Bobbee

I work through Thumbtack, yeah, yeah, I know. I have tried other methods, It is the monkey on my back.

The girl posted this:

"...Just really nice pictures
Not robot looking photos. I want action shots and just simple elegant pics of me in my dress...."

this was the first lines in my quote. She called ma and booked and hour later laughing.

"...Jessica
Robot? No bride ever looks like a Robot. Maybe deer in the head lights, but never a Robot.
All joking aside,....."

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Bobbee ..... nice

So give us your take on this service your use.

I've been doing well with my current marketing but have noticed this year things are a bit slower and appears more competitive ..... give us your take.

Bobbee

I had a good business up in NY working out of a Wedding Venue where the woman was very comfortable with me. Then I move to Tampa. Typical comment approaching would-be customers. "Why would I pay you when I can get the same thing from my phone? It isn't. It is. It isn't......yadda, yadda, yadda. I was beside myself. I sent resumes to Studios, etc.

One day searching for Photographer jobs I run into Thumbtack. Last year I landed 16 weddings. I honed my profile, gallery, approach, etc. It is March and I already have booked my years quota. At this point I may pick one or two more. If there are 3 quotes when I hit the request I generally do not send out a quote. I figured at this point it is a loss. I generally like to be the first one in the door and set the mark.

Now, I will tell you now, you probably will not get rich off thumbtack. I got one in Oct and it is high for Thumbtack at $1,200 for the shoot. It is at a Dude Ranch and I am really excited about it. You know that saying about the Difference between a pizza and a Photographer. Well Thumbtack requestors enforce that line.

Last year ended up being good and this year is better. I certainly have built more experience, equipment, portfolio and self assurance if that is possible. I already am pretty outgoing and have a big head. But then..........I don't think you can be a good photographer if you are not that type.

Hope this helps. If you PM me I will send you my cut/paste Quote. Depending on the gig, and I typically only respond to Wedding requests, I will take 5 minutes to change it. Add the book, add the prints, make a joke (which worked this time). It is always a good indication you are not wating your time and money when someone posts a phone number.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I'm actually glad to hear that Thumbtack is working for someone. I'm thinking that there is just too much competition on that site in this area. The people I know that use it, never get replies, and if you don't book ANYTHING, then those quotes get expensive.

I've been fairly lucky with keeping busy enough to keep us happy (weekend warrior, and I have a cottage on a lake that I like to visit, so I don't want "too much" work)

I've been tempted to try it for senior photos, as I would love to build that business a bit. I only started doing seniors the last couple of years, and I just don't have a lot of examples for a portfolio. (I don't use images without express permission, and the kids I've shot don't want to be used as marketing tools........which kills me, considering how many of them post hundreds of selfies.)

Bobbee

My contract sez I can use the pictures for my web site and portfolio. Anything outside of that like selling to a magazine I would call first. I needed a portfolio build up. Thumbtack did that. Now that I have gotten comfortable with it, I am at the point trying to restrain my quoting. I do one Wedding a month. I have a Mon-Thurs job and cannot have the photography bump into that. I am getting close to cutting the first and opening up a studio. Doing the research now. I have been independently in business since I was 21. Actually I owned an afterhours joint in Brooklyn at 17 and an auto repair shop (race cars) from 18-21. That paid for college. So I have the business end and have been in from of clients for 40+ years. It would be just one more business for me. I left out the 15 year owning a construction business in NYC. I just like to consider myself as one of those people who have lots of energy.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

:thumbup: Gotta tell you that I love, good, hard working people. Did the same thing. First paper route when I was 10 in Cleveland. Purchased my first car at 13 (Dad would take me out to the fairgrounds to practice driving and backing up trailers....only to find out he did that, because he couldn't back up a trailer to save his own skin) Lifeguard at 15, used money from that to purchase vending machines and set them up at various locations around my town. Been doing multiple jobs my whole life. I think I'd drive myself, and my wife up a tree if I ever really retired. We're both safer with me doing the full time job (mental hospital, I actually work there, not a patient....shock) Also the photography, part owner in a DJ service, and investing in a reception hall that my daughter is starting. (with hopes of being the "recommended photographer") I also help with my other daughter's side egg business. (20 chickens) Keeps me out of my wife's hair, and keeps me "semi" sane.

Bobbee

Knew I like you. And they make all those songs about HARD WORKING WOMEN. We get the shaft!!! LOL

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

forgot to mention in response to your "other" comment. My contract does state that I can use the images as well. I just had an unfortunate time with the father of a bride that was trying to get tons and tons of freebies out of me for "using his beautiful daughter as a marketing tool" Even though it is in there, I just ask to be polite. Never had any other people turn me down for weddings, but sometimes people get a little funny when you want to post their children's photos. Even if I let them know that I will not identify their children by name or anything that could lead back to the kid. It just seems funny to me when you see the risqué photos that kids will post on facebook, and it DOES identify them, yet when I take something that is much more conservative, parents get all worried that someone will stalk their senior?

Easier to just ask and be turned down, than to ever go through the mess and threats I got from "Dadzilla"

I'm sure all the chest thumping was because "mom" was the one writing the checks and asking for more prints after the fact.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Interesting ..........

They want to see your portfolio but then don't want you to use their snap ........

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Tell me about it. Crazy things like that are what gives me job security at my day job. (mental hospital)

Bobbee

What did they guy say.........."Peoples are nuts!"

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Thank goodness......job security for me :thumbup: