I think i have Overbooked Myself (Page 2): Thank you everyone Prices going up might need to be an option but in saying that there are never guaranteed sales from a days work, one shoot...

Martys Loc: Lubec, Maine

[quote=magicunicorn]Thank you everyone
Prices going up might need to be an option but in saying that there are never guaranteed sales from a days work, one shoot I earn $300-400 the next I might earn $60 or $80.
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If your working on speculation that way,...then your time out there photographing images of/with the owners, riders, contestants, participants (whatever)during the day,...$$$ should somehow be factored into ALL your image prices. xx hours work @ $$$$ per hour to recoup part of your time,...you already know and can project your photographing time spent at events per session.

Show them your images taken,...let them contact you when they want copies for themselves,....you are in control of all sales that follow the photography.
Hand out your business card, or price schedule, or web address where they can view the images you took.
Once they see them,...thats half the battle.

If they want any copies,...You will be hearing from them (for sure).

Inform them when you anticipate being able to do their pictures,...
or their orders being completed,................or,..better yet,.......tell them ,...you will contact them when their images are completed,........otherwise you are again setting yourself up to RUSH yourself unnecessarily into frustration.

They know who you are by now,....

Be sure event organizers or someone has your contact information,....especially if your not handing out business cards,..or flyers,....so it is available to anyone,....your phone contact # etc,...

If the daily events are moderated over a loud speaker system,...see if the announcer might announce your being there or that your info is available,.................................
........Miss Magicunicorn will be in the ring today photographing all the riders,..she may be contacted at the following phone #,...or email address. Just a thought.

Many ways to handle your working there on speculation and assuring people know who you are,....this could up your buyers per event???

Doesn't matter if you get more work,.....Because you will tell customers that images are printed or prepared,...custom per/person as orders are received,...first come/first serve.

You have all the image files,....they will wait till you get to their pictures. Others are ahead of them.
They will actually look forward to having them in hand even "more so" anticipating getting them now.
And you will not be rushing and going crazy with stress. (Promise )
Just give them a fair approximation of the waiting time if they ask.

Many options beyond these,....As long as you stay in control,..NOT exceeding a comfort zone for enjoying your own life, family, responsibilities and such.
Marty

magicunicorn Loc: Melbourne Australia

Thank you everyone for your comments there are some brillant suggestions and help here thank you so very much everyone.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

magicunicorn wrote:

Help.... i have a feeling that i have booked too m... (show quote)

I think you can stop calling it "my little business."

Yes, register your business.

Cut back and give yourself a break. Trying to do to much will lead to trying but not succeeding. It will affect your health and the quality of your work.

Are you charging enough? Maybe too many people are booking you because of quality work at bargain prices.

magicunicorn Loc: Melbourne Australia

Yes i Plan to....
My prices are probable not high enough but i am on par with at least one other photographer i will post a price list so you can tell me what you think ... any ideas greatly aprecaited

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

magicunicorn wrote:

Yes i Plan to....
My prices are probable not high enough but i am on par with at least one other photographer i will post a price list so you can tell me what you think ... any ideas greatly aprecaited

Obviously, you're specializing in horse photography. Having a niche like that is good. I don't see prices for the actual shoot itself - going there and spending time shooting pictures. I hope you charge separately for that.

That's a nice ad, although the typeface is not my favorite, and do you need four different colors?

magicunicorn Loc: Melbourne Australia

I put this together early on and i do know it needs changing.
To go out to a booked competition shoot you dont charge for being there you just make your money from selling.... i have been charging $120 to go out there with 2 photos included i think that needs to be revised origionally it was $60
You are right about the add.... i also have this one i put up at comps.....

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

magicunicorn wrote:

I put this together early on and i do know it needs changing.
To go out to a booked competition shoot you dont charge for being there you just make your money from selling.... i have been charging $120 to go out there with 2 photos included i think that needs to be revised origionally it was $60
You are right about the add.... i also have this one i put up at comps.....

I like that ad.

magicunicorn Loc: Melbourne Australia

Thank you Jerry i played with it and put it together at 3 am one morning the day before a shoot.... i have been asked to blow it up and post it at shoots to A3 size ... would that be too much and laminate

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

magicunicorn wrote:

Thank you Jerry i played with it and put it together at 3 am one morning the day before a shoot.... i have been asked to blow it up and post it at shoots to A3 size ... would that be too much and laminate

At 3:00 AM, you should be sleeping. Yes, you are overbooking. :D

magicunicorn Loc: Melbourne Australia

Thanks .. if i cant sleep at night because my brain is in overdrive then i work on my computer...... thank you Jenny for your Comments much appreciated

NegativeBLUR Loc: Dallas, Tx

[quote=Martys]

magicunicorn wrote:

Help. Help I think i have created a Monster. br ... (show quote)

Thank you for the above, Marty! I am not yet in her shoes (witht he thriving business I hope to build) but this spoke volumes to me in my current situation of being treated poorly by my current employer. "Exceptional results call for exceptional changes" is my new mantra, and I will keep it in mind when I go in his office and stick up for myself! Excellent thoughts and good advice. Good luck with your business Magic Unicorn! Stick in there....

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

magicunicorn wrote:

Yes i Plan to....
My prices are probable not high enough but i am on par with at least one other photographer i will post a price list so you can tell me what you think ... any ideas greatly aprecaited

Looking at your prices for prints, I would say you are way undercharging. Your digital files should be priced the same as your largest print, not the same as your smallest or where is the incentive for them to purchase prints at all?

Without knowing what your local market can sustain, I would say an 8x10 for $20 is still under market value, look at raising it to around $30 and your 8x12 should be around $40. Which would make your digital files priced at $40.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

magicunicorn wrote:

Help.... i have a feeling that i have booked too m... (show quote)

Can you pay your bills, do you love it....one more time, do you love it....is your family behind you? If yes, over book your heart away!

Lou Holtz once told a story when he was coaching at U of Arkansas. His family called a meeting and complained that he was never at home, always gone...and when he was home...he was watching film, on the phone, or playing around with X's and O's.

After listening to his families pleas for some quality family time....Lou packed his family in the car and drove to a rather middle class neighborhood in Fayetteville, and up to a house with a for-sale sign. He said, "how do you like this house". His wife ask, "are you getting into the real estate business too?" He said no, I have resigned my coaching job at UofA and gotten a job at the Ford dealership. I like this house and may be ready to put a deposit down and just wanted you to see it first and a few others I have narrowed down. I am pretty sure, if all goes well at the dealership we will be able to afford to live here. Although we will not be making as much, I will only be working 6 days a week and will have many nights off. I agree with you, we need more family time.

Hysteria broke out......

......and according to Lou, that subject was not brought up again.

I might add, if any of you know Lou....you also know that he inclined to push the bull in a variety of directions but his point was well taken.

shutterbug64 Loc: Colorado

Print this out and put it where you see it everyday: "Am I running my business or is my business running me!" Set some "me" time. When people call and want an appointment during your "Me" time, simply say "your are booked at that time, is there another time that will work?" you will be amazed how they have another time that will work into your schedule. As far as my clients ever know I am never on "Me (vacation, whatever)" time. If they want that time, I am on location, attending a seminar to learn, whatever, but never "Me". The peception becomes you are very busy so you must be worth changing their schedule to meet yours. Works for me.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

shutterbug64 wrote:

Print this out and put it where you see it everyda... (show quote)

This is what I do as well, it works great. I have no desire to work 80 hours a week, I turned my hobby into a business so I can have more family time. Running myself ragged doesn't do my family, my clients or myself any good. As the saying goes "Work Smarter, Not Harder"