Photo biz?

[nightwolf75]

That kind of business plan, later end up photogs paying to shoot wedding. :think:

:sweat:

sad to say, dats precisely the point. not to damper anyone's feelings abt promoting good business practices here on CS. however, no matter how much we slam cheap cameraman, IMO, they will prevail (at least here on CS) cos we got more and more bargain-hunting, scrapping the dregs of the barrel's bottom 'customers' coming into CS.

 

[kynoe]

I guess we should summarise the issues at hand, seems it's kind of all over the place. From reading the related threads may I clarify they are as follows:
1. Threats of newbies doing at low cost and risk of damaging reputation of industry
2. Misinformed clients leading to them looking for cheap photographers
3. Unable to achieve economies of scale due to lack of unity, thus high cost

 

[CYRN]

sad to say, dats precisely the point. not to damper anyone's feelings abt promoting good business practices here on CS. however, no matter how much we slam cheap cameraman, IMO, they will prevail (at least here on CS) cos we got more and more bargain-hunting, scrapping the dregs of the barrel's bottom 'customers' coming into CS.

I find that slamming cheap cameraman isn't going to help improve the situation, as you can see, it's spreading to MUA as well. After all it's a free market. My only gripes is that how come no one goes to Sgbrides to look for S$500 all inclusive wedding package or a sub $1K 20 tables dinner. :think:

I'm not saying one have to make a living out of AD in order to be in business, but at least given a sense of how much "cost" does one incurs juz to take and produce a AD "package" might give them a pause before committing to shoots that are below cost.. This is already effectively paying to shoot weddings liao. :bigeyes:

 

[CYRN]

I guess we should summarise the issues at hand, seems it's kind of all over the place. From reading the related threads may I clarify they are as follows:
1. Threats of newbies doing at low cost and risk of damaging reputation of industry
2. Misinformed clients leading to them looking for cheap photographers
3. Unable to achieve economies of scale due to lack of unity, thus high cost

1. Newbies shooting BELOW cost and risking damaging the industry itself... something similar to piracy might eventually lead to the degradation of "quality" movies/musics as there's no longer business impetus (profitable) to do it in the first place.
2. It's misinformed photogs that allows themselves to pay to shoot AD weddings. (Below cost)
3. Disunited photogs unable to set appropriate market standard/accreditation and pricing. This will cause clients to exploit the minimum possible cost for the maximum possible benefit.

 

[catchlights]

can start a thread to share your view about this?
although we have been go over and over again, but please bear in mind that, new people come and go, come and go, so these issues have to be bring out again after awhile.

anyway, education is a ongoing process.

 

[CYRN]

can start a thread to share your view about this?
although we have been go over and over again, but please bear in mind that, new people come and go, come and go, so these issues have to be bring out again after awhile.

anyway, education is a ongoing process.

There's already a few threads regarding such topics. However, they tend to be drowned in the few sub-forums that it was created. It's already an almost impossible task to educate the many people more so when extra effort is required to repeat again and again.

 

[nightwolf75]

aaron johnson must a psychic... :bsmilie:

 

[shinken]

1. Newbies shooting BELOW cost and risking damaging the industry itself... something similar to piracy might eventually lead to the degradation of "quality" movies/musics as there's no longer business impetus (profitable) to do it in the first place.
2. It's misinformed photogs that allows themselves to pay to shoot AD weddings. (Below cost)
3. Disunited photogs unable to set appropriate market standard/accreditation and pricing. This will cause clients to exploit the minimum possible cost for the maximum possible benefit.

4. Bringing down the industry standing of Actual Day Wedding Photographers when newbies who are not ready managed to land clients for their experimentation exercises.
5. Create an irreversible price-war exercise among lower rung market if price is the only way to get customers
6. Stifle industrial growth if there is no culture of sharing of best practices.
7. Demoralise potential talents from joining the industry if the competition is not positive or seemingly hold little prospects.
8. Bringing down the status of professional (once paid, regarded as professional, in this respect) photography when the critical mass of the market could obtain professional photography services cheaply.
9. Shorten career lifespan of photographers who have to shoot unrealistic volumes to make up for the low cost.
10. Dampen spirit of newbies when compensation and appreciation do not match efforts and monetary investment vested.

I'll try to think of more when I'm less tired. I really wish more practitioners could step up and chip in to help the industry move along.

 

[kynoe]

wow, so many issues at hand... hahahaaa... unless you guys want to form a "Singapore Society for Wedding Photographers" and unite behind this society to give accrediations, it seems mission impossible...

I guess one question is, would a photographer be willing to accept the society telling him what he should charge ?

 

[CYRN]

Well..

it seems more nay than aye anyway.

In this case, lets forgo this idea for the moment. Let the market forces decide. And I also hope no more bashing of those looking for cheap photogs.