumping in, but just trying to help out.

Shellie: most people here are just trying to help, even the ones discussing flash. They may not have offered advice in sweet manner, but its still good advice. You CAN be a professional and not use your flash, if you can carve out a market in natural light portraiture and be happy with your business. But as you have seen, its a small market so your odds are not good. If you do learn to use your flash however, you gain market share by offering a wider variety of services and can therefore get your business in better shape. Which is basically the point others were trying to make. And all the other pricing advice definitely applies.

Since your in a small market with existing photographers, increase your quality to above the competition and charge accordingly. Have you done research on any high priced studio photographers in the area?

 

[shellie]

I have looked on the website available. But some of them give limited info. I don't know how to really go about researching with out being deceitful and pretend like I'm a potential customer. In I'd say a 50 mile radius there are three other studios. I know there are hundreds of fb photogs but I don't think any of them have studios. I plan to raise my prices effective Jan 1. I don't want to do it in the middle of the year, last quarter. I'm going to have some angry existing customers. I have a studio with my lighting set up in there and I know how to use them, well. I'm just not as comfortable with my speedlite that mounts to the top of my camera. It seems to blast a massive amount of light even when I turn it down. I'm still learning new stuff everyday

 

[spacefuzz]

I have looked on the website available. But some of them give limited info. I don't know how to really go about researching with out being deceitful and pretend like I'm a potential customer. In I'd say a 50 mile radius there are three other studios. I know there are hundreds of fb photogs but I don't think any of them have studios. I plan to raise my prices effective Jan 1. I don't want to do it in the middle of the year, last quarter. I'm going to have some angry existing customers. I have a studio with my lighting set up in there and I know how to use them, well. I'm just not as comfortable with my speedlite that mounts to the top of my camera. It seems to blast a massive amount of light even when I turn it down. I'm still learning new stuff everyday

I wont offer you any speedlight advice since I shoot landscapes and havnt used mine in months. But on the business end of it, no offense but get rid of all of your current customers. If you are making $1000 in revenue a month....thats $12k per year. I mean seriously.....thats not even enough to cover your overhead. By not changing your model you are just running yourself out of business. Its not deceitful to call a competitor and just ask what a package would cost, its called market research. Its not a closed bid government contract or anything. Then take those numbers, along with how much cash your business currently has and all your overhead numbers. Run them through some math and determine what you have to charge to break even, make 10%, 20% etc. Dont forget to add your salary to those numbers. The profit left over can be used to grow your business. After taking a hard look at those numbers and compare them to the prices charged by the high end competitors. If you are close and they are running successful business you have a market. If not you either need to cut costs some how or find something else to invest in because your venture wont work out.

Simple to say, hard to impliment. But limping along for the rest of the year like you are is just throwing money away. If you want to waste it, send it to me.

 

[ladynikon]

Instead of loosing the customers who you currently have u could use them to network and cut a deal maybe you agree to keep the price the same for a certain time period in exchange for them advertising and referring you new customers who you could charge full price. Just a thought.

 

[bennielou]

Hi Shellie,

I read your post, and the ones that followed, and the problem that I have with the whole deal is that you said nothing about setting up a legal business, paying your taxes (state and federal), and you admit that you don't have the manditory liability insurance. I also doubt that you have given to much thought to what you are actually making for your time involved, and the wear and tear on your equipment. (I go through speedlights like you wouldn't believe, and have to replace my cameras every year or two).

Anyone can set up a facebook account and give work away. If you don't mind giving it away, and people are streaming in to get low cost photography, then it sounds like everyone's happy.

However, if you want to actually make money after doing and considering everything in the first paragraph, then I would suggest you get to the point that you can charge what you need to make to actually have a business.

I hope this isn't coming out all bitchy, because that is not the way it's intended. It's just that I've seen a ton of people take your approach, and it doesn't work. Make some changes, and it could.

Best of luck!

 

[spacefuzz]

Instead of loosing the customers who you currently have u could use them to network and cut a deal maybe you agree to keep the price the same for a certain time period in exchange for them advertising and referring you new customers who you could charge full price. Just a thought.

the only problem would be when the new customers learned the old ones were getting a steal of a deal. bad mojo ensues.

You could have a sit down discussion with your current customers explaining to them why you need to raise prices and how it will enable them to recieve a superior product. Done right that can sometimes work.

 

[shellie]

I set money aside for taxes so that is covered. I was unaware of manditory liability insurance until this thread. I have asked for help from multiple places and it never came up. I have even contacted the small business org and no one seems to be able to answer my questions. If you can tell me where to get answers I would be grateful for the information and make the calls. As for the facebook stuff, I was a photographer before I was on fb. I just set the fb account up to help get my name out there. I was told that I could do a DBA, doing business as, and that's what I did.

 

[shellie]

To all the posters: I don't have all the answers. There are several things that I now realize I'm doing wrong. I am thankful to all of you have given me advice, suggestions, pointed out things I'm not doing right and need to work on. I hope I can turn this thing around and be successfull, by my standards. I love my work. I love my job. I'm trying to pursue my dreams.

 

[spacefuzz]

I love my work. I love my job. I'm trying to pursue my dreams.

Well by my standards that means your on the right track!

 

[orljustin]

You're mentioning throughout this thread your area is a weak market for photography sales. Perhaps some analysis on neighboring communities, reaching out further, and penetrating the more lucrative markets will make you profitable?

Yes. I have done some advertising in several of the neighboring towns. Every time I go out of town I carry flyers with me and post them when I stop.

That is not advertising. Come on, are you really serious about this?