some ph-photo stories

[irangejuice]

---

a lot of guts and wisdom in that last post right there. read up.

[adjong]

yes. love your comment 'sen.

thanks

[abortretryfail]

however, i still do not see what the fuss is all about.

lowballing... that's what's it's all about

found this from a manual by a contributing writer of PICTURE magazine...

On Lowballing and Being a Professional
...Many people define lowballing as the act of charging less than your competition.
That’s not an accurate definition. Lowballing is charging less than the fair market price.
The difference between those two definitions is enormous...

...Lowballers usually rationalize their actions by saying that they work more days than other,
more “expensive” freelancers, and it provides them a living. They say that they have lower
overheads, which permit them to charge less and that if others want to compete, they’d
better reduce their overheads and lower their rates. They live via “volume” sales like their
work is some sort of commodity and not a creative service, and they see themselves as in
competition with all others in their field.

The problem with those lines of thinking is that lowballing isn’t about competition; it’s about
desperation and fear. They fear that if they don’t charge less, they won’t get the job...

You can download the rest of the manual here...

lowballers.pdf

The way I understand it is that we don't need a standarized rate for photography work.
What we DO NEED is rate guide on how much to charge for the use of our photos...
like rates for a one year use of your photo on a billboard along Jones avenue compared
to a half page ad... that gets printed in every glossy fashion mag in the world!

Local usage can be based on local print and advertising rates while national usage can
be determined by Manila standards. And there's already a guide for international use.

And usage is in addition to the cost to actually shoot the required photo for use!
Now production costs can be determined by you... check this for a guide:

Cost of Doing Business (CODB.pdf)

If you're in the playing field or planning to go into the business I suggest you check Leslie's website
to preserve you're sanity :mrgreen:...



Just wish I found that info three years ago when all the other photographers kept giving vague answers
on how much to charge then chided me for charging too low. So sometimes lowballing isn't entirely
the fault of the photographer. Time to get educated!!!

[pidz111]

An absurd idea--a greedy one at that too. How do you put a standardized price on art? They forget that it's not only a job but an art as well. Do I smell a faint smell of rights being violated here? Last time I checked this country allowed me to put any value on any piece of art I had for sale as long as no act of deceiving was done in my part. The consumer also had the right to choose, which naturally, would be one that perfectly balance of quality and affordability based on their preferences.

Sir, I think the Idea of the standard rate is just a "guide" for all photogrpahers.. specially newbies if they go into photo biz. I think no one is force to comply with those rates..(its mentioned somewer in those paragraphs) Ive read this before and i partially/conditionaly agree with it thou.

How do you put a standardized price on art? They forget that it's not only a job but an art as well..

I do agree with you on this too sir. I do agree that its not only a job but as an art as well.. but the sad truth is, not everybody thinks the same way we do..its something that we just have to live with.. make few adjustments and adapt in someways.

[irangejuice]

It's just sad to realize how some professionals look at it.

quoting the article:
"This causes a devastating effect on the photography industry...........To a large extent, these new photographers can't be blamed because there is no existing guide to base their prices on."

Which can only mean that new photographers are being, to some extent, blamed for a devastating effect--A spiraling down of prices. A guide would, as suggested, provide a fair pricing guide for all photographers. However, I wonder what labels a new photographer would get for not following such a guide--"low flyer?","cheapo?","unfair?". But I wonder what labels to call that newbie photographer with his prices rubbing elbows with the big fish.. "dead?","wannabe?","whosiznameagain?".

Ah, the perfect name probably: He-who-lost-the-deal.