A few weekends ago, I did some work for someone to return a favor. After I took the photos, a person who was at the event contacted me and said they were also interested in ordering some photos. She gave me the file names, I added the total up, and replied to her email.
The next morning, I woke up to a message from the original contact, telling me that she felt I was charging too much per file, and that they had recently had another photographer who supplied 1400 photos for a group price of $150 on a CD, or five photos for $20.
What?! $.10 per file? The first thing I can't help but think to myself when I see this is "amateur." If this photographer knew the value of their work, they certainly wouldn't feel that their time is only worth $.10. I'm also confused as to how anyone could possible take 1400 photos in an hour and a half.
It took me a while to think of how to respond to the message. I had never been faced with this problem before. I've done work similar to this, but charged, roughly, 50% more. If the clients were ever unhappy with the price, it had never reached my ears.
I replied to the email basically saying that I could drop the price some, but not a lot. I explained that while determining prices, I had to take into consideration the amount of time it took me to drive to the location, the amount of time it took me to take the photos, the amount of time it took me to get back home, and the amount of time it took me to edit all of the photos. I also said that I would never be able to make a living off of what the other photographer sold those photos for. I'd be interested to see some of those photos. Maybe they're only worth $.10?
I make it a point to try to work with my clients as much as I can, but I would never be able to make a living off of the price the other photographer charged. It's also hard to adjust my prices because I wasn't paid to show up. The only potential profit I would be receiving would be through selling files. When I'm paid a set amount to do a specific job and files are included in that price, it's much, much easier to negotiate with price.
For instance, I recently did some work for someone and gave them an estimate with 15 files included. The client asked me if there was any way she could get the price lower. I asked the client how many photos they thought they would need, and what their budget was. After they told me, we agreed on half of the price that I originally gave them, but instead of 15 photos included in the price, they would only get four, and each additional file was four times as much as the original estimate. I didn't have to do as much editing, I still got paid, and the client got the amount of photos they needed; a win-win.
So why should you never undervalue your work?
First of all, if you have any respect for yourself, or your profession, and you're truly a "professional," you'll take into account the amount of time it takes to get to the location, the amount of time you're taking photos, the amount of time it takes you to get back, the amount of time it takes to edit the photos, and the amount of time went into contacting your client. Making quality photographs isn't easy, and takes time; your prices should reflect this. Keep in mind, that if this is your only income, this is your job, and you should be getting paid what you would be getting paid in any other post-college profession.
Secondly, out of respect for your fellow photographers. The photographer who sold their photos for $.10 a piece basically valued every other photographer's work that the clients they work for come in contact with at the same price, which, again, is extremely low.
So how did I handle this situation? I offered to lower my prices as much as I could, but still make somewhat of a profit. I haven't received any orders yet, but I'm okay with that. I stood my ground, and I might not make money from this job, but I wasn't expecting to in the first place. I originally went for the original contact to return a favor. Also, every client I work with is potentially even more clients. I rely heavily on word-of-mouth to get my name out there. If I drop my prices for a number of clients, and then they spread the word to their friends about me, what do you think their friends will expect me to charge?
If you're ever having trouble deciding how much to charge, here are things you should use to help determine prices.
You have to take into consideration that your equipment will have to be replaced, eventually.
You have to determine how much you would like to earn per hour. Take into account how much time you'll spend traveling, how much time will be spent taking the photos, how much time it takes to edit the photos, and how much time it takes to set up the session with the client.
You can also call around and see how much other professionals are being paid. For example, if you're taking photos of a sporting event, try to find out how much the officials are being paid.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Nikkor NC 24mm f/2.8 Review
So the other day, I did something I never thought I would; I ordered a lens off of eBay.
I had been looking for a wide angle lens for the past couple of months. I was strongly considering the Nikon 24mm 2.8 AF-D, but then I started looking at manual-focus lenses. After checking some other sites, I decided to look on eBay. I found the same lenses I was looking for for half the price. The price of the lenses put me off somewhat, but I found a person with a good rating, and decided to go for it.
My lens arrived yesterday, and I tore open package. First, out came the lens cap, which was broken. I wasn't sure if the cap was broken to begin with, or if it was broken during delivery. A broken lens cap wasn't that big of a deal, though if the lens worked.
I threw the lens onto my camera and took a few sample shots, put my card into the computer, and began looking at the results.
