jamie_thomas

Check out my site. Its not flash or what most photographer us, but all my brides love it. Its clean and informative. It is also easy to work with, you can up load all the images you shoot and sell them on line. If you like it, go to www.ktools.net.

Your work is GOOD. I do however, think you should rethink your pricing. For one thing, why would you want to reserve a Saturday if someone only once one hour. Get a good base price and insure yourself a days worth of work. I also use to do have the, customize your own package; I thought it was different from the other photographers in my area. Big mistake, I found that brides LOVE packages, that how they compare prices and they like to think their getting a deal. So now I offer packages and they can add and subtract for that package if they like, most never do. My bookings went up after I started to offer packages. Also, I think you?re too good to work for less than a $1000. Give yourself respect and confidents with your prices, and the brides will do the same, and you will book more. Hope I was of so help.

Start with hw much your time is worth to you. For me, say it was a five hour event, and they get nothing for it just the pictures on my web site so they can order what they want. I would charge $500 for my time and travle. I think it a far price if they get no prints. Hope, I was of some help.

Michelle, you are so right about that respect thing. I had more Bridzillas at $600 than I do now. It might be because I got better but, I really think it because most brides that go cheap on their photographer, are wanting more than they payed for. So what photographer wants that kind of client, not me. I want them to hire me because they love my work and art, not price.

I am a photographer that started out at $600 a wedding my first year, crazy I know. My philosophy at that time was to make it so cheap they can?t pass it up, so that I can get my name out there. I never worked for another photographer but I did go to collage for four years studding photography. Needless to say it only took me one year to figure out why photographers charge so much. I don?t care how much a B/G pays there are always those ones who fine something to complain about, and at $600 it was not worth it. My guess is that this is a photographer that is just trying to get his name out there. I bet after a few $495 weddings they will rethink their prices. My price are still low, and well after preparing my taxes this last week, I know that I am in need of a raise. You know, one time last year, I was listing to a radio talk show, and they said that wedding photography was one of the TOP TEN most over played jobs. Boy that made me MAD! Who came up with that, most people don?t relies the time, work, and stress that goes into wedding photography. Don?t get me wrong, I LOVE doing weddings, can?t see my self doing any other job, but it is a job. You?re doing it to make a living and well you can?t at $450.

I love the image, but the type needs work. The font you used on your company name is fine. Maybe I can help. I studied photography and graphic design. I graphic design business card where always the fist project that was given to us in every class. To make a great design use two different types of fonts, this helps with design and gives it great contrast. Like for yours, use scrip for your name and a clean basic fonts for the information, one that?s easy on the eyes to read. I don?t want to confuse you so I worked yours. I use scrip for your name and Garamond for you important information. Also what Ni Gentry said about AMIPP ABPPA, most people won?t know what that is, so I would leave that out. Keep your card clean and let your image sell you. Hope I was of some help.

 

Jamie

I have a wedding this Saturday, and the bride wants me to pick a location to

take photos. I'm thinking down town, but where would be a great place to take

winter weddings? Any help would be great.

BOB

 

I LOVE it...<I asked him to stop as he was really messing up some of my pictures. Either that, or I would start to play my own music, basically doing his job

 

I will use that next time too. LOL

I totally no what your saying. A wedding I did a few weeks ago had a DJ taking pics. But not only one but TWO! It was not fun, everytime I turned around there was their A** in my frame. The Videograper also was very annoyed. He told me that he was filming the first dance and they kept stepping it the way. Maybe we do haft to such it up, but I not referring them, I hope I never haft to work with them again.

Also, I had the issue of printing to, check out www.mckennapro.com You can send them the print threw the internet or mail them to them. I upload them and they usually have them to me in two days. They have every thing you need to. Hope I was of some help.

Dan,

 

You're right on the website. The better a website the more business you will generate. If you want, check out my sight and see what you think. My site isn't like other photographers and is easy to run. The cool thing about it is that after a wedding, I can upload all the images to my sight the next day. The cool thing about this is that I sell a lot of prints off my site, that?s why I love it. After I, went to this style of site, business has more than doubled. This is my second year in business; my first year I had 14 weddings booked, from my old site, and this year I had 27, on this site. I already have 10 booked next year, and know I will get more. My website is the only way I advertise, that and word of mouth. If you like my site, go to www.ktools.net that?s where I bought it. They also do hosting and they will set you up. Also they are really cool on give you support when you need it. If you have any questions e-mail me.

