looking for photographer for wedding day

[siriuslim]

Dittos.. Well said Dream Merchant.. You have illustrated the point very well as most people do not appreciate the other efforts required for a photoshoot. There are alot of other cost and man effort involved which the consumer often do not realize. Sad.. but true...

 

[ConnorMcLeod]

can someone explain to me how come free lanse photographers command such a high fee?

From dictionary.com, a freelancer is "a person who works as a writer, designer, performer, or the like, selling work or services by the hour, day, job, etc., rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer". Its self-employed vs being employed.

Thus for an apple to apple comparison, a freelancer who is good enough to be employed professionally may operate with a reduced operating cost e.g. no need to have a shop front, but the other operating cost remains (those mentioned by dream merchant) hence price maybe a bit lower but cannot expect half price etc.

 

[snowspeeder]

Beautifully and Truthfully said, Dream Merchant! :thumbsup:

I've saved this page to be used to educate ignorant clients.

 

[2nd-Hamsterlord]

Hope u can understand more about wedding photography world. Just 1 time for a lifetime. Your decision. =)

Salute Dream Merchant!!!

 

[Luval]

DM said it right.. all in all. it boils down to time is money.
everything that is broken down to every details is money involve.

To Ts. U may still still it not worth your money to pay even 800 and above. You pay peanuts, you get peanuts. Well , all the best to ur search. and to PG who accepted the offer. All the best too. No offences.

 

[jayliberator]

art, dont come cheap

 

[jOhO]

eheheh.. i smile when i read this thread.

at least i learnt something new here, i got the link to jessica claire's website!

ignorant me didn't know who she is.. and now i do, with great admiration! :thumbsup:

 

[Picard]

WOW! Dream Merchant! :bigeyes: You're a dream come true! Well said. Actually...you forgot another thing:


ERP!!!!!


In any case...some people don't realise that after the thousands they spend on their wedding, all they're left with to remember the occasion are the photos (or videos) that were taken. Yet...they're not willing to invest in that. Sheesh.

Like someone said..."Good Luck"

$1K for a full day AD coverage from a seasoned professional is dirt cheap. Most of them will not be able to survive on that sort of rates.

$1.5-$1.8K seems reasonable for a seasoned pro.

If you break it down, nope, it's still cheap because here where it starts:

Say AD is from

6.30am - 4.30pm (10 hours)

BREAK

Dinner - 6pm - 11pm, sometimes later (5 hours)

Sub Total: 15 hours.

Now is when the REAL torture work begins ...

Photographer goes back to office/home whatever and downloads work.

1/2 day to sieve through and make a rough selection, and set whatever parameters to edit the work according to agreed contract. 4 hours

Another 3-7 full working days to edit, compile, lay-out, design coffee-table book if ordered, run to printers, run to clients. 8 hrs x 7 days = 56 hours, NOT including time and transport costs.

Based on the above ALONE, that's a total of something like 75 hours, NOT including time for meeting client and discussing, reccee location, run to printers, run to coffee-table book maker, run to deliver to clients. Factor this in as another 1 full day's cost.

So, you;re looking at 15 hours of shooting, + 60 hours editing + roughly 8 hours worth in running around and meetings etc gives you about 83 hours of hands-on work.

THE BOTTOM LINE?

Say you pay that exorbitant kenar cheated by photographer fee of $1,500 divided by 83 hours works out to a

GRAND TOTAL of $18.07 cents PER HOUR.

You say you work like a donkey, but at least you're getting paid 138.35% MORE than the working wedding professional photographer charging you $1.5K.

I can't figure out how any professional wedding photographer can survive on $18.07 per hour. Bear in mind that a person can only accept a fixed number of assignments per month, and there will be months like the ghost month where they can have zero bookings = ZERO INCOME for the entire month!!!




But but but but but, in order for all that to happen in the first place, there's this to consider - something pointed out by one of Singapore's prominent wedding photographers:

transport cost.

meeting the clients needs time and money,

confirming and collecting the retainer/deposit cost time and money.

meeting a few days before the client's wedding cost time and money.

going down to cover the wedding needs time and money.

going home to rest in-between the festitivies cost time and money.

going back to the dinner venue cost time and money.

returning home from the long day cost time and money.

meeting your clients to deliver your work cost time and money.

that is just transport cost.

albums,

sample albums, sample prints, sample pictures, sample CDs
electicity costs

computers need power

cameras need power

flashes need power

electric bills are going up again.
hardware cost

cameras cost money
camera parts cost moeny
lenses cost money
lens hoods cost money
filters cost money
memony cards cost money
batteries cost money
flashes cost money

camera bags cost money
computers cost money
ram cost money
harddisk cost money
monitors cost money
mouse, keypads, card readers, cost money
extention cords cost money
tables and chairs that you sit to edit your photos cost money
going to buy these equipment cost time and money.