First of all, I would just like to mention that this lens is made completely (or at least the majority of it) out of metal. This lens is heavier than all of my other lenses, except maybe my 18-70mm and 70-200 f2.8. I love it. It's also worth mention that this lens is a manual-focus lens. Love that, too. This lens also has no way of communicating with recent cameras. I'm usually guessing on shutter speed and ISO. I've actually been pretty spot on, though, with my guessing. The most I've been off was a stop or two.
Lenses like these really make you think about what you're doing. You have to focus it yourself. You have to think about your settings.
While looking through the images, I noticed a few things. The first thing; the 24mm is a complete joke at f2.8. Unacceptably soft.
Stopped down a stop or two, though, this lens is incredible. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that this lens is only a few days old, but wow.
Wow.
I had been looking for a wide angle lens for the past couple of months. I was strongly considering the Nikon 24mm 2.8 AF-D, but then I started looking at manual-focus lenses. After checking some other sites, I decided to look on eBay. I found the same lenses I was looking for for half the price. The price of the lenses put me off somewhat, but I found a person with a good rating, and decided to go for it.
My lens arrived yesterday, and I tore open package. First, out came the lens cap, which was broken. I wasn't sure if the cap was broken to begin with, or if it was broken during delivery. A broken lens cap wasn't that big of a deal, though if the lens worked.
I threw the lens onto my camera and took a few sample shots, put my card into the computer, and began looking at the results.
First of all, I would just like to mention that this lens is made completely (or at least the majority of it) out of metal. This lens is heavier than all of my other lenses, except maybe my 18-70mm and 70-200 f2.8. I love it. It's also worth mention that this lens is a manual-focus lens. Love that, too. This lens also has no way of communicating with recent cameras. I'm usually guessing on shutter speed and ISO. I've actually been pretty spot on, though, with my guessing. The most I've been off was a stop or two.
Lenses like these really make you think about what you're doing. You have to focus it yourself. You have to think about your settings.
While looking through the images, I noticed a few things. The first thing; the 24mm is a complete joke at f2.8. Unacceptably soft.
Stopped down a stop or two, though, this lens is incredible. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that this lens is only a few days old, but wow.
Wow.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Post 37
The most annoying thing I've run into as a photographer, so far, goes something like this.
I'll find a potential client and get in contact with them. Eventually, I'll show them my portfolio, which is usually followed by, "these photos look great!" Then, they'll ask "what kind of equipment do you use?"
I'm pretty sure this isn't the type of question that a photographer would ask another photographer to strike up a conversation on common ground. This question is seeing how "qualified" I am through my equipment.
I find this question extremely annoying. If you have seen my work, and you like it, why does it matter what I'm shooting with? Someone who takes great photos will be able to take great photos with a D40 or a D4 just like someone who takes terrible photos will do so with the most expensive, and most advanced camera you can find. What the photographer has in their bag should be the least of your concern when looking for a photographer.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
RAW vs JPEG
There are two file formats that you can use with dSLRs. These formats are RAW or JPEG.
JPEGs are compressed files, which means the camera makes the adjustments to the photo you taken by making guesses as to what you want. The benefit of these files is that the information that isn't used by the camera is then thrown away, which menas smaller file sizes. JPEGs also don't require any post processing to be done to them. In my opinion, as well as many other photographers, JPEGs usually don't look very good. If you're going to be using a dSLR and using JPEG files, I don't really know why you wouldn't just buy a nice point-and-shoot.
RAW files are unedited by the camera, and all of the information is there for the photographer to work with. Having all of the information is ideal for editing photos. The downside to RAW files is that they must be edited. Unedited RAW files are flat and almost never look good if nothing has been done to them.
Here are examples of a RAW file and a JPEG. I've underexposed by about two stops to demonstrate how much better a RAW file looks compared to a JPEG when photos need to be "saved."
The first file is the JPEG. The second file is the RAW file which was exported as a JPEG. The only thing that was done to the JPEG was an increase in exposure of +4. The adjustments made to the RAW file were what I generally always do to my RAW files, which is an adjustment to contrast and clarity. The RAW file's exposure was also increased by +4.
As you can see, the JPEG file lost a lot of detail on the left hand corner of the camera. There's also a lot of noise in the JPEG file. It's also easier to fix the white balance in a RAW file. If you decide to switch from JPEG to RAW now, that doesn't mean you don't have to try your best to get as much right in the camera as possible.
This type of situation was as much of a real-world-situation that I could think of while not getting up from my computer. This type of thing would happen if you were walking around, saw an awesome camera you wanted to take a photo of, but oh no! Your settings were slightly off from a photo you took before (if you're shooting manual) or your camera made a mistake with the exposure (if you're shooting auto, or manual). You get home and start looking at the photos and see your mistake. At least to me, it's pretty obvious which file I'd rather try to save.
