How does a photographer compete against flat rate picture takers.?

Question

I work primarily as a photo editor and a film technician and tried a brief stint as a professional photographer.  I hated the latter and wonder if others have had the same experience.  

What I found is that there are too many people out there wanting a certain quantity of full resolution images on a cd for the lowest possible price and also a good number of photo enthusiasts that are willing to work for those prices.  There was little regard for the quality of the images and cheap effects like selective color, cookie cutter Photoshop actions and fancy borders would generally win the day over an actual good photo and tasteful time consuming photo edit.  I could maybe offer 50 photos I was comfortable with giving to a client vs the 500 they could get from someone else at the same price.

With so many other offering x number of photos for x dollars I just simply quit because offering the same would negate everything I enjoyed about photography.  Curious on other peoples experience with this.

Perki88 · Accepted Answer

Years ago when I was shooting film weddings on 120mm there was always some Bozos shooting on 35mm and giving away the negatives, so this is nothing new. If someone is that visually illiterate they deserve what they get.


Edited to Add: You are going to love this....I just returned from meeting with a young couple who got their wedding photographer off of Craigslist. For $400 they got 4 x 6 's and their files. I am now hired at $150 per hour to fix what I can on these images. The sensor dust that he didn't bother to clean, the tree growing out of people's heads, the ultra sharp backgrounds because he used his DSLR as a point and shoot I can fix. The lack of posing, bad angles and poor expressions I can do nothing about. It is actually easier money for me to sit at my computer and repair his mess than it is to shoot! LOL!! I just might have found a better way.

By the way, the first thing she said was "I should never have skimped on the pictures." The money went to renting a stretch Hummer!!LOL!!

Steve P · Answer

Simple answer:  You don't.

Detailed answer: If you are competing against these other photographers, then your base problem in not the photographer, but the CLIENT, .... and YOU.  You must market to a more "upscale" client. You want to only work with clients who understand what quality photography is, and what is required by a quality, professional photographer from a business standpoint. 

Sort of like the saying, "if you want to be rich, you don't hang around poor people".

You have contracts stating in no uncertain terms what you will and will not provide, and you market your business to the client that accepts this. 

Your goal is to NOT work with the clients that expect everything for nothing and have no respect for a professional photographer. You let the "flat rate" picture takers have them.

Being successful as a pro photographer is every bit as much about knowing how to MARKET and run a business as it is taking good photos.

steve

Anonymous · Answer

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Anonymous · Answer

I am one of those who offers a flat rate to clients but I do not and will not release all images to a disc. My name is attached to those images and releasing the entire session which will definitely include bad shots is risk I am not willing to take. 

Why? Let's say hypothetically the model/client gets angry and vindictive one day. If they have your worst images in hand they can be rude and post your bad images and do whatever possible to trash your name. Granted it's possible to sue them for slander and defamation of character at that point but why even risk going there?

I would rather offer a flat rate and give a CD of the best images (number varies but usually between 15-25) and allow them to use for their port as they see fit assuming proper credit is given (though moreso lately my watermark is being placed on my images).

EDIT:

"I will guess that the flat rate folks live with their parents and are not making a living with their camera."

FhotoAce: That was a bit rude and condescending. I do flate rate and I do NOT live with either one of my parents thank you. I may not make a living with my camera yet but that doesn't mean I am broke as* loser wannabe.

@ Whatever your name is: Are you REALLY that insecure you feel the need to harass and insult me so often? Grow up.

@ Steve: I certainly see your point about those of us charging flat rates. But let me ask this: Why the arrogance? Not so much from you but from the general group of pros who seem to be bent on telling budding photographers that their methods, their way of doing business is "wrong" and/or they're too stupid to know what a quality image is.

I'm building on my port right now and I cannot work for free so to do so I charge a flat rate for now. Why does that seem to make me less of a photographer and some kind of low life idiot to some of the pros? Aren't we shooting because we enjoy it? So then why tear down one or a dozen newer photographer's methods for how they charge?

How does a photographer compete against flat rate picture takers.?

4 Answers