To little? To much? who knows?!

Hi there Readers!

I really wanted to write a small piece on the following subject : "Photographers who charge to much or to less for their work qualified to be sold as art or not" I have run across so many posts or blogs that deal with the topic of how a newbie photographer charges to much or to less and weather they are qualified or not. While I understand from both avenues on this subject I guess it depends on what going on in within the issue. 

I hear a lot of the saying " You get what you pay for" Not only have I heard it, I have said it myself. I think that a lot of that holds true. There are some people out there that can do photos like no other you have seen before but still offer it at a low price.

Low price can mean different things to different people where $100 is to expensive for some and then there people who figure $350 isn't expensive at all. If It were me I would probably fall in between the two prices depending on what the photographer was offering me and what I would receive in return for my payment.

You get what you pay for when the work looks overly processed by saturation in the skin tones mainly, the photo doesn't have enough light in it to even see whats photographed and everything looks so sharp that it could cut your eyeballs right of the socket! so what did you pay for this ? maybe $25, $50, maybe even $100? FREE? If you paid anything for something like this I'm truly sorry for your loss because this isn't what I would have ever paid for. I'm not saying I'm perfect and I have made my mistakes in the beginning  only to be learned from where need be. I think that if someone is going to offer photography as something that is going to be a paid gig for them then it needs to be respectably comparable to whats being offered by the Pro's educated or self taught because this is whats going to sell not stuff that give people the shriek of "OMG what is that?!" Also If there is someone who is okay maybe semi good but not amazing at what they do then the prices should not be as high as the Trump towers in New York.  Its not right. I think that IF there is caution being used by the person who's trying to offer photography to the locals then they will stop to think if their work is enough to be amateur maybe really good amateur for it to be sold as a service that's comparable or at least good enough for people who enjoy it and also to be comparable to the other newbies/amateurs who are in the same boat.

To even consider a photographer for my choice I would shop to find who makes the Quality and has the skill behind it, again educated or self taught. I say this because some of the best photographers come from both sides with degrees and some without degrees. Also consider their personality and how they are around yourself, kids or family because I feel it would be important to have someone you felt comfortable around. Everyone wants a really good photograph of something at some point in time of their lives and so this makes it an important matter to find this in someone who is talented, skilled or educated in the matter of producing quality images and makes you want to come back because of their personality.

Second look at their prices and compare to the qualified photographers that are in your top 3, 5 or 10 ( if you have that many to choose from) and see which one is going to be of more value to YOU. Sometimes you make sacrifices on what you would want or don't want but in the case of photography and finding a good photographer this shouldn't be a sacrifice to you, though a price can sometimes hinder what we truly want and what we can only afford. In this case I think its safe to say that its okay to continue shopping and you will eventually find something you want but also can afford.

Some photographers who have been going at it for years are furious with the newbies because of the low price offers, fearing that it will take away from them in a location that is shared by many other brands of photography especially if they are a newbie who's really good at what they do and could pass for someone who's also been doing it for years. Then there are some who really could care less. For those who are upset by the newbies that are excellent I think its great to encourage and support a fellow member of the photographers society rather than be angry because the newbie in town may just be doing it as a side hobby that's paid (assuming they have built a respectable portfolio) or they could just be trying to do it full time to depend on it as their primary source of income. If you are a professional who would be nice enough to say " Hey I think your work is amazing and really could sell for more than you are offering it to people for" that's wonderful and helpful to the newbie and creates oodles of joy and happiness for them to receive such a compliment.

I could just LOL because this is a highly debated topic within the world of photography and some wouldn't appreciate this thought I think its good to share.


Though I have never received a degree for photography or fine arts like that, I was a diamond in the rough at least that's how I always thought of it and have had the natural ability to find beauty in the weirdest places or odd ways but it makes me who  I am  in my own brand. I do my photography because I LOVE IT, its fun, because I have been encouraged, because its something I can still do while being a stay at home mother, because I have faith and confidence in it and is my brand I can offer people in my area at a "low" price, remember low can mean anything to anybody. I'm not trying to become rich off of it or make it my primary source of income because if it was my only source I would be charging a lot more than what I do currently. For me I'm being paid for the self taught skill, my talent and my time. Even if your a pro or amateur who's paid for your work we are all still learning new skill in this world of photography, techniques, new software, new cameras are all on the rise and it never ends.. If you think you have simply learned it ALL I wouldn't believe you, if you have learned photography for years and years or months and weeks then I would believe you only because I know its an expanding world and never just stops at the top of what we thought couldn't be tipped by anything else new and upcoming :)

I don't know how many will actually read this but feel free to leave a comment on this thread. Please keep it nice and non cut throat for the rest of us however I do accept constructive criticism  :) Thanks for reading and please be sure to read my other blog posts! 

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