So you just found out there’s one more photographer on your street. He/ she probably shoots a wedding for $500, and does a senior session for $100. Then they just hand out the CD with hi- res images!
Put on your boxing gloves, here’s some advice from the pros:
Photography Competition is tough
1. Don’t compete on price, or you’ll end up paying them
Remember that you have to charge almost $3000 a wedding if you are going to actually support yourself, so don’t sell out. You can’t compete on price, so be sure to keep topics off price. When they ask, “How Much?”, you say, “Well, it depends how much you are going to buy. We’d love to have you come in and take a look at our work, you’ll see the real difference.”
2. Adapt
You’ve developed a style and have developed some really good habits. Don’t throw that away, but use that foundation to adapt. Have your assistant play around with the video capabilities of the camera, start offering a video package that sets you apart. Maybe its putting a coffee shop in your studio, or maybe its teaming up with another artist in your community to help cover the overhead. What’s your idea?
3. Marketing is not optional
Everything you do is marketing. Your website, the products you hand your clients, what your clients see you do, wear, say, etc. Your website must have your contact information and the area you serve. Wall portraits generate much more marketing than a cd.
4. Sell in person whenever possible- then post online
Selling your photos online is fine when aunt Jo is in Colorado and you’re in California,but the real reason for posting online is the marketing. Some of our photographers only post the images that were purchased in person, others upload all the best photos, that’s up to you.
What are your rules?
