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What is your worth?
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Feb 19, 2021 19:44:10   #
Rongnongno Loc: FL
 
As a photographer, what is your worth?

Folks here do not seem to understand marketing and how to approach the upper end market.

It all about how much you think your time AND TALENT is worth. If you think it is average, print a price list and go for it. You will not go far and will have to work your *** off in order to make a decent living.

If on the other end you are good (you do not need to be extraordinary) and are introduced to the right folks by the right person basically two events a month makes the same amount you do shooting three/four events a weekend or a week for a month.

If you know you are in demand and highly recommended you set your price depending on your client's means and demands. In this case there is no price list, ever. The price fluctuates and usually goes up with time and 'weird demands'.

Once upon a time I was in demand by the Ross Perot entourage. These folks do not nickel and dime but have specific requirements both in time, location and more often than not have expensive demands to deal with. Not request, DEMANDS. Either you do it or you lose an opportunity. There is no price on this type of service. It all depends on how capable you are and how you come across.

So the real questions are:
WHAT IS YOUR WORTH?
Then
How do you come across?
And finally
Who do you know who can introduce you to a STILL very lucrative market?

The only ethic issue here is DELIVER. If you do not you are burned, end of it. Even smaller markets close on you. These folks will make you or break you, just like that, they have the reach.

The gravy train lasted two years and ended when we moved to Italy.

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Feb 19, 2021 20:42:19   #
Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA
 
If you measure your worth in 'worldly values', what you might gain is worldly worth.

IMHO, you should aim higher, much higher. What have you achieved? What have you accomplished? What have you changed for the better? - What have you added? What have you originated? Where is your creativity? Where is your soul?

These are answers worthy of the last days of your life. I'm still working on mine. And, I expect to be working on them during the last day of my life.

Aim higher. Be bolder. Do good without the notice or recognition of others. Help without expecting glory. Encourage without appreciation. Love without receiving love in return.

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Feb 19, 2021 20:45:22   #
Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA
 
btw rongonnogoru

Your HH address is FL, not Europe???

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Feb 19, 2021 20:54:39   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
No price list, setting your prices based on your customer's wealth - ethical? Just a con game.

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Feb 19, 2021 21:28:09   #
Cany143 Loc: SE Utah
 
Answer to my 'worth' seems to be pending. KEH has a lens I'm interested in, and on their 'trade' page, I entered several photographic items I want to trade along with a "(generally, sort of) excellent/not-quite-mint/slightly vintage condition(-)" Cany143-- in trade for it. That was just a few minutes ago, and while they're usually pretty quick with their instant quote offer thingies, they've yet to hit me with a number. (I don't expect full retail for any of these items [or me, either, actually], of course, but I'm sort of hoping I get the lens more or less for free....)

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Feb 19, 2021 22:24:19   #
Rongnongno Loc: FL
 
Paul Diamond wrote:
btw rongonnogoru

Your HH address is FL, not Europe???

I have not been there since 2019. Our trip this year has been pushed back until the fall - if at all possible -. My permanent residence is now FL.

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Feb 19, 2021 22:36:30   #
Rongnongno Loc: FL
 
quixdraw wrote:
No price list, setting your prices based on your customer's wealth - ethical? Just a con game.

Have you ever dealt with the higher end market? I think not. If you did you would realize that there is no sticker price on almost anything.

As I typed. You are worth what you think you are. In your case peanuts, as I am now since I am out of it. Find me a higher end market, I would go back to it in a flash as would anyone offered this opportunity.

Why do you think a few recent pictures were sold over a million dollars?
Because some folks like you want to call it a con job or unethical it should be sold for what? A few hundred of $$$? Grow up.

Most expensive photograph so far...
Rhein II, Photographer: Andreas Gursky (1999)
Dimensions: 73 in × 143 in
Sold at auction in 2011 for $4,300,000.00.

Now tell me, what is extraordinary that justifies the price?
You cannot?
Well, I can. Someone was willing to pay for it. That's it.

