Re: [PRODIG] Digital Pricing

[Bob Croxford]

Why is it that photography seems a unique profession which 'anyone' can 
do? Why don't we equate the cost of a scalpel with the �10,000 plus 
cost of a surgical operation. Or the cost of a baton with with the 
millions a conductor will earn? I think that far too many photographers 
use their expensive cameras as a means of impressing clients. 
Photographers then get told, 'If I had your wonderful cameras I could 
take great pictures too'. For good or ill photographers are often their 
own worse enemy.

I am continually surprised, when dealing with 'wet-behind-the-ears' 
business school graduates how few of them have any idea how to 
interpret figures. One wrote a letter to all the company's she worked 
for suppliers announcing a 5% discount on all bills paid within 45 
days. She had no perception at all on how this might affect their 
customers who only had a profit margin of 10%. I was also surprised 
when I sold a picture for a half page use in the Times newspaper. I had 
played very hard to keep my fee at a reasonable level and insisted on 
�250. When it came time to pay they had no way of issuing a cheque for 
�250 + VAT and had to send two cheques for �125 and a third for the 
VAT.

In my opinion we do not ask enough tough questions of our clients 
before we deal with them. Despite what we might think being 
businesslike gains respect.

Bob Croxford

On 4 Jun 2004, at 16:36, Roberts, Paul (EDS) wrote:
I could not agree more with Jorge. The adverts now run along the lines 
of
'buy yourself a 3mp camera and a printer and you can produce top 
quality
results'. Someone on the list said (sorry, but can't remember who) 
said that
it is the quality of the image that separates the pro from the rest. 
This
will always be the case.


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