*Serious/deep question* How do you truly become a professional?

[Lee4145]

Originally Posted by brian.austin

Interesting translation on the name (this time).

Didn't even occur to me to look it up until you mentioned it. That's funny sh--!

[llpoolej]

Paul, if you compete on price, you die on price. You can't worry about what anyone else is doing you just have to be the best. If you are the best in your field you can charge what you want and make a good living.

To do that, you also have to have excellent customer service too. I think the hardest thing for most of the cheaper photographers to get a handle on, is business. How many of the $50-100 CD people are still working in 5 years? I am guessing not many.

[zemlin]

In my other side business, I've let supply and demand determine what I charge. When really didn't know what I was doing (and knew it), I was charging $25/hour. When I started getting more business than I could deal with at that rate (considering I have a demanding day job, a house and cars to maintain, and a family), I increased my rate.

The customers who were just looking for cheap work didn't come back, and the folks who like what I do stuck around.

[Paul_Dymond]

Hey Julie,

I couldn't agree more. In fact I stopped worrying about what everybody else was charging years ago. I know what I need to charge to stay in business and usually it's a lot more than other people. I guess I was just trying to say that selfish people really give me the pip and I wish that more pros would reach out to those coming up in the field and really take them under their wing and show them how the industry works. Sure not everybody will want to listen but I think quite a few people would relish the opportunity if they had it.

All too often we see forums where people are asking how much they should charge and they quickly descend into name calling and accusations. I was just trying to say that it's a business so you need to know how much money you need to make to stay in business. Anything else on top of that is cream but you need to know the price you can't go below if you want to stay in business.

[littlegal]

The deal is, you will make what the market will bear for your level of quality. If your quality is very good, the market will bear more, despite your time in the business or your affiliations. (Dratom is a great example....he's been in the business for a relatively short time, but his natural and learned talent allow him to compete on a larger level).

Less talent normally means less money. More talent usually means less, but much better paying jobs.

I don't worry about the Craiglisters or Burners. Their clients aren't my clients. Am I working 100 weddings a year? No. But I'm getting in the clientelle that I want.

There is a market for all of us. Not every client has money to burn, so they choose the photographer who is as close to what they want, for the money they can afford. If they only have a few hundred bucks, that's all they've got.

But I agree, I've seen some wild pricing. A book, the disc, the session....all for $125 (Real example). I don't even fathom how they do that. Of course they are not paying their state sales taxes, and haven't sat down to work out the numbers including their equipment, website, advertising, business cards, tangibles and all the rest....but they never last long. There one minute, and gone in half that time.

[korman]

Originally Posted by Paul_Dymond

While I agree with you that it's certainly fair to charge less if you have a lesser overhead, there's still nothing to be gained in undercutting the market and not making a profit. That just doesn't make business sense?
[...]
I get so sick of this attitude in the photography world of I'm gonna charge what I want and damn the rest of you.

That was my point, if you do business in a serious way, you'll end up charging similar rates - except if you have different a different cost structure and achieve similar profits. In that case, your model might be of interest to other photographers and probably will be adopted to some extend.

Korman

[Paul_Dymond]

Sorry Korman,

looks like I misunderstood you then! I couldn't agree more.

[Abzzi]

As a consumer, I regard a professional as someone who is knowledgeable, reliable, presents well, attitude, is ethical..The bottom line is they deliver a product that is of a high quality, if they dont i go elsewhere. Many people run a mulitude of business's from home and the fact that you are a stay at home mum is irrelevant. If I was buying a peice of pottery and the seller said they were a SAHM, Id wonder why they included that information?? Children go to school at 5yrs, that gives you 8 hours a day to work your business & be there for them after school hours. Untill then learn your craft & study business.. anyway thats my 2cents .

[ndelacova]

I have recently started charging for most of my work. Some things are still for free when it does not directly have a physical cost associated with it. I consider myself more than a GWAC. Many people have asked me to start charging so I have. When I have printed my stuff, it sells automatically. I also email one off images to get the word out that I am photographer. I produce images that other parents can't. I recently did a party where I did sell the CD with images. I did charge for my time, expertise and equipment. It is a startting point. I do this as a second business. This is my business plan and it is what I think is necessary to take it to the next level (studio, weddings or other events). The problem I see is the true GWAC that is here today and gone tomorrow. OK, so they are gone tomorrow, I no longer have to worry about that one. It is the next GWAC that I have to worry about on a constant basis.

[Fireice_2]

Part of being a professional, its important to have a quality portfolio to show your potential clients. Recently I finished compiling my portfolio and I can more easily convince potential clients to hire me.