What are you offering that they can’t offer themselves with their phones? Seriously. That’s the question you need to have an answer for.
this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2023
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Photography
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You should take some marketing and business classes if you have not already.
I am not sure where you are based out of but here in the US $10 is dirt cheap and that implies low quality regardless of your skill.
Also are you offering portraits at your university to who fellow students?
I definitely will. I am in the US, but currently stuck in the chicken and egg problem.
To get high paying clients I need to have worked with high paying clients.
Not sure what the last sentence means sorry.
Raise your price to $250
That isn't just dirt cheap, OP might as well pay them money for each photo. Smh man.
triple your rates. Seriously, a lot of times people don't take you up on it because you're simply not charging enough. I went through a similar thing and doubled my rates and went from struggling to get any bookings to getting more work than I knew what to do with. Do some footwork and figure out what the going rate is for your area and charge the same amount or maybe a little less.
Tell me your ways. I've been upping my rates. People see my photos think they're quality but no bites.
What is your sales proposition? why should people hire you?
Right now all you've told us, a community of photographers that you're asking for business advice from, is that your sales proposition is that you are cheap. There's plenty of that going around.
Watch a few YouTube videos on sales, specifically on how to qualify potential customers. They will teach you the language and techniques to close them.
There's a thing as being too cheap.
If something was so far under the competition you start to question quality, especially on something you might not be able to qualify yourself.
Such as, at the moment we're quoting for an electrician for some work, I have a broad sense of what's involved but no the intricacies (otherwise I'd be doing it myself), one quoted $300 which is substantially lower than around $800 several others have quoted, so we're not even going to talk to them as it's so cheap we're not sure if they've misunderstood the requirement or just aren't very good and under-pricing to be selected.
So, similarly, if I was to see most photoshoots going around $500 for five pictures, and you're doing six for $60, I'm going to move on as that's just too cheap, I might enquire a little, see if I can explain the discrepancy, but ultimately, if I'm paying for it, I want quality and want to do it once.
If you're looking to build portfolio and charging less, try instead a local TFP group, you get to pad your portfolio and impress perspective clients and you gain experience, all of which you can then feel more confident charging market rate.
Thanks
How's your website? How's your portfolio?
If you are going for business customers you will need more than just good photos.
These customers have specific needs tied to their business goals. If you can pitch concepts that address these needs you have a chance to get hired. If you just show up with a nice portfolio you have only wasted everyone’s time.
Prepare before meeting those clients and do some research for the pitch.
It is more than about the money. It is about relationships. About surprising people with your images. About people being surprised when they really like the photos you have taken of them -and that it felt easy.
You need to find ways of making connections so that people start asking you to do work for them, not the other way around.
Shoot for the school paper. Shoot for the drama dept. Long lens low low angle close up action of the swimmers on the swim team. Find ways of doing things that most are not doing. Whatever your intetests are. Whatever cause you can help out on.
There’s so much more in a customers decision than ‘price’. I’d even think that ‘price’ isn’t even very high up there.
Most photographers don’t make it at the rates they charge (massive amount of die-off in the first 3 years among photographers trying to start a business) - trying to undercut that is a recipe for disaster. Plus, you’ll get zero respect from potential clients OR other photographers.
From your site, I don’t know what kind of photographer you are. You say you’re “very confident” and your site screams it - to the point of being very off-putting (“50% Dutch, 100% Talented, one man multimedia powerhouse?”). Your portfolio doesn’t back up arrogance, and you’re new at this…of course it doesn’t.
Your pricing and business skills need improvement, but it might need to start with social skills. If you sound like a douche (whether you actually are or not), people aren’t going to work with you. Your site is working against you at every turn in this regard.
I agree with this, the portfolio isn't as strong as OP thinks.
You're too cheap. The perception may be that you're a shit photographer.
To add onto this topic. I think you need to work on your portfolio more before you start trying to get clients. You have some strong images in there but you also have some that should clearly be cut, edited or be cropped.
The fact that the first thing I see on your website is text and I have I have to scroll down to see your photos is not ideal. The first thing someone should see when they hit a photographers website should be a picture that impresses them.
Your creative statement/mission statement does not land as well as you may think. With it being the first thing a visitor sees before they even see your work some people may move on before they even get to your work.
only closers get coffee. Gotta learn how to close.
always be closing