Well I saw tonight where yet another legally LICENSED professional photographer in our region is calling it quits and going out of business. Shes been driven out of business by non-licensed folks with nice cameras selling their images on cds for $50 per session so they can have a little extra spending money on the side. (You know the ones. They have a camera...not a studio, not professional lighting equipment...just a camera, but they make it seem real nice that they will meet you at a park or at your house or wherever someone thinks is a cool place to take pictures). This makes me sad when I see someone who has invested lots of money and time to build a studio, become educated and to do things legally and then be forced out of business by those operating illegally under the table. Digital Photography has NOT been the professional photographers friend. You used to have to know what you were doing before you pushed the button or you would go broke buying proofs. Now the norm is to keep pushing the button until something good shows up on the back of the camera. Then you get a facebook page and put the few good ones out there and BOOM everyone thinks you are in business...everyone that is EXCEPT the tax collector. I too have begun to see some struggles in my business, and its somewhat disheartening. Its hurtful when people act like you are ripping them off because you charge the prices it takes to pay overhead, pay employees, PAY TAXES, buy equipment, props, backdrops, CABOOSES and all those other things that you feel are necessary to stay on top of the game. What I will promise to my clients who have remained faithful to me is that as long as I am in business you will still get beautiful lasting portraits that will be around for future generations to see. What you will NOT get is a shiny silver cd which may not even be accessible within the next 10 years as technology advances and with that cd comes the responsibility for you to figure out how to get a portrait from it. I may be old fashioned, but I come from a time when if you hung a shingle out offering a service, then you better provide that service until the job was complete. Thats what we make our goal at my studio. We dont send you out the door with half the job done on a cd. Heres me being as honest as I possibly can. The cost to make a picture on a piece of photographic paper is not that much. The cost to offer a service as a truly professional portrait artist with staff who will be there to provide you with top notch customer service is astronomical. So for those clients who have been loyal to us and who recognize the difference between what we have to offer and what the other 50% of the population with a NICE CAMERA has to offer, We just want to say THANK YOU!!! You are the reason we are still here!! And I just want you all to know that should the day come when Im pushed out of business Ive already chosen my next career, and that will be a Professional Stay At Home NONNA!!!
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 01:38:25 +0000
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