Whole day wedding photography for less than $800?

[sjackal]

Depending on how individual couples see their wedding memories perhaps... For my situation, if the job is simply too unacceptable, I would kindly ask them to access other pg/vg.

Same lah. After a while we all tired. If not worth it don't do. Health more important. Trip to chiropractor/acupuncturist to fix 1) shoulder problem 2) stiff neck problem 3) numbness of wrists and hands - all caused by hours of slinging cameras or editing at the desk, one trip is like $70-80. And donno how many more trips needed.

R strap, Q strap, strapless, whatever spider or scorpion holsters, all tried. Occupational health risk is always there, despite what the sauvy strap and holsters sellers try to make our money. After a few years of slinging dual bodies with heavy lenses and flash rigs, people will know. Must factor in the health cost.

 

[surrephoto]

Same lah. After a while we all tired. If not worth it don't do. Health more important. Trip to chiropractor/acupuncturist to fix 1) shoulder problem 2) stiff neck problem 3) numbness of wrists and hands - all caused by hours of slinging cameras or editing at the desk, one trip is like $70-80. And donno how many more trips needed.

R strap, Q strap, strapless, whatever spider or scorpion holsters, all tried. Occupational health risk is always there, despite what the sauvy strap and holsters sellers try to make our money. After a few years of slinging dual bodies with heavy lenses and flash rigs, people will know. Must factor in the health cost.

Yup this is the main problem with photography as a full-time career.

So I always emphasize that good bags, good straps are very important.

My advice is do not use a shoulder bag beyond 5 kg & do not use a backpack beyond 10 kg (Make that 8 kg if you are small frame). For the case of straps use thick wide straps with springy/weight reduction feature for max comfort (eg. optech, matin).

Another health problem associated with photography is digestive problems & irregular eating. Limit yourself to multiple sessions of small meals whenever possible and don't stuff yourself (sometimes we may be worried that no chance to eat). Don't refuse the offer from clients to eat unless there is a good reason to, because you are only killing yourself by eating after the wedding ends at 11 pm (although once in a while can't resist eating supper with your shooting buddy).

 

[renstifler]

Well, walk in the park or not, shouldn't be that cheap, you didn't spend those two years sitting on a bench and getting the knowledge easily, you did spend blindly on every effort, your gear wasnt $100 then why would a walk in a park would be so relax to be generous around and giving the photography service in that low cost? It also takes energy and you are not just at bedok reservoir breathing while looking at the water, walking dog's for other people in the park also pays the same or more than that kind of photography now a days.

In a way is good that the market is spoiled on that way, it just helps on filtering what kind of clients you are gonna get. That's how I see it, and somehow it saves me a lot of time, I provide better focus, less quantity, more quality, better pay.

Some of us got nothing to worry about, but somehow it is sad that the word "professional photographer" is seen now a days as... well, you all can give it a name.

Cheers!

 

[astroboy]

Market is determined by willing-buyer, willing-seller. I am sure TS will have her inbox flooded by willing photogs. Hope she ends up with good photos.

Experienced photog should proudly hold on to their rates of $3K+ per day shoot. They will have their own market, too.

 

[saberlancer]

Experienced photog should proudly hold on to their rates of $3K+ per day shoot. They will have their own market, too.

Erm $3k+ per day shoot is considered higher end, hardly market rate for simply experienced pg rite?..

 

[JasonB]

Erm $3k+ per day shoot is considered higher end, hardly market rate for simply experienced pg rite?..

Depend on the photographer's cost lah.

 

[catchlights]

Erm $3k+ per day shoot is considered higher end, hardly market rate for simply experienced pg rite?..

if photographers sell 4R album only and package is $3k and above, yes.

but if selling coffee table album only (Not those albums get from Groupon deal or around $100 photobook from China type), $3k is not consider highend

 

[catchlights]

if you want to do $800 wedding photography, can!
your bread and butter shots are
tea ceremony photos,
family group photos,
table shot photos,
everyone look at the camera smile and show their teeth photos,
outdoor photos at Chinese Garden or Toa Payoh Garden,

when you are good at this,
people will come to you, don't have to spend money advertising, you will get to shoot the whole kumpong of your past customers.

