There are far too many photographers chasing too few customers. (Thanks to automation - it was all downhill after the ME was widely available.)
In the old days, the pro got involved with the booking of the formal portraits at the time photos were needed for the newspaper announcement (the papers had standards and wouldn't accept snapshots, usually wanting glossy B&W 8x10's). So things naturally progressed to the wedding photography being done by the studio (who had probably also taken the baptismal photos of the bride). Now, automatic point and shoots are good enough for folks who are glad to dump the expense of the studio from their lives. Mall photographer shots for special occasions are more that adequate for folks - relatives will supply the rest of the snaps for the albums. Many weddings around here only have a pro videographer in attendance, because VHS tapes are the desired item to send out of town relatives these days - or they email digital snaps. And 8 mm camcorders have seriously eroded that business. And they *do* haggle with the florist, dressmakers, caterers, etc. The last pro photographer I know from the 70's is running a framing shop, because that's when you make the money - and you don't have to lug 50 lbs of Mamiya gear around to do it. ------ Robert ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Dayton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "frank theriault" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 7:41 PM Subject: Re[2]: Cheap bastards? -was: Down off my "high-horse"... with a thump. > Hello frank, > > I think some of them do try to bargain down everything. I have been > shocked at how much they can pay for some things. > > One real issue/problem is that the general percieved value of a > photograph has steadily declined as the ability to make/create one has > increased. Many years ago, the automation available for someone who > hasn't gained the knowledge of photography was pretty poor. But with > good P&S cameras and mini labs, the ability for anyone to create a > passable snapshot has made them feel that the value of the item > (photo) isn't very high. After all, all I did was press a button. I > really didn't have to know anything or learn anything. > > Most people who are looking at pictures are just looking at memories > or seeing recognizable subjects. When they see something done by a > "pro", they may exclaim "Wow, that is great!" But I don't think their > expectation is that high. A few are, and they are paying good money > to get a quality job. But many don't have high expectations or > budgets. > > -- > Best regards, > Bruce > > > > Tuesday, January 6, 2004, 3:22:23 PM, you wrote: > > ft> As an aside to this thread, I wonder why it is that in so many weddings, the > ft> photographer seems to be an afterthought? Something to be done on the > ft> cheap? > > ft> Mygod, everything else in today's weddings, from the gawd-awful ugggggggg-ly > ft> bridesmaid's dresses to the flowers to the limos to the reception hall to > ft> the hairdressing/make-up to the honeymoon costs HUGE money. I mean folks > ft> are spending $10 or $20K on a wedding these days? And yet, after it's all > ft> over, all you have is memories and some stale cake in a funny box and > ft> matchbook with the bride and groom's name on it. If not for the photos, > ft> what's to keep the memories alive? > > ft> Why would one skimp on that? > > ft> I wonder how many engaged couples (or their families) try to bargain down > ft> the limosine company? Or the reception hall? (HA! try that one!) > > ft> Just a casual observation... > > ft> cheers, > ft> frank > > ft> "The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist > ft> fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer > > > > > >>From: "Malcolm Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >>Subject: RE: Down off my "high-horse"... with a thump. > >>Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2004 11:50:30 -0000 > >> > ft> <snip> > >>Taking it as read that going 'pro' means you are capable of consistent, > >>excellent photographs, you have to then translate what people ask for into > >>what they *actually* want. They don't want to spend much money when any > >>other professional working at weekends or public holidays, would charge the > >>pants off them. > >> > ft> <snip> > > ft> _________________________________________________________________ > ft> Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. > ft> http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/features&pgmarket=en-ca&RU=http%3a%2f%2fjoin. msn.com%2f%3fpage%3dmisc%2fspecialoffers%26pgmarket%3den-ca > > >