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Feb 19, 2021 22:56:52   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
Congrats, you have created a new philosophy - Amoral equivalency.

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Feb 19, 2021 23:17:34   #
Rongnongno Loc: FL
 
quixdraw wrote:
Congrats, you have created a new philosophy - Amoral equivalency.

Never mind. You have no clue to what is going on and want to impose a fake ethos in order to appear as... What exactly?

Enjoy your pink glasses.

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Feb 20, 2021 06:33:26   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
The easiest way to make money as a photographer is to sell your equipment.

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Feb 20, 2021 07:13:49   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Rongnongno wrote:
As a photographer, what is your worth?

Folks here do not seem to understand marketing and how to approach the upper end market.

It all about how much you think your time AND TALENT is worth. If you think it is average, print a price list and go for it. You will not go far and will have to work your *** off in order to make a decent living.

If on the other end you are good (you do not need to be extraordinary) and are introduced to the right folks by the right person basically two events a month makes the same amount you do shooting three/four events a weekend or a week for a month.

If you know you are in demand and highly recommended you set your price depending on your client's means and demands. In this case there is no price list, ever. The price fluctuates and usually goes up with time and 'weird demands'.

Once upon a time I was in demand by the Ross Perot entourage. These folks do not nickel and dime but have specific requirements both in time, location and more often than not have expensive demands to deal with. Not request, DEMANDS. Either you do it or you lose an opportunity. There is no price on this type of service. It all depends on how capable you are and how you come across.

So the real questions are:
WHAT IS YOUR WORTH?
Then
How do you come across?
And finally
Who do you know who can introduce you to a STILL very lucrative market?

The only ethic issue here is DELIVER. If you do not you are burned, end of it. Even smaller markets close on you. These folks will make you or break you, just like that, they have the reach.

The gravy train lasted two years and ended when we moved to Italy.
As a photographer, what is your worth? br br Folk... (show quote)


I do photo shows, primarily metal prints of wildlife and landscape. Most folks who think they will make a lot of money in photography are in for a rude awakening. I did wedding photography for over 35 years, the more I charged, the more business I did, but that business was based on word of mouth. I did very well.
Now, again, I only do photo shows. I cover my costs and make about 50% on the metal prints.
Again, I am retired and do shows more for something to do than to make money. My shows will buy me a couple of lenses and that's all I care about now.
What is my worth? I am healthy and at 72 years old I will count my self health wealthy. In that regard I am very lucky and wealthy.
I come across as a serious photographic artist.
I do not care to have a very lucrative market. Besides, these markets mostly do not exist, they just mostly become pipe dreams. Been there, done that, now I just want to do photo shows and talk to folks who come to see my work. That makes me happy and content.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

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Feb 20, 2021 07:15:59   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
The easiest way to make money as a photographer is to sell your equipment.


I have seen that is true for most Canon owners. Why not sell yours and then you can relax and buy Nikon and Sony.

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Feb 20, 2021 07:26:59   #
Dannj
 
“Worth” is an interesting concept and is essentially something we don’t control. Our “worth” is determined by what others are willing to pay us, what the particular market will bear. I may think my house is “worth” a million dollars until I put it on the market.

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Feb 20, 2021 07:33:07   #
bbrown5154 Loc: Baltimore, MD
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
The easiest way to make money as a photographer is to sell your equipment.


LMAO

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Feb 20, 2021 07:56:08   #
sb Loc: Florida's East Coast
 
Assessing your own worth may involve checking your ego at the door. I might THINK I am the world's greatest photographer - but does that mean that others will agree? And pay money for my work? Like any business, starting out may mean compromising, offering discounts to get started, encouraging existing customers to help spread the word, etc.

But the argument not to undervalue your time and talent is true. My sister owned a pub for many years. She became really busy. She significantly raised her prices at one point. She told me a few months later - "I have half the customers now - am not working so hard - and make just as much money".

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