Thanks for your insight Bruce. Dave
On Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 8:24 PM, Bruce Dayton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Since the ability to reproduce a print by scanning or photo copying, > the value of the print has been in a downward spiral. The whole > digital world has been part of the trend. With how much automation > is available, the knowledge and skill needed to turn out average work > is pretty low. Then you have places like Walmart selling prints at a > very low price to get people in the store...it's no wonder the value > of the print is pretty much gone. On top of all that, many people > don't really want to deal in prints anymore. The medium has been > changing - internet and computer viewing has really taken over to a > large degree. > > A few years ago I changed my pricing model to basically deal with my > time and skills rather than finished prints and books as the > commodity being purchased. I either charge a flat rate for the job > or an hourly rate for the service. It does not include any prints, > but I will give them digital images when completed, if they desire. > They can also order through my lab if they desire. It has worked > reasonably well and taken away much of the headache of dealing with > the prints. > > I am seeing more and more people (larger % of women) jumping into the > wedding/portrait field. They rely on the automation the equipment > brings to the table and have good creative skills. This is > saturating the marketplace and bringing down the prices. It is still > possible to go up market but requires a much bigger commitment than a > part time or single photographer can do. > > I'm starting to ramble... > > -- > Best regards, > Bruce > > > Monday, August 25, 2008, 5:15:04 PM, you wrote: > > BS> Dave, > BS> I don't think the pictures or the web site are a problem. Both are > BS> good enough, and as good as others I've seen. You're clients just > BS> have very low price expectations. It's not encouraging... > BS> Regards, Bob S. > > BS> On Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 5:36 PM, David J Brooks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> Well, i am taking the same type of photos as the competition, except >>> most of the onsite companies shot a hell of a lot more of each rider. >>> Having said that, they stil only get 3-4 out of , say 50 shots of the >>> rider actually doing the jump or test or what have you. >>> >>> There clients think they are getting a bargin at $75 for a show CD. >>> Look at all my photos i get. Yes but why would you want 20 of your >>> back end going over a jump. >>> >>> Difficult to explain. >>> >>> I was one of two people 7 years ago, doing on site digital work. Even >>> then, sales were not great, but i did make a bit of a profit each >>> time. >>> >>> I talked to another shooter this weekend, who has been doing this as a >>> pro, since 1988, and he has seen his profit decline drastically. He >>> also does a lot of "commercial" work as well, and that is keeping him >>> going. >>> >>> Here is his site. I don't see my shots any different or presented >>> differently as his, and he is a main stream shooter. >>> >>> www.shootphoto.ca >>> >>> He uses CS to make his pages, i use Breeze Browser Pro. >>> >>> I think it boils down to repation. Same riders, same jumps, same back >>> drops, same horses. >>> >>> I have sold to the same people for all these years, and unless i get >>> an outstanding shot, or they get a new horse, its same ol, same ol. >>> >>> Well, some one else can take over, spend $1600 and do a pro web >>> page(mine is home built, but you see that)and hopefully they do >>> better. >>> >>> Life goes on. >>> >>> Dave >>> >>> On Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 4:52 PM, Maxime Thériault >>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>>> I can understand your feelings, and I reckon having far less knowledge in >>>> this field than you more than likely have. >>>> >>>> But.. And it's not meant to be taken in a mean way, but I've looked at your >>>> pictures collection and have to say that it's a far shot from the >>>> 'professional equestrian photogs' in the way they are both presented >>>> (website) and taken (The photos themselves). It's not to say that your >>>> pictures are bad per see, but you need to know where your competition is at >>>> and compete on the same level if you want an income that is above that of >>>> an >>>> amateur / 'mom with DSLR' level. The market, ANY specialty market, are >>>> awfully hard to penetrate and alas that is how that field is. >>>> >>>> That's about as far as my 'knowledge' goes, and like I said you probably >>>> know more than I do, and your business plan was probably taking this into >>>> account etc. >>>> >>>> I do wish you luck and fortune in any decision you take. >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of >>>> David J Brooks >>>> Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 2:17 PM >>>> To: Pentax Discuss >>>> Subject: OT Be careful were you place that decimal point >>>> >>>> Well, i have one more show to do this weekend, and it could be the last for >>>> me. >>>> >>>> I have sat down and had a look at my so called books, and after using >>>> a calculator instead of >>>> doing math in my head, can now see what i have made since 2004, when i >>>> went to web based sales only. >>>> >>>> 2004/2005, less than $300.00, each year >>>> 2006 $450 >>>> 2007 less than 1K. >>>> Projected for 2008, $500-700.00 >>>> >>>> Not a lot of profit for a part time gig, that is supposed to help the >>>> pocket book out.:-) >>>> >>>> I'm tired, I ache and i have lost interest. I',m pretty sure Liz would >>>> like me to call it quits also. >>>> I had every weekend from April to Sept tied up, and i'm sure she would >>>> like to do stuff other than sit around the house, and wait for me to >>>> come home.:-) >>>> Last year worked out to around $2.50 an hour. >>>> >>>> I'll ponder over the next while, but i think its time to pass the >>>> horse shoe on to the next eager beaver >>>> that has started up an equestrian photo business. >>>> >>>> Now i know why you only see photographers for a few years, then new ones. >>>> >>>> I figure sales are low due to tight money, barns with parents with >>>> Dslr's and give the photos away and scoping the proofs from the web. >>>> >>>> It was a good ride, if i decide to hang it up.:-) >>>> >>>> Dave >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Equine Photography >>>> www.caughtinmotion.com >>>> http://brooksinthecountry.blogspot.com/ >>>> Ontario Canada >>>> >>>> -- >>>> 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. >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> 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. >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Equine Photography >>> www.caughtinmotion.com >>> http://brooksinthecountry.blogspot.com/ >>> Ontario Canada >>> >>> -- >>> 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. >>> > > > > > -- > 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. > -- Equine Photography www.caughtinmotion.com http://brooksinthecountry.blogspot.com/ Ontario Canada -- 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.
