Family Member Thinks I am Priced Too High

[david_sparks2]

The other day one of my relatives found out how much I charge clients and

started going on about how that's unfair to bride's who can't afford me but like

my pictures. I quickly shot back with "It's nothing personal, just business. If

they can't afford me than I'm sorry. I'm not the right photographer for them."

Basically they were suggesting I should charge around the same price that I did

when I started my business. A price that I could NOT live off of!

 

The portfolio building is over. I have photos to prove my worth to newer clients

with bigger photography budgets. After business expenses/taxes/whatnot you

realistically cannot afford to "be nice" about price anymore.

 

I have also had people tell me I am priced affordably compared to others in my

area. And the clients that I book at my current price seem much more interested

in my style/work/quality than the ones who were just hiring me when I started

because of price. And I'll tell you I feel much better about these clients

because of that. Even the ones who did hire me early on who wanted me for my

pictures (they said) I ended up really getting along with at the actual wedding.

And since they felt comfortable/trusted my professional abilities I was able to

deliver beautiful photos for them. The ones who had price in mind, even at the

appointment, seemed to rush the photos/not really care what I got. And it

unfortunately shows in the work. Not always or perhaps not apparent from others

but my gut tells me I could've done better.

 

How do you handle these types of situations? This is considered a "specialty"

field and those who are good at what they do should price themselves

competitively. After thinking about this while typing this post, I've come up

with two good analogies to use next time:

 

There are tons of bands out there but how many can sell platinum amounts of

records and put thousands of asses in the seats? Out of those, who gets paid

more? They do the same work (play music/entertain) but they are at different

levels.

 

Or better yet, my car analogy. You aren't going to get a Lexus for the price of

a Toyota! Just because the car buyer falls in love with a car, I will bet my

camera equipment that dealers will not drop their price below cost unless they

are going out of business or some other reason like that.

[peterlyons]

You're doing fine. I don't think you need to back down. It's your business!

[joshroot]

Your response is fine. Business is business.

[William Michael]

>>> The other day one of my relatives found out how much I charge clients and started going on about how that's unfair to bride's who can't afford me but like my pictures. ( . . . ) If they can't afford me than I'm sorry. (. . . ) I've come up with two good analogies to use next time. (edit) How do you handle these types of situations?

 

1. I would not apologize; there is nothing for which to apologize.

 

2. I would not make any analogies, that is what the tormenter wants, a discussion, moreover an argument.

 

3. I would thank them for their opinion, and move on.

 

4. If 4 does not work, I would politely inform them, (as a friend), of their extreme halitosis, and suggest they get it checked out with an EN&T specialist, (if they can afford a good one).

 

5. The part about `if they could afford a good one`, would be added only according to how intense the red wine scale times the irritation factor was, at the time.

 

WW

[tonybeach]

Yeah, life's not "fair". Who should your relative have more sympathy for? You or some stranger who can always hire someone else for less? Seems to me that the aforementioned relative has their priorities misplaced.

[Leonard-just-Leonard]

I happen to like filet mignon and champagne... It may seem unfair that I eat chicken wings and drink beer, which I also like but can easily afford. Is it unfair those damn steak and bubbly people charge more? Each product has it's own merits.

 

It would be interesting to find out what this relative of yours does for a living. Does his/her industry or business charge less, not make a profit and go out of business making him/her unemployed because someone likes their product or service but cannot afford it?

[fotografz]

Your relative is right !!! I'd like a Bentley Continental GTC, and I think it is damned unfair of

them to price it out of my reach.

[William Michael]

There is a general theme to the answers on this thread . . .

 

you can choose your friends . . . etc

[herma]

I shot with a professional photographer, as a 2nd shooter. Turns out, after she did ALL the math, she probably made as much as me on an hourly basis, as me being the 2nd shooter. I have no intention to become a professional photographer because my day job pays too well :). I would, how ever like to become as good as a professional photographer...sigh.. that's why I hang out here with you PN people wayyy to much. So David, you keep charging what you think you are worth, because you probably are....Customers have no idea what all goes into producing their wedding photo's.

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

Herma

[justin_hall]

I totally understand your situation and have followed a similiar path - as have we all.

 

In the early days (just 18 months ago) I would charge virtually nothing for my services, ?20 for a portrait shoot with free CD, maybe ?200 for a wedding, again with a free CD.

 

Sure I was portfolio building like your good self and I was happy to take the approach of earning nothing if need be - if it created a solid platform for the future.

 

Now I charge ?150 ($300) for a portrait shoot (complete with a printed book and CD), and have warned my clients that in 2008 that price will double.