 

[saberlancer]

Calculations is simple, many Sporeans if can earn say $6400/mth is considered V v gd $$, even w OT..Dream come true..Net profit still more than enough

$800x 8wkends =$6.4k

Actually $400x 8wkends=$3.2k can already feed a family.

Photography is no where near as exhausting or dangerous as many other jobs. To make tht $$, gladly just be taking 'boring' table shots, etc.

Different mkt, diff needs, diff people.. both client & photographer.

No right or wrong.

 

[surrephoto]

if you want to do $800 wedding photography, can!
your bread and butter shots are
tea ceremony photos,
family group photos,
table shot photos,
everyone look at the camera smile and show their teeth photos,
outdoor photos at Chinese Garden or Toa Payoh Garden,

when you are good at this,
people will come to you, don't have to spend money advertising, you will get to shoot the whole kumpong of your past customers.

Younger couples tend to more demanding nowadays. This type of photography simply won't sell at freelancer level. Once those born in the 1970s & early 80s (those who still can accept lau-uncle-photos) all married already the strawberries want the fun and photojournalistic style of photography. They don't have "kumpong" spirit and will want $2k quality at $500. So it is rather inevitable that prices will continue to dive. For my case I've always been budget so that's not a good thing when competition gets tighter in the budget arena.

 

[surrephoto]

Calculations is simple, many Sporeans if can earn say $6400/mth is considered V v gd $$, even w OT..Dream come true..Net profit still more than enough

$800x 8wkends =$6.4k

Actually $400x 8wkends=$3.2k can already feed a family.

Photography is no where near as exhausting or dangerous as many other jobs. To make tht $$, gladly just be taking 'boring' table shots, etc.

Different mkt, diff needs, diff people.. both client & photographer.

No right or wrong.

Saber, actually a huge bulk of that $800 per job goes to transport and funding for PC, gear & emergencies. What you really get is about $500+. I've got a vg friend who stays in tampines so his taxi fare for each AD is about $100+.

 

[saberlancer]

$300 expense for every $800 job is of course an over estimate.. But like I say, bring home $4k/mth is lots for many.Enough to make many give it a try.

Remembr 'its the pg nt the camera' phrase?
Kit gear enough for the job doesnt cost much even w backups, and we r only taking abt basic table shots,etc rite?

Only question to ask is how much better are you than them. Open mkt, everyone can quote whatever pleases them lor..

 

[surrephoto]

$300 expense for every $800 job is of course an over estimate.. But like I say, bring home $4k/mth is lots for many.Enough to make many give it a try.

Remembr 'its the pg nt the camera' phrase?
Kit gear enough for the job doesnt cost much even w backups, and we r only taking abt basic table shots,etc rite?

Only question to ask is how much better are you than them. Open mkt, everyone can quote whatever pleases them lor..

Perhaps $300 is an over-estimate, but $200+ is certainly within range. Like i said you have to account for equipment maintenance, refresh... applies to lens, flash, bodies, PCs, laptops, vehicles & health.

No one will hire you at $800 a day just to take group photos and posed shots. Don't expect a strawberry to accept this type of photography in 2013. At $800 - $1200 quite abit of pj & creativity starts to be important. That type of lau-uncle-style & posed group photos would be bridal shop level pay at $200 -$300. Even bridal shop photographers don't use "kit gear". You should see the amount of creativity those bridal shop m'sian pgs are applying in their shooting. Their gear also don't suck hor, 5D with 17-40L, 50 1.4 etc.

To be honest, most ah-lau bridal shop pgs are already using minimum D300S or D700 with SB900s & 17-55 / 24-120. This is certainly not kit level gear. You need decent equipment to produce accurate and usable JPEGs. The most entry lvl bridal shop pg gear i've seen is a 60D nowadays.

 

[trd2970]

Is it fair to attribute this to the relatively low barriers of entry to wedding photography? Most basic equipment and post processing software is within reach of the masses nowadays.

Also, not all couples are willing to pay more for the creativity etc, perhaps what they want are just documentary shots for keepsake.

 

[saberlancer]

My point is..
There is really no need to diss pg or even couples charging or seeking low rates, which is often the case seen here..

Its all different mkt segments.
Does those earning lower wages Deserves just as much to have beautiful photos of their wedding?