softcopy costs

photoshop cost money
software to enhance your pictures cost money
other photo editing. enchaning slideshow software cost money
anti-virus software cost money
internet cost money




real or fake software, also need money to buy.

bills

phonebills need to be paid
servers need to be paid
marketing tools need to be paid
salary needs to be paid

cost of sales

CDs need money
DVDs need money
covers need money
paper need money
ink need money
paperback need money

office?

rental bills, car bills, tables, chairs, lights, water, fridge etc........

albums,

sample albums, sample prints, sample pictures, sample CDs




For most wedding professionals using full frame cameras or professional bodies, ED or L lenses, equipment alone already can easily cost more than $10K - $20K. Some pros exceed these figures.

For the record, I am not a wedding photographer and am not a partner to any pro wedding photographer.

It's really not fair to say you feel cheated before knowing about how much blood, sweat and sacrifices a wedding professional makes, besides the mountain of costs they face just to deliver never-to-be repeated memories for Clients ... unless you get divorced and remarry of course.

All the best in your search for a good, sensitive and reliable professional wedding photographer.

 

[materick]

oh well..... thanks for your replies guys. at first i thought i kenna chop by retail shop. was thinking of getting some cheaper alternatives so was looking online to see what was available. I also said in my very first post that I was looking for something cheap, no need for printing, very simple editing will do fine, and was looking at something around 500 - 700 budget.

some emails were really good, resonable price, and I must say very good quality work. however, some were asking very "professional" prices. thanks for your offers too....but out of my budget.


in any case, i've settled down on a full package at sofia's... yea, i must say that the whole tanjong pagar area there is quite cut head burn house.... but she likes the gowns, and the service is one of the better ones among all the others we've been too...

anyway thanks for the replies guys. cheers!

 

[materick]

$1K for a full day AD coverage from a seasoned professional is dirt cheap. Most of them will not be able to survive on that sort of rates.

$1.5-$1.8K seems reasonable for a seasoned pro.

If you break it down, nope, it's still cheap because here where it starts:

Say AD is from

6.30am - 4.30pm (10 hours)

BREAK

Dinner - 6pm - 11pm, sometimes later (5 hours)

Sub Total: 15 hours.

Now is when the REAL torture work begins ...

Photographer goes back to office/home whatever and downloads work.

1/2 day to sieve through and make a rough selection, and set whatever parameters to edit the work according to agreed contract. 4 hours

Another 3-7 full working days to edit, compile, lay-out, design coffee-table book if ordered, run to printers, run to clients. 8 hrs x 7 days = 56 hours, NOT including time and transport costs.

Based on the above ALONE, that's a total of something like 75 hours, NOT including time for meeting client and discussing, reccee location, run to printers, run to coffee-table book maker, run to deliver to clients. Factor this in as another 1 full day's cost.

So, you;re looking at 15 hours of shooting, + 60 hours editing + roughly 8 hours worth in running around and meetings etc gives you about 83 hours of hands-on work.

THE BOTTOM LINE?

Say you pay that exorbitant kenar cheated by photographer fee of $1,500 divided by 83 hours works out to a

GRAND TOTAL of $18.07 cents PER HOUR.

You say you work like a donkey, but at least you're getting paid 138.35% MORE than the working wedding professional photographer charging you $1.5K.

I can't figure out how any professional wedding photographer can survive on $18.07 per hour. Bear in mind that a person can only accept a fixed number of assignments per month, and there will be months like the ghost month where they can have zero bookings = ZERO INCOME for the entire month!!!




But but but but but, in order for all that to happen in the first place, there's this to consider - something pointed out by one of Singapore's prominent wedding photographers:

transport cost.

meeting the clients needs time and money,

confirming and collecting the retainer/deposit cost time and money.

meeting a few days before the client's wedding cost time and money.

going down to cover the wedding needs time and money.

going home to rest in-between the festitivies cost time and money.

going back to the dinner venue cost time and money.

returning home from the long day cost time and money.

meeting your clients to deliver your work cost time and money.

that is just transport cost.

albums,

sample albums, sample prints, sample pictures, sample CDs
electicity costs

computers need power

cameras need power

flashes need power

electric bills are going up again.
hardware cost

cameras cost money
camera parts cost moeny
lenses cost money
lens hoods cost money
filters cost money
memony cards cost money
batteries cost money
flashes cost money

camera bags cost money
computers cost money
ram cost money
harddisk cost money
monitors cost money
mouse, keypads, card readers, cost money
extention cords cost money
tables and chairs that you sit to edit your photos cost money
going to buy these equipment cost time and money.

softcopy costs

photoshop cost money
software to enhance your pictures cost money
other photo editing. enchaning slideshow software cost money
anti-virus software cost money
internet cost money




real or fake software, also need money to buy.

bills

phonebills need to be paid
servers need to be paid
marketing tools need to be paid
salary needs to be paid

cost of sales

CDs need money
DVDs need money
covers need money
paper need money
ink need money
paperback need money

office?

rental bills, car bills, tables, chairs, lights, water, fridge etc........

albums,

sample albums, sample prints, sample pictures, sample CDs




For most wedding professionals using full frame cameras or professional bodies, ED or L lenses, equipment alone already can easily cost more than $10K - $20K. Some pros exceed these figures.