 

To be honest the overwhelming majority of clients deeply appreciate the creative services I provide and many have told me I'm way too cheap. Many have actually tipped me because they felt guilty!

 

Sure - some people can't afford it but I can't afford a ?500,000 house in Buckinghamshire - so I don't buy one.

 

I'm still working full time so need to treat this like a business, as mentioned by many above and need a business plan that will allow me to pay my bills in the future when I do go full time.

 

Make no apologies.

 

My full time job has taught me one thing - you charge what people are willing to pay, not what it cost - or what they can afford. Simple.

[justin_hall]

Hehe - I just re-read William W (Retired)'s post again - he make me laugh....

[bob_osullivan]

I would not even dignify that remark with a response. Who cares what one of your family members thinks. Now if it was a family member of the B&G there would be some selling to do. Reserve your selling skills for poeple who can buy.

 

Some people just don't get photography, never mind that we charge for it. This is why I never allow friends or familiy members to tag along when I'm going to be shooting for my personal pleasure. I don't want to hear "what are you taking a picture of anyway, there's nothing there" and what not. I"m sure you relative is one of those, people.

 

The ONLY poeple to whom you need to justify your price are the B&G or thier parents if they are paying. Why do your familiy members even know what you charge, it's non of thier business. Do you know all thier salaries???

[ben_rubinstein___mancheste1664880652]

I never knew that wedding photography was supposed to be a charity. I promise none of the other vendors work that way!

[stwrtertbsratbs5]

Your relatives do not understand economics. If your price were too high, you wouldn't have clients.

[john_h.1]

You relative would probably say something like this whether you had a plumbing business or a photography business. This is just a social issue where the answer obvious. Its none of their business, you have done nothing wrong and you don't need to explain or justify anything. Don't waste any more time on this sillyness.

[daniel_smith6]

Tell them that in the interest of fairness they can find a bride who can't afford your price and pay you the full amount and give her the photo package as a wedding present.

[william-porter]

Ask your relative if he thinks he's overpaid and remind him that their are smart, eager folks in China, India, Mexico and a couple dozen other countries around the world who would LOVE to do his job for about one quarter of what he's getting paid.

[ellis_vener_photography]

"The other day one of my relatives found out how much I charge clients and started going on about how that's unfair to bride's who can't afford me but like my pictures."

 

I'll bet your relative isn't in business for themselves, and possibly are a little jealous of your success. You are on the right track.

 

My relatives always tell me the opposite: that I should be charging more. They are probably right.

[surfidaho]

I agree that it's none of the relatives business, but you might want to inquire deeper about why he/she feels that way. Perhaps your relative gave you a referral, and quoted a price to someone based on what you used to charge, and is now taking the heat for it.

 

Breaking out of low income photography can be difficult. It's sometimes hard to shake the image of the "inexpensive photographer".

 

Later,

 

Paulsky

[waltflanagan]

Who cares, tell them to move to a socialist country or ask them if they would like to work for the same salary as they got in their first job.

[thomas_hardy1]

Some people drive Chevys and some drive Mercedes.....

[l_e]

Lots of wedding photographers would not pay their rates. In that sense they are priced to high for themselves, but that doesn't stop them from charging other people their rates.

[surfidaho]

Perhaps David Sparks cares. If he didn't care, he wouldn't try to come up with a persuasive argument for his position, he would simply tell the relative to take a hike.

 

Honestly, would any of you tell a close relative to move to a socialist country, even if they were being a butt-in-ski?

 

David shouldn't lower his prices. On the other paw, it's getting close to the holidays, and he probably doesn't want this topic coming up again at a family gathering, so a little diplomacy might not hurt, as long as he stands his ground and doesn't apologize for his pricing.

 

Peace,

 

Paulsky

[conraderb]

interesting question, David.

 

I woudln't worry about it too much. usually the people who are close to me are impressed by what I charge - not angry.

 

I definitely felt bad at one point for what I charge. after all, I was the radical in college who believed that anyone who is making more than $150 a day is obviously doing something horrible - killing babies, making nuclear weapons, stuff like that.

 

if I would have believed in college that I charge what I do now, I would have held myself in contempt. but you know what? my clients love my work and think I'm a good value compared to other photographers in the area. that's what everyone wants - good value - and that's what I deliver.

 

another thing - my income from my photography helps me volunteer and contribute photographs to worthy causes that I would otherwise have to charge. the for profit activities make the nonprofit activities possible.

 

I would try to not worry about it. You could point out to your family that maybe there is something positive about being so successful...?!?

[gina_marie1]

Ask them, would they still go to work tomorrow morning if their boss told them "we really like the work you do for us, but we can't afford to pay you your salary anymore, we're cutting it in half".