I think I'll jump in here and just one life experience.
I started work in photography 21 years ago, I always gave a very good
product and a VERY good price, my thinking was that if I treated people fair
in the end it would all come back to me, now in this little community there
are 7 of us trying to make a livening out of photography, this has never
been a photography hot spot, there is this one individual who opened a shop
in the next town over (three miles away) his sitting fee is 3and 1/2 times
mine and his reprints are on average 5 times what mine are, and, in my
opinion, he is not that good of a photographer, but he does have a pretty
little store front studio and a hell of a sales pitch, want to guess ware
every one is going to have their photos taken, that's right that pretty
little store front photography shop, I really have no idea why unless its
the fact that people just don't recognize quality any more and have to rely
on the price to make the decision, because you know if its expensive it has
to be good! As I think about it, I am now 50 years old, and have no
retirement and it seams at this point no future in photography, not enough
to do any thing with any way. If I had it to do over, I really don't what I
would have done, my father has no retirement either and I have been using my
mourning time to work at another business with him to make sure he has some
kind of a future, I could not do that differently, my advise get what you
can when you can because just as soon as the next pretty face comes along
there goes the work!...Am I a Cynic?
Terry L. Mair
Mair's Photography
158 South 580 East
Midway, Utah 84049
435-654-3607
www.mairsphotography.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "rebphoto" <rebphoto@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students"
<photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2005 9:54 AM
Subject: Re: You want How Much!!!!!!!
It may be different in the area that you are in, however in the area I
work in THIS IS the case.....
Also I myself have been working in the Performing Arts both on and back
stage as well as in Administration
since 1972.
I also sang and played guitar and mandolin in a Folk/Rock trio for about
two years in this area.
I am very familiar with the Arts Community in this area.
Yes there are some folks who have lots of money.
But the average person here has to watch their pennies.
As I am part of the Performing Arts Community myself, I try to charge what
the artists can afford.
And on occasion I do vary my rates.
As I do photography Professionally, but as a side line
I can do this and still not have to worry about paying my rent!
Bear in mind that for some reason most folks who do the Performing Arts
tend to be as poor as Church
Mice.
Not true!