For the record, I am not a wedding photographer and am not a partner to any pro wedding photographer.

It's really not fair to say you feel cheated before knowing about how much blood, sweat and sacrifices a wedding professional makes, besides the mountain of costs they face just to deliver never-to-be repeated memories for Clients ... unless you get divorced and remarry of course.

All the best in your search for a good, sensitive and reliable professional wedding photographer.

hey dude, thanks for the flame.

no offence but i think you're taking it too personal. I did clearly state in my first post that
1. "exploring possibility of freelance day photography"
2. "hopefully I can find something budget here for actual day"
3. "digital photos + simple editing/effects will suffice"


i was looking at 500 - 700, and as every individual has their own budget, you can't fault me for saying people charging 800+ to 1.5k are expensive. indeed, how many people ask david gan to snip their hairs?

I rest my case.


anyway thanks to those guys who replied. there are really many who offered pretty good service at around my budget, and i must say, your works are actually quite good. i was really considering a few (i'll reply you again to let you know) but decided to go for a full package today. thanks anyway.

cheers!

 

[Dream Merchant]

For the most part, a lot of clients are not aware of how much investments (not just equipment, but all the years spent honing our skills and developing a sustainable business), sweat and sacrifices, besides actual costs are involved just to deliver the results they want.

You can't blame a person for not being aware, but on the other hand, I fully understand your frustrations when you explain to a client why you charge what you do, and AFTER all that, they still complain too expensive lah, how come this one like that, other photogra[hers much cheaper mah, got discount or not, don't need so professional laaah but give me good results hor ... bla bla bla.

Also, please be aware that the second half of my post was what Belle & Sebastian shared in a thread where a lot more in-depth discussions were held. http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230321 Post #16 I didn't originally quote him because I wasn't sure if he would be comfortable, but seeing all your responses, I don't want anyone to be mistaken that I wrote that.

However, as with a lot of stickies, after awhile, no one reads them, and I very much doubt if potential clients looking for a photographer would even go there.

Hence, my post in response to TS feeling that he might be cheated.

 

[Dream Merchant]

hey dude, thanks for the flame.

no offence but i think you're taking it too personal. I did clearly state in my first post that
1. "exploring possibility of freelance day photography"
2. "hopefully I can find something budget here for actual day"
3. "digital photos + simple editing/effects will suffice"


i was looking at 500 - 700, and as every individual has their own budget, you can't fault me for saying people charging 800+ to 1.5k are expensive. indeed, how many people ask david gan to snip their hairs?

I rest my case.


anyway thanks to those guys who replied. there are really many who offered pretty good service at around my budget, and i must say, your works are actually quite good. i was really considering a few (i'll reply you again to let you know) but decided to go for a full package today. thanks anyway.

cheers!

For the Record ...

Please be aware that it was in no way a 'flame'.

I was merely sharing insights and information.

If you still want to feel that it was a flame, that's your prerogative.

I can't speak for anyone, but I'm glad you found a photographer at a budget you're happy with. CONGRATULATIONS for your big day.

 

[Dream Merchant]

Sorry, I forgot to add, I'm definitely not 'a dude' and certainly not 'your dude'.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dude

Regards.

 

[materick]

Sorry, I forgot to add, I'm definitely not 'a dude' and certainly not 'your dude'.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dude

Regards.

oh well, from the tone of your voice.....

 

[Cheesecake]

this is a photography forum where a no. of photographers here are proud of their profession, that is, photographer.

those who emailed you with their quotations, i believe, are confident of their own standards, esp. those who charge(according to you) 800+ and up.

if they dare to charge that high a fee, i am certain they are able to deliver. they have a reputation to uphold in the 1st place.

as this is a free market, you're free to choose from the huge amount of quotations that you may have received from fellow CSers.

but do take note about the 'cheated' part that you mentioned here. many of us do not take kindly to that sort of description especially when some of us have emailed our quotations over to you.

as you're a professional in your own field, do remember that some of us here are truly professional photographers who might not belong to any bridal studio but has their own business and respective studios and companies.

i hope that you will show us, professional photographers here, a'lil more respect.

 

[Cheesecake]

since TS has found his photographer for his big day, this thread will be closed.


congratulations and i wish you all the best!