Some people may think, "but you made other adjustments to the RAW file that you didn't to the JPEG." This is a valid argument. But I just did what I normally would have to a RAW file, and the camera did what it normally would have to a JPEG. This is the beauty of shooting RAW. You have that much more control over the final image.
For those of you wondering, this is what the unedited RAW file looked like before editing.
And this is what the JPEG looked like before editing.
If you can't tell a difference between these two photos, I would strongly suggest going out and trying it for yourself.
If you're unsure which file format I use, this was the first time I've ever shot a JPEG with a dSLR.
JPEGs are compressed files, which means the camera makes the adjustments to the photo you taken by making guesses as to what you want. The benefit of these files is that the information that isn't used by the camera is then thrown away, which menas smaller file sizes. JPEGs also don't require any post processing to be done to them. In my opinion, as well as many other photographers, JPEGs usually don't look very good. If you're going to be using a dSLR and using JPEG files, I don't really know why you wouldn't just buy a nice point-and-shoot.
RAW files are unedited by the camera, and all of the information is there for the photographer to work with. Having all of the information is ideal for editing photos. The downside to RAW files is that they must be edited. Unedited RAW files are flat and almost never look good if nothing has been done to them.
Here are examples of a RAW file and a JPEG. I've underexposed by about two stops to demonstrate how much better a RAW file looks compared to a JPEG when photos need to be "saved."
The first file is the JPEG. The second file is the RAW file which was exported as a JPEG. The only thing that was done to the JPEG was an increase in exposure of +4. The adjustments made to the RAW file were what I generally always do to my RAW files, which is an adjustment to contrast and clarity. The RAW file's exposure was also increased by +4.
As you can see, the JPEG file lost a lot of detail on the left hand corner of the camera. There's also a lot of noise in the JPEG file. It's also easier to fix the white balance in a RAW file. If you decide to switch from JPEG to RAW now, that doesn't mean you don't have to try your best to get as much right in the camera as possible.
This type of situation was as much of a real-world-situation that I could think of while not getting up from my computer. This type of thing would happen if you were walking around, saw an awesome camera you wanted to take a photo of, but oh no! Your settings were slightly off from a photo you took before (if you're shooting manual) or your camera made a mistake with the exposure (if you're shooting auto, or manual). You get home and start looking at the photos and see your mistake. At least to me, it's pretty obvious which file I'd rather try to save.
Some people may think, "but you made other adjustments to the RAW file that you didn't to the JPEG." This is a valid argument. But I just did what I normally would have to a RAW file, and the camera did what it normally would have to a JPEG. This is the beauty of shooting RAW. You have that much more control over the final image.
If you can't tell a difference between these two photos, I would strongly suggest going out and trying it for yourself.
If you're unsure which file format I use, this was the first time I've ever shot a JPEG with a dSLR.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
3 Legged Thing Tripods
One day, I decided it was time to purchase a tripod. Anyone who has decided the time has come to purchase a tripod has probably faced the same daunting task that I did when I first started to look around and was bombarded by the hundreds of different options.
For reasons I can't remember, the company 3 Legged Thing caught my eye. For those of you who aren't familiar with this company, here is a short video of the tripod I decided to go with.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0mnZNY2pHY
I waited anxiously for what seemed like years for my new tripod to arrive. When it did, I tore open the box to find a very nice carrying case. I opened the case, and pulled out my new tripod, which is the Adrian model. I think the tripod cost me around $200 on sale. $200 is a steal, considering the ballhead I got with Adrian alone costs $180.
After playing around with the new toy for a few minutes, it didn't take me long to realize that there might be a problem with my new tripod. The legs would come loose whenever I would move them. I wasn't sure if this was normal or not, so I went to the most reliable source I know; the Internet.
Sure enough, I wasn't the only one who was experiencing this problem. I then proceeded to contact the company. After multiple emails, and a few days of waiting, I finally got a response. The response basically asked me what the problem was, and told me that it was most likely the washers that were causing the problem. The company asked for my address and sent me out a new set of washers.
The washers came at some point while Devan and I were in Disney world, and I threw those badboys on. The new washers fixed two of the three legs, and I decided that was good enough. I didn't really want to go through the hassel of contacting the company again, and then waiting, and being without a tripod, if I needed to send it back.
However, I woke up to this email this morning: Hi Dan,
I’ve just had an email from B&H about your review. I have trawled back through our emails and I am a little confused, but very much want to sort things out for you.
From what I understand we’ve sent you some replacement components for your tripod, and then received the question below:
Chris then responded on the 18th Jan that the washers were to go on the outside.
After this I am not sure what has occurred? I see from your review that you have referenced this happening to other people, but actually there is only one other instance, and the customer in question had not responded to any of our emails. It is very difficult for us to resolve a situation without any contact.
Putting this behind us, I am still uncertain as to the current situation with your tripod. What I would like to do, regardless of this, is to replace your whole kit with our new Evolution 2 version. If this is at all possible, please can you let me know where you would like it sent and I will make this happen immediately.
On behalf of my staff, please accept my apologies for any failings on our part in this process. We are a small company (just five of us) and try very hard to treat each individual customer as we would wish to be treated ourselves. Sometimes we fail, as humans are prone to. There are no excuses for this – I really do want to resolve this issue. Regardless of the review on B&H, or any other internet forum, my only concern is that you have a working product that you have confidence with.
Please send me your address and I will arrange the replacement.
I have copied in Yoel Berkowitz at B&H for their information.
Kind regards,Danny LenihanChief Executive Officer
For reasons I can't remember, the company 3 Legged Thing caught my eye. For those of you who aren't familiar with this company, here is a short video of the tripod I decided to go with.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0mnZNY2pHY
I waited anxiously for what seemed like years for my new tripod to arrive. When it did, I tore open the box to find a very nice carrying case. I opened the case, and pulled out my new tripod, which is the Adrian model. I think the tripod cost me around $200 on sale. $200 is a steal, considering the ballhead I got with Adrian alone costs $180.
After playing around with the new toy for a few minutes, it didn't take me long to realize that there might be a problem with my new tripod. The legs would come loose whenever I would move them. I wasn't sure if this was normal or not, so I went to the most reliable source I know; the Internet.
Sure enough, I wasn't the only one who was experiencing this problem. I then proceeded to contact the company. After multiple emails, and a few days of waiting, I finally got a response. The response basically asked me what the problem was, and told me that it was most likely the washers that were causing the problem. The company asked for my address and sent me out a new set of washers.
The washers came at some point while Devan and I were in Disney world, and I threw those badboys on. The new washers fixed two of the three legs, and I decided that was good enough. I didn't really want to go through the hassel of contacting the company again, and then waiting, and being without a tripod, if I needed to send it back.
However, I woke up to this email this morning: Hi Dan,
I’ve just had an email from B&H about your review. I have trawled back through our emails and I am a little confused, but very much want to sort things out for you.
From what I understand we’ve sent you some replacement components for your tripod, and then received the question below:
Hi,
I've received the washers. Which washers am I suppose to replace with these? The inside, or the outside?
After this I am not sure what has occurred? I see from your review that you have referenced this happening to other people, but actually there is only one other instance, and the customer in question had not responded to any of our emails. It is very difficult for us to resolve a situation without any contact.
Putting this behind us, I am still uncertain as to the current situation with your tripod. What I would like to do, regardless of this, is to replace your whole kit with our new Evolution 2 version. If this is at all possible, please can you let me know where you would like it sent and I will make this happen immediately.
On behalf of my staff, please accept my apologies for any failings on our part in this process. We are a small company (just five of us) and try very hard to treat each individual customer as we would wish to be treated ourselves. Sometimes we fail, as humans are prone to. There are no excuses for this – I really do want to resolve this issue. Regardless of the review on B&H, or any other internet forum, my only concern is that you have a working product that you have confidence with.
Please send me your address and I will arrange the replacement.
I have copied in Yoel Berkowitz at B&H for their information.
Kind regards,Danny LenihanChief Executive Officer
It's reasons like these that make me happy that I decided to go with a smaller company. I'm not sure what's going to happen with my old tripod, yet; I'm assuming I'll have to send it back to them. Either way, I'm getting a brand new tripod, which is a newer version, sent right to my door. If they send the tripod the same way they sent me the replacement washers, it'll be no cost to me, and it'll arrive within the next week or so. I am very excited, happy, and honestly, somewhat surprised, that the company has reached out to me in an attempt to make things right.
As far as B&H goes, don't do business with them. I ordered hundreds of dollars worth of things from them, including two flashes that they said were functioning. I received the flashes, and one of them clearly didn't work. They refunded me my money, but not the shipping and handling. I will not do business with them again, and I suggest you don't either.
Update: Danny just emailed me back. Turns out I even get to keep my old tripod.
Update: Danny just emailed me back. Turns out I even get to keep my old tripod.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)