Comments on: You Don’t Need a Billboard to Prove You’re a Pro http://rising.blackstar.com/you-dont-need-a-billboard-to-prove-youre-a-pro-but-it-helps.html Professional Photography Blog Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:54:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Paul Adams http://rising.blackstar.com/you-dont-need-a-billboard-to-prove-youre-a-pro-but-it-helps.html/comment-page-1#comment-5998 Paul Adams Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:49:14 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6349#comment-5998 Good article, with some good things to keep in mind. I must agree with Caroline, though. Especially in this economy, talented and serious "hobby" photographers can't financially afford or risk giving up their full-time job to jump into a photography career just so they can wear a badge that says "full time pro." That doesn't mean they can't bring (nearly) the same things to the table, and they can also satisfy the part of the market the full-time pro can't or won't (namely, the brides looking on Craigslist for $500-$1000 wedding shoots, since many can't afford the $2000+ for the "pro"). Good article, with some good things to keep in mind. I must agree with Caroline, though. Especially in this economy, talented and serious "hobby" photographers can't financially afford or risk giving up their full-time job to jump into a photography career just so they can wear a badge that says "full time pro." That doesn't mean they can't bring (nearly) the same things to the table, and they can also satisfy the part of the market the full-time pro can't or won't (namely, the brides looking on Craigslist for $500-$1000 wedding shoots, since many can't afford the $2000+ for the "pro").

]]> By: Sean Cayton http://rising.blackstar.com/you-dont-need-a-billboard-to-prove-youre-a-pro-but-it-helps.html/comment-page-1#comment-5985 Sean Cayton Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:13:53 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6349#comment-5985 John, Here's the pricing info: $1,800 and that included printing and two months of display. Some things to keep in mind: 1. We already have a significant presence in our marketplace. This billboard was a friendly reminder for people who are already familiar to our business 2. We selected this location carefully. It's on a back road to an exclusive neighborhood (think local commuters coming home from work) It's also on the way to a wedding location we work at a lot. 3. We got a significant price break as compared to their standard rates. 4. We don't pay for advertisements in any other media. But the rate competes easily to the rate for an advertisement in a well-known monthly bridal publication. John,

Here's the pricing info: $1,800 and that included printing and two months of display.

Some things to keep in mind:

1. We already have a significant presence in our marketplace. This billboard was a friendly reminder for people who are already familiar to our business

2. We selected this location carefully. It's on a back road to an exclusive neighborhood (think local commuters coming home from work) It's also on the way to a wedding location we work at a lot.

3. We got a significant price break as compared to their standard rates.

4. We don't pay for advertisements in any other media. But the rate competes easily to the rate for an advertisement in a well-known monthly bridal publication.

]]> By: John Parker http://rising.blackstar.com/you-dont-need-a-billboard-to-prove-youre-a-pro-but-it-helps.html/comment-page-1#comment-5933 John Parker Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:49:48 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6349#comment-5933 Mark K. - I think I see what appears to be a bride & groom in the center of the picture... but certainly they aren't popping off the billboard... Sean - seems a bold idea, bravo! - do you mind my asking what the range was in costs you found when researching billboards? Intuitively it would be expensive, but no doubt worth it if it accomplished your objectives. Cheers! john Mark K. - I think I see what appears to be a bride & groom in the center of the picture... but certainly they aren't popping off the billboard...

Sean - seems a bold idea, bravo! - do you mind my asking what the range was in costs you found when researching billboards? Intuitively it would be expensive, but no doubt worth it if it accomplished your objectives.

Cheers! john

]]> By: Bec Thomas http://rising.blackstar.com/you-dont-need-a-billboard-to-prove-youre-a-pro-but-it-helps.html/comment-page-1#comment-5930 Bec Thomas Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:24:54 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6349#comment-5930 I've also witnessed many of the pseudo-professionals muleishly arguing why charging such low rates is how it's supposed to be done. I figure that this is going to cycle and they are going to put themselves out of business soon enough. I've also witnessed many of the pseudo-professionals muleishly arguing why charging such low rates is how it's supposed to be done. I figure that this is going to cycle and they are going to put themselves out of business soon enough.

]]> By: Mark Kalan http://rising.blackstar.com/you-dont-need-a-billboard-to-prove-youre-a-pro-but-it-helps.html/comment-page-1#comment-5929 Mark Kalan Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:04:33 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6349#comment-5929 If you're looking for wedding work don't you think that a great photo from a wedding might do better than a citiscape shot? If you're looking for wedding work don't you think that a great photo from a wedding might do better than a citiscape shot?

]]> By: Gerald P. Giannamore http://rising.blackstar.com/you-dont-need-a-billboard-to-prove-youre-a-pro-but-it-helps.html/comment-page-1#comment-5925 Gerald P. Giannamore Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:25:19 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6349#comment-5925 It should be mandatory for every couple who is planning a wedding to read your article. Everything that you said is what we experince in couples trying to get something for nothing and then having a friend or family member atempt, very badly, to preserve the memories of their day. Their is a tendency for couples to also look at a photography studio as a non business and not understanding the costs of running a studio. Finally I recently recived an e-mail from an out of town relative who declared for every body to see that the photographers in her area were ripping everybody off with their prices when she inquired about photography for her wedding. It is attitudes like this that have also taken our business away. No amount of educating couples will change their attititudes towards Professional Photographers. I have tried for years educating couples on the value of Professional Photography. It should be mandatory for every couple who is planning a wedding to read your article. Everything that you said is what we experince in couples trying to get something for nothing and then having a friend or family member atempt, very badly, to preserve the memories of their day. Their is a tendency for couples to also look at a photography studio as a non business and not understanding the costs of running a studio. Finally I recently recived an e-mail from an out of town relative who declared for every body to see that the photographers in her area were ripping everybody off with their prices when she inquired about photography for her wedding. It is attitudes like this that have also taken our business away. No amount of educating couples will change their attititudes towards Professional Photographers. I have tried for years educating couples on the value of Professional Photography.

]]> By: caroline http://rising.blackstar.com/you-dont-need-a-billboard-to-prove-youre-a-pro-but-it-helps.html/comment-page-1#comment-5924 caroline Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:22:52 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6349#comment-5924 Great article, hopefully something brides will come across before they go photographer shopping. I have to say though, not everyone that still has a 'day job' has a hobbyist mentality. Great article, hopefully something brides will come across before they go photographer shopping. I have to say though, not everyone that still has a 'day job' has a hobbyist mentality.

]]> By: Natalie Kriegle http://rising.blackstar.com/you-dont-need-a-billboard-to-prove-youre-a-pro-but-it-helps.html/comment-page-1#comment-5919 Natalie Kriegle Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:10:01 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=6349#comment-5919 Hi This sounds really good. I do feel though that in this economy we do have to give price breaks. Also it is a very American way to try to "get a deal" and the downside is that everyone is coming out of the woodwork whether they are having a hard time with the economy or not (!) looking for the deal and saying that they need this due to the economy :) Everything you have written sounds very professional and just about right! Best wishes, Natalie Artistic Director of the Capriccio Ensemble Hi

This sounds really good.
I do feel though that in this economy we do have to
give price breaks. Also it is a very American way to try to "get a deal" and the downside is that everyone is coming out of the woodwork whether they are having a hard time with the economy or not (!) looking for the deal and saying that they need this due to the economy :)

Everything you have written sounds very professional and just about right!

Best wishes,

Natalie
Artistic Director of the Capriccio Ensemble

]]>