Can they seek pg on CS as much as the next couple who is willing to pay $3k?

If Yes, then let them post openly without such prejudice on public forums.

Sorry lah dnt wanna ruffle anymore feathers..no point lol

I only hope those who can only afford $800 for their wedd can find them on CS since they deserve nice photos as much.

 

[saberlancer]

No one will hire you at $800 a day just to take group photos and posed shots.

I was writing in reference to Catchlights comment lah..

Also, what equipment anyone uses is really not a reference. So has there been a jump in wedd photo quality with each introduction of new cameras?

But of course above is not the point of discussion lah.

 

[trd2970]

My point is..
There is really no need to diss pg or even couples charging or seeking low rates, which is often the case seen here..

Its all different mkt segments.
Does those earning lower wages Deserves just as much to have beautiful photos of their wedding?

Can they seek pg on CS as much as the next couple who is willing to pay $3k?

If Yes, then let them post openly without such prejudice on public forums.

I'm along with u on this. Reality is there are folks out there with tight budget and do look at cost above all other factors.

 

[nitewalk]

Put it this way, there are some couple who just want a documentation of the memories. It need not be digitally enhanced, it need not be technically perfect, it probably just have to be correctly exposed and capturing good moments. For this, the digital enhancement is probably minimal, or even not necessary at all. For such a purpose, these customers will not see a need to pay for more. Consumer thinking, are probably no further from our thinking when we buy our lenses. Some people will buy a 24-70 mark ii, but some are simply satisfied with 28-75.

Extending it beyond photography, there are customers who hire tutors who are A level holders or undergrads, some even hire an English undergrad to teach Physics. Of course, the rates will be far from that of a school teacher. However what they can offer are very different. Customers who need specialised expertise in the subject area with knowledge of examination requirements and grading, may choose to go for the school teacher who could cost 4 times more than an undergrad.

I've read a lot of dissing of so-called "cheap photographers". With no disrespect to the professionals here, and with that I really mean those who submit excellent works digitally enhanced to customers, each has their own market segment. I will be livid, if I were a professional like catchlight, if someone with low experience and skill and does no enhancement, charges as much as the professionals around here. However, as we know, this is a business and everyone has their way of running a business. Some retailers choose to lower their profits to increase their sales but providing lesser services. At the end of the day, marketing strategies also evolve over time and requirements. I am very sure there are customers who are willing to spend on good photography services. I, for one, would gladly spend on a good photog for AD if the balance books balances out. I am sure there are many of such as well, but equivalently so, the market demand for a $1000/mth tutor is not as much as one who charges $240/mth undergrad. Of course, there are also school teachers who charge $400/mth. But there are customers who still will hire the $1000/mth, just make sure you deliver what you promise, and what is promised may not be verbal, could be the reputation that comes along.

Me? I won't hire a $1000/mth tutor but I'd hire a $3000 photog for AD. Because I can do a better job teaching, but definitely not a better job shooting the AD of my wedding :bsmilie:

 

[catchlights]

Calculations is simple, many Sporeans if can earn say $6400/mth is considered V v gd $$, even w OT..Dream come true..Net profit still more than enough

$800x 8wkends =$6.4k

Actually $400x 8wkends=$3.2k can already feed a family.

Photography is no where near as exhausting or dangerous as many other jobs. To make tht $$, gladly just be taking 'boring' table shots, etc.

Different mkt, diff needs, diff people.. both client & photographer.

No right or wrong.

are you a wedding photographer?

try shoot weddings 3 days in a row and see,

if you above 35, shooting 80-100 weddings a year, less than 3 years you will be totally burn out, you will spend be about the same amount of money on seeing doctors as advertising.

 

[Agetan]

To be honest... The charge that a photographer command has nothing to do with market rate. It has to be the sell-ability of the photographer.

Even if you use expensive gear and expensive album, it doesn't automatically allow you to charge higher.

People who are willing to pay less will never see the value of paying more for better value.

Just charge at a price that allow you to sell your work and put food on the table.

It's no different from family portrait. There are people charge as low as $80 and give all images on CD.

If you are a professional photog, just charge at the rates that you can get jobs and put food on the table. What kind of food depends on how much you charge really... It's your choice at the end.

Regards,

Hart