> I wouldn't want to undercut pros that are charging reasonable > (and I'm not saying they are) )prices. They are trying to make a > living in a very competitive and difficult business.
I disagree with that line of thinking. The open market is based on competition. IMHO, it's within an individual's right to charge whatever they want... or to charge nothing at all if they choose. It's not his responsibility to ensure that industry standards are upheld and that others in the same field of work can clear their desired profit margin. Quite the contrary, it's up to them (those who charge more) to justify their prices in a market when every tom, dick, and hank have a digital camera and are willing to give it a go for substantially less. I guess I believe that the photographers prerogative, quality of the product and demand should drive the price... not industry price fixing. An example of this is wedding photography here my area. If I can't find someone who wants to pay $1000 for my wedding photography services, then chances are that I don't have $1000 material. LIkewise, I know (of) several photogs that charge $3500+ just to shoot the wedding (i.e., no product included)... yet they don't seem to be the least bit concerned with the seemingly countless number of wannabe's on craigslist (for example) that are giving away their services for next to nothing. At the end of the day, their product speaks for itself: "Pay my fee and get lesser quality". Whether by demand, supply, ambition, or plain old weeding out, the market will correct everything in the end. It's an interesting debate, nonetheless. I wouldn't be surprised if most photogs agree with the price-fixing mentality, but personally I just don't buy it. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