I don't see why everyone argues over film and digital. I love film for my personal art work, and I also love to do darkroom work just to step back and get away from the world. But I also love digital for weddings because; I don't get as many gray hairs. Digital is great because I can see if something is wrong and I can fix it. It also is good because we can take so may shoots. There is nothing wrong with taking a lot of pictures, this way we don't miss the little things that happen unexpected. If your way works for you thatﾒs great, I find that my clients love a lot of images and what to choose there own album. That is what sells me, and I am not about to change. By the way I give my client a proof album with any where from about 400 to 600 proofs. I shoot about 700 images of the complete day.

Think of it this way Todd, It serves them right for hiring that studio and not you; I would just laugh at them. You would be surprised at what people spend there money on. Everyone worries about Uncle Bob, guess what people like Name brands, close, cars, ect�. I always laugh at people who are willing to throw money away, those are the clients we like:)

I always ensure them that I will be there even if I have one foot in the grave. I did do one wedding were I had gallbladder stones, and had a hard time standing up. The Dr. wanted me to go to the emergency room but I waited until I was done with the wedding. The bride always says what if you're in a car accident or someone dies. I always say there are things that can happen beyond all our control and tell her that "What if " can happen to all of us, but ensure them that I will give back everything they paid me. How do I network with other photographers in my area? Any what if they are all booked?

I have been getting a lot of hits and meetings, but they choose not to go with

me and that the reason why is because I have not backup photographer to take

my place. I just started in the business two years ago, how do you get back

up when there is only you. I do tell them in the case of an emergency they

get everything back they pay me. I also just recently got an assistant to

help me, but using her is out of the question for at lest two years. She no

nothing about photography, and is only 18 years old. I need help and ideas,

and help would be great.

People, are you that hard up to work for free? If they don't pay now what makes you think they will latter? I have had this happed to me three times in the last year. I require a $300 retainer and the balance do two weeks before the date. On all three occasions I was able to get full payment before the wedding date. It is stated in my contract that, Failure to pay the full amount will be in breach of this contract and ITF Photography and Graphics, is not accountable to show up for the date of services, I always call the bride a week before payment is do and let her know that if payment is not sent by the two week dead line, than they must send a cashers check, or pay cash. I will show up if they say that they will pay cash on the wedding day, but I make it clear that, I will not stay and work if I am not paid. I had only had one pay me cash on there wedding day, and the other two mailed a cashers check. Don't except a credit card this late in the game, they could do a charge back. You should stand firm to your contract, if you let them break it, what good is a contract? Call your bride and really talk to her and see what is going on. Don't be mean, be understanding, but firm. Also, I feel wedding photography is the same as florist, caterer, etc. Sure you have the pictures to hold hostage but they don't take this chance with them, and they shouldn't you. People always thing that wedding photography is not important, and if you work for free what are you telling them? I feell my time is to valuable to work for free.

Sean,

 

I feel that your wedding photo's are just as good. My best move was paying for advertisement on a good local site that bides like. It paid for itself in a month,

You're right on the fact she might not be a good layout artist. I myself feel that flush mount album's have a lot to do with graphic design. I know graphic design is the study of type, but I did major in both graphic design and photography, I feel that, those style of album do lean more toward Graphic design. Maybe talk to her, tell her how you feel, I sure she will understand and will give you control over designing your album. I always include my B&G in the process. By the way did you check out McKenna, I'm not sure if they will print for a non pro, but I think they do. Sorry if I seemed a bit sharp in my last post. Its just, I somtime feel people think were over payed. But you being a graphic designer I know you do have a understanding, how mush work can go into a album, and how all artist are under paid and over looked.

Do you want to know the truth? Itﾒs the album companies that drive our prices up. A GOOD album is going to cost a pretty penny. As far as lying it out your self good for you. You might have a new fond respect for us photographers and how much work goes into an album. Because taken the photo on the day of a wedding is half the work, the rest is after. Why does $1100 seem like a lot to you? After your done making your that price might not seem so high. Any way I'm not trying to be mean, I will help you, try http://www.mckennapro.com they offer a Zook Book you will love it Just keep in mind it more than just gluing your photos to a page.

My best friend wants to be me, so she goes and buys a Cannon 5D. When she sees my images she wonders why hers don't look like mine. I tell here no matter the type of camera you buy, you still need to know how to operate it. Camera's are just that "a camera" they don't know what you want. It does frustrate me that people think you can just point and shoot. I remember my mother in-law saying, "Anyone can take a picture." I asked, "Have you ever taken a picture some is willing to pay you for?" She replies, "No." Thatﾒs what sets us apart from the armatures. We know are camera and what they can do, we also have experience in take images, most importantly weddings. How many weddings does an amateur get to shoot? You will always here about the bride who kicks here self in the A** for not hiring a professional. I try not to worry about, loosing my job to a digital camera; I embrace them and love them. They can be your best friend and save you a lot of worry. My husband is a science guy, a brain at facts, he can work my camera quit well, but when it comes to art his brain just don't get it. Anyone can read a manual but only experience and talent takes the photo.

ANNE,

 

That is a cool site. Isaved it so I can reed latter. GREAT LIGHTING! You can't get better than that.

I usally, use the eyedropper to select the part of the skin tone you want to use as the base. Then make a clear layer and dump the paint bucket tool to color the layer, then Gaussian Blur filter, turn down the opacity and erase what you don't need out. Its like putting on make up.

WOW! I really love the stories and thanks for making me feel better. I was afraid to post such a question, but I know now all of you will help, in helping me understand. From now on I will come to you first. If you talk to family and friends they agree with you ALL THE TIME and that can get you in to TROUBLE. Any way about the bride I thought I had, maybe is a good thing she didn't choose me. She wanted to fire her last photographer, although she didn't seem like a BRIDZILLA, she probably was hiding it so I would talk with her. I keep telling myself things happen for a reason, and that you can't win them all. I will just keep growing and hopping that I get more work. When I first started out my first year I got 7 weddings, last year I had 16 weddings, and this year I have 22 weddings I only have 4 booked next year, is that bad, I'm really not sure. It's hard to predicted what next year will be like because the last few years are nothing a like. Any way thanks for everything, I feel SOooooooo MUCH BETTER. You guys were a lot of help.

I was wondering if some of you feel the same way that I do. I get so

frustrated at times, about how you never here from a bride after you meet with

them. The last few meetings I had seem to go real well and last for about an

hour or more. I have a complete wedding to show, and good products. I don't

claim to be the best, and I not over priced. Last Saturday, I had a meeting

with a bride for a wedding at the last moment. She told me that see loved

what I had and she would call Tuesday to set up payment. Well Tuesday came

and went, and still no call. I e-mailed her some info she wanted and told her

my electric was out and wanted to know if she tried calling, but I got

nothing. Has this happen to you, and do you get frustrated? I know that she

decided to go with someone else, but I would like to know why. Is it wrong

for us to ask such a question, WHY? I mean we take time out of our lives and

most of the time travel to meet with them, don't we have that right. I'm not

going to yell at them, they can tell me that it because I'm ugly, I don't

care, I just wish they would let me know WHY! I am new in the business and I

feel that I can't grow or change if they can't tell me what is wrong with me

or my work. Any way at the end of my meeting I had tonight the bride said, "I

will let you know in a week." So I asked nicely, "Could you please let me

know either way, and if you could let me know why. I would greatly appreciate

it. It would help me out a lot on improving my work." She said she would, I

guess we will see. Have any of you ever call or asked a bride that decided to

not go with you, WHY? And so how did it go? Do you want to know, or do you

even care what they are thinking?

I have never done a show. I just thought that the money was best spent on advertisement on good website, right know I get alot of clients threw St. Louis Weddings. I get some threw free links, and the rest by word of mouth. How my clients would you say, you get from one show? How much does it cost to do a show, not just for the table but the cards and paper you hand out? I fingered it up once when, I was thinking about doing a show, and it came out to be that I would be handing 25 cents to every bride and in St. Louis that can be ALOT of money.