Dear Cheap but good photographer: you are ruining my life and this industry

[Deunamist]

slightly OT, I just saw a school corporate video go to an unknown vendor (no website, no online presence at all) on GeBIZ for $2,500. ;(

I personally cannot wrap my head around how it is possible to do all that for so little.

I can only say good luck and good riddance. Move on to the next better customer.

 

[JasonB]

slightly OT, I just saw a school corporate video go to an unknown vendor (no website, no online presence at all) on GeBIZ for $2,500. ;(

I personally cannot wrap my head around how it is possible to do all that for so little.

I can only say good luck and good riddance. Move on to the next better customer.

Things like these set a precedence. Next year their budget goes down to $2500 or even less. And other schools will follow suit because the bar was lowered. Don't you think they won't compare notes and spending and have some traditional civil service mindset competition of who can save more money and score more points?

The people who did it for short term goals either crashed and burned or had moved on. People who depended on this gigs for years to make a living, suffered. The farms they been nurturing and plounging for years gone when some new knights in shining armor trampled over their fields in pursuit of glory.

 

[Deunamist]

I know, right. I spoke to a govt client whom I've retained and they say they are always encouraged to look at the price first. Otherwise they must provide a damn solid justification as to why they should pay more than the lowest bidder.

 

[Jedi]

I know, right. I spoke to a govt client whom I've retained and they say they are always encouraged to look at the price first. Otherwise they must provide a damn solid justification as to why they should pay more than the lowest bidder.

This is a standard protocol especially in the civil service. If you don't provide any justifications, how can you spend more if you could have spent lesser.

 

[Deunamist]

This is a standard protocol especially in the civil service. If you don't provide any justifications, how can you spend more if you could have spent lesser.

a bit dumb right? the whole system was set up to protect govt agencies. fine in that regard. however, then who protects the vendors' interests?

 

[saberlancer]

a bit dumb right? the whole system was set up to protect govt agencies. fine in that regard. however, then who protects the vendors' interests?

Well no one ask or expect vendors to be so stupid..

Whole Spore kopitiam kopi got average price say abt $0.90cts, some of course sell more expensive, but you won't find shops selling cheaper & cheaper 60cts, 50cts, 30cts..But photography vendors special breed lah..lol

 

[Kit-Kat-Lover]

Agree. Photographer is a special breed. Cheap and free .. some even beg for job ro get portfolio.

 

[Kit]

a bit dumb right? the whole system was set up to protect govt agencies. fine in that regard. however, then who protects the vendors' interests?

Nobody will give a damn if vendors don't look after themselves. Period.

 

[Deunamist]

Nobody will give a damn if vendors don't look after themselves. Period.

agree, however, there is only so much we can do, if the client chooses to go for price over quality or reputation.

 

[daredevil123]

agree, however, there is only so much we can do, if the client chooses to go for price over quality or reputation.

If good vendors all tahan and not take jobs below market rate, they get some idiot that blotch the job, you will get your justification next year...

Remember "Honey Loook!"?

Problem is, someone always chickens out and say ok to lower price....

 

[Agetan]

If good vendors all tahan and not take jobs below market rate, they get some idiot that blotch the job, you will get your justification next year...

Remember "Honey Loook!"?

Problem is, someone always chickens out and say ok to lower price....

It's call laziness in some part but in another part, some people can't differentiate between ok and better and it is difficult to justify ok and Best for the pricing.

In all honesty, we can't fix a price or so call the market rate. Different people have different risk appetite, different cost structure, different stage of their business. What is a better solution is for individual vendor to do their best and use their best ability to market their work to the right target audience.

When you guys are discussing $2500 is low for video (which I know the amount of work involve), you should see the genre I practice... I have people shooting newborn at $300-400 with softcopy included. I charge $450 just to do the shoot with everything else extra. So naturally, if it is based in cost, there is no way, I will get any shoot. Rather than worry about it... I put my work to people who is looking for work that I produce.

So stop worry about the competition, but do your part in your business to make it better. Whinning won't get you any where.

Hart