freelancing

The Average Photographer

Last week, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its semi-annual Occupational Employment and Wage Summary based on survey data collected in May 2013. This provides an estimate of the average wages for most occupations in the USA.

It’s important to remember that statistics often tell only half the story.

According to the survey, there are 54,830 “employed” photographers. This seemingly does not include freelance or self-employed photographers (more on this in a moment). The average annual pay for these employed photographers was $37,190.
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Do you look like your business?

Do you look like your business? Does your business look like you?

A business is judged by its various appearances: appearance of the store, appearance of the web site, appearance of the employees. A less than favourable appearance will create a less than favourable impression on the customer.

A “good looking” appearance encourages a customer to trust that business. A poor appearance makes the customer suspicious.

You look like your business:
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A confused customer always says no

There’s a well-known saying that states: “A confused mind always says no.” This also applies to customers who are confused about a sales offer. They will always take their business elsewhere.

When searching through commercial photographers’