Tag Archives: dustin meyer Many times, I get new photographers struggling with the same problem. Pricing. So, I thought I’d share with you something I wrote in response to a frustrated photog who was being hounded by the budget bride: “Hey Dustin, I’ve heard a lot of great things about your ability to run a profitable photography business (several,... August 27, 2010 - 3:35 pm
Well said Dustin. August 27, 2010 - 4:04 pm
Exactly, Dina! I think there’s such a blurry difference between hobbyist and professional that the public tends to get confused. Just because I own a wrench doesn’t make me a certified plumber. The fact that I can grill a mean steak doesn’t mean I have culinary accreditations. Pushing a button on a camera or knowing a few tweaks in Photoshop makes one no less a professional photographer than turning the keys in a car makes you certified to drive that vehicle. If you’re a professional, charge professional rates… because it’s your profession. :) Thanks for sharing, Dina!! August 28, 2010 - 11:08 am
Nice one! Sometimes I think we forget to value ourselves. August 28, 2010 - 11:13 am
Right, Heather! Just because you’re a natural at taking photos doesn’t mean you should do it for cheap ;) August 30, 2010 - 3:13 pm
Great way to handle it Dustin. I hope she hears you and can stick to it. I am always trying to beat that tidbit into fellow photographers. I can’t begin to tell you the number of photographers that say to me, “Yeah but my business isnt like yours, I don’t live in a big city, so my clients won’t pay the same amount as your clients.” And to that I always respond, a camera costs what a camera costs. If most photographers would realize that most all of the hard costs of business are the same regardless if you live in a rural market or a metropolitan area. Cameras, lenses, prints, albums, computers, software, and most all the tools of the trade cost the same regardless of your address. The only reduced costs of a rural studio are lower overhead in the form of rent or mortgage and lower insurance costs. And in the commercial world, usage is usage. In fact, many large national companies can be found in rural markets because of the need for cheap labor and cheap land. However these clients are advertising nationally, so rural photographers need to consider that usage. If they have a multi-thousand square ft facility on 10 acres of land, and dozens of employees, think about the revenue that company is generating to turn a profit. So remember, a camera costs what a camera costs. August 30, 2010 - 3:13 pm
Great way to handle it Dustin. I hope she hears you and can stick to it. I am always trying to beat that tidbit into fellow photographers. I can’t begin to tell you the number of photographers that say to me, “Yeah but my business isnt like yours, I don’t live in a big city, so my clients won’t pay the same amount as your clients.” And to that I always respond, a camera costs what a camera costs. If most photographers would realize that most all of the hard costs of business are the same regardless if you live in a rural market or a metropolitan area. Cameras, lenses, prints, albums, computers, software, and most all the tools of the trade cost the same regardless of your address. The only reduced costs of a rural studio are lower overhead in the form of rent or mortgage and lower insurance costs. And in the commercial world, usage is usage. In fact, many large national companies can be found in rural markets because of the need for cheap labor and cheap land. However these clients are advertising nationally, so rural photographers need to consider that usage. If they have a multi-thousand square ft facility on 10 acres of land, and dozens of employees, think about the revenue that company is generating to turn a profit. So remember, a camera costs what a camera costs. August 30, 2010 - 3:50 pm
I love that! “A Camera Costs what a Camera Costs!” Thanks for the insight, Lenn!! August 27, 2010 - 11:34 pm
[...] Am I worth it? » MpactPhoto : Professional Photography Studio Marketing Resource and Forum by Dustin Meyer Am I worth it? » MpactPhoto : Professional Photography Studio Marketing Resource and Forum by Dusti…. [...]  Hey Peoples! Most of us do portraits and weddings which is great. However, I know we can get a little to crazy when it comes to over-processing images when it comes to a more subtle subject. Here’s a tutorial on how to touch up headshots and keep them looking real. Enjoy! And as promised, here’s... by dustinmeyer no comments  So, we’re all in our studios/offices. We all have our own custom backup solutions (I hope). However, backup solutions can change as time goes by. And sometimes, they change back. But then, things can get confusing. You’re juggling multiple hard drives wondering what photos are on which hard drive. Enter calamity. My friend Eric Doggett... by dustinmeyer 2 comments June 12, 2010 - 12:17 pm
Great stuff here! I am big on backups. The problem with the Drobo (at least the model I have) is that it’s painfully slow. Even using the Firewire 800 interface. It’s alright as a backup, but don’t expect to use it for day-to-day editing. There are much faster RAID options out there. For every shoot, I have multiple backups in the studio plus in an offsite-storage location. I have DVD and harddrive backups for everything. But, I need to take a look at some online solutions as well for additional security. Love the idea of using S3 as a backup service! Eric August 16, 2010 - 6:22 pm
Sorry, the Drobo system is slow, proprietary, and unreliable. It has no advantages over a RAID 10 setup, and is much more costly. I have heard multiple horror stories about people losing entire archives on Drobo. The best way is still the old way, I’m afraid. Single drives backed up in separate physical locations. But you are on to something with Jungledisk. Haven’t used it, but have used http://www.backblaze.com, which is going in the right direction, but too slow to upload for pro photogs. In any case, I would use it as a third backup, still keeping control of at least 2 physical backups. Ben Miller Hi Everyone, I wanted to talk to you about something that I think we all tend to forget. It seems to me that many of us out there work so hard to make things better for our lives, and yet somehow we deny ourselves to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Here’s my take on... by dustinmeyer no comments |
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