You get what you pay for!

Hello friends! With this posting I would like to take a look into the old saying "you get what you pay for".   Having been a business owner most of my life I have learned that value is important but also that value is different for everyone.

With the economy struggling and our current financial climate so uncertain, finding a "good deal" is important.  I'd like to take a moment to look at what a "good deal" really is.  I am going to explore this from the perspective of a small business owner / photographer as that is what I know best. 

Each day I see more and more new "photographers" come to be.  They promote themselves via sites such as Facebook, Twitter or a snappy website on the Internet.  They showcase the fact that they "specialize" in virtually every type of photography known.  They build the excitement of their service by telling you how they can get virtually anything from a coffee mug to an airplane with your photo on it. Then to put the bow on the package they show you ridiculously cheap prices for these products and services.  At first glance one would think "wow, that's a great deal"....... but is it really?

Two things I know for a fact.  A photographer who "specializes" in virtually every type of photography known to mankind is no specialist at all.  Thus the reason that I turn down certain types of work. I shoot a limited number of Fine Art weddings and a very limited range of portraits. My area of specialty is in commercial art, particularly nature, food and fashion. The second thing, a professional photographer who is experienced and good at the art is not inexpensive.  A professional photographer who is serious about what they do has enormous expense in doing it. The cost of the true professional equipment, the cost of insurance (yes, you'll want to make sure they have that on your wedding day), the cost of truly professional prints, products and offerings, none of this is cheap.  One of my favorite quotes from a photographer years ago is "the sweetness of a good deal on photography doesn't compare the bitterness of a poorly taken image that you will look at for years to come".

Now before I start to get hate mail because of this post let me be clear on something. I do NOT have a problem with amateur photographers. Everybody starts somewhere, I did as did everyone else. I love to see the hobby photographer out with their camera on a mission to capture the perfect shot. My problem is simple, an amateur should not be shooting the jobs better left to professionals.  Also, they certainly shouldn't be charging pennies on the dollar for that service.

This does nothing but farther destroy the "value" of our profession. When professional photographers have to try and "compete" on price with the discounters, they can't. They can't begin to cover the expense of a legitimate business, true professional prints, albums, products and services. They are faced with being the "more expensive choice" or with being forced to close or significantly lessen what they do. Not because they aren't worth the price but because the consumer doesn't understand the difference, and yes, there IS a difference. 

Friends, please understand that I am not "kicking the little guy" in this post. I am simply tired of seeing my profession, my friends who have been photographers for years and the way we as professionals make our living become eroded and devalued.  Any photographer worth having will tell you that we never stop learning. We learn every time we pick up the camera. I do however feel sad that a time has come when any experienced professional photographer who is in fact an artist has to become "discount" to compete. 

Certainly in these times we have all given something to survive. Every photographer I know has made some effort to make their service more affordable. That is simply the right thing to do. At some point however, a line must be drawn.  Professional photographers who have invested thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars should be allowed to make a living at their chosen craft.

Just keep in mind my friends that photography is art, plain and simple. It is an art medium no different than a brush and canvas are a medium. Shouldn't a true artisan be compensated for the years of experience, vision, creativity and hard work that has gone into what has ultimately created your image?  I think we can all agree that the answer to that is yes. When you see a "good deal" or someone who guarantees to beat any price on photography, ask yourself this question. How can they provide a true, quality product and service for pennies on the dollar compared to others....the truth is, they can't.  It is up to you, the patron of our art to decide what is worthy of your investment. I can only hope that in time the skill, experience and true quality of art we provide will rise above the buzz of a good deal. Having a professional who is skilled, creative, passionate and moreover experienced is paramount. It should never be "good enough" to have a "good" photograph.