Let’s face it..as a photographer trying to make a living, there are multiple parts and hats you wear to attempt making your business a success. You must naturally be creative, have an ability to see details, be somewhat analytical, be a leader and know how to instruct, read the emotions and mood of your clients the day of the shoot, embrace your clients and make them feel comfortable…
You’re not just a Photographer…you are all of these things rolled up in one. Handling this bundle of joy you call creativity has stress too..you know exactly what Im talking about…the day of your shoot, the meetings that you have had with your clients, the planning and ideas that go through your head while attempting to put it all together in hopes that what you envision for your client, is exactly how they see it.
In a world that is perfect, emotionally stable, and empathetic..we can achieve all of those things. The reality is, we dont live in that type of world. The facts are, we live in a world that is sometimes brutal, rude, awaking, and well…full of drama.
As photographers and videographers and content creators..we all start from scratch. My passion for photography stems from my first Polaroid Instamatic Camera in the 1970’s, to the Sony Mirrorless I use today. When I felt that I wanted to pursue this profession with a real desire and commitment, I initially outlayed $18,000. Many inspiring photographers don’t get their start with such a large investment…And for the record, it really didn’t buy all that I wanted. But, just like most of the photographers I know, and those that you see on Facebook’s social media platform, everyone starts somewhere, builds their portfolio, and jumps into the lake from there.
I studied, eat, drank and worshipped photography ( I know..slightly obsessed) But that’s how I indulge in the things I truly have a passion for. And, being a bit older than what most people are in this profession, I am compelled to sometimes share my experiences, successes, and mistakes with other inspiring photographers. Boy did I quickly discover just how cruel, cold, and immature some photographers and Videographers are. Our world is taught that if you are not competitive, you’re not going to be successful. America is obsessed with Sports, Entertainment, Sex, Reality TV and Social Media Platforms. The latter, is Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok.
This type of profession is dominated by women. Women creators, Photographers, and Videographers. Now if I state here at this point of this article that women are the drama side of this profession, I would receive tons of hate messages, comments, and posts on other social media platforms and pages. However, if some of the women were to post information that would be considered drama by most….well, you’d hear the crickets chirping before any woman would jump in and give her thoughts and opinions. Some of you reading this, are now nodding your head.
Recently, our Facebook business page, and our website were inundated with traffic. Our website had over 2,000 views. Our demographics and collection of data showed that 92% of those that visited were…wait for it…women. From those visits, we received a barn burner of accusations, disparaging comments, and false allegations..enough to make any defamation and libel lawsuit attorney drool at the mouth. So, why is it that so many women have to give their “professional opinions” regarding a post or complaint from a bride or groom, respond to that post with accusations, rude comments, emojis of laughing faces, and just a general all around negative vibe? It’s because when women gather together, they defend each other to the bitter end. Doesn’t really matter if the defense is accurate or not. It’s an opportunity for them to nuke a fellow competitor, and walk away quietly stating “have a nice day”
Vengeance is the oldest emotional response known to man. And women have perfected that emotion. If not upon one another, then especially a man in their field of work whom they just don’t have any respect for because he is in their field of work. How sad this is to me..when so many people in this world are emotionally, mentally and verbally abused, that some of those who are suppose to be kind, nurturing, and loving, are just another “karen”
This is what it’s like on social media. Drama…and it continues to grow each day. As new inspiring photographers take to the streets to hone their craft, they quickly learn that they need to make money if they are going to continue being “inspired”. Many take to Facebook as a avenue of advertising their desires and goals. They tell brides that they are building their portfolio and will do their wedding for FREE. When we first started, we did this exact thing. It does have it’s benfits and also it’s drawbacks..but for the most part, if you are fresh out of Photography class, have a decent mirrorless camera, and can work the software to enhance the image, you will find a few bride that will bite at the opportunity to have a free wedding shoot.
We quickly discovered after getting lambasted by photographers who charge $3-5K just for wedding photos, that our work was below average, and we should not even be in a category of professional photography. Ok….I get it. I admit that our work and photos didn’t look like theirs..it didn’t have the same developments, the crucial lighting, and the ability to pose brides and grooms in a manner that will flatter them when the bride sees the image. Creating a digital and paper print of these images can be challenging and the expertise of a professional photographer whose knowledge is superior certainly helps.
But one thought continued to haunt me about it all…who in the heck can afford 3-5k for JUST photography? When you live in small town USA, not many…nope…and the competition for those clients dwindles immediately when a favorite photographer of the community has already established their craft and the majority of those that have a wedding costing 30K already have them booked.
They quickly establish their base, reputation, and a small community recognizes that. We sat down about 4 years ago and asked..what can we do that is similar in nature, but attracts the 5-10K weddings seeking a photographer. Our pricing structure had to be a focus, and our work on images had to be close to what the professionals get 3-5k for..because most brides interpet spending 5-10k on a wedding the same way that a wedding spending $30k does..it’s all about their budget. So, if you can have an image for your wedding that compares to a professionally shot wedding, capture the emotions of the bride and give excellent service, provide after the fact services that will gain you referrals, and meet the budgets of most brides spending that much money…then maybe we have something to work with.
This year, we are well on our way to making $60k just in wedding business. We also film racing events, sporting events, and corporate events. Some of our like minded competitive photographers who read this will ask themselves..”how can that be” ….and my answer to them would be… I stay away from the drama, and focus on my business model. So should you.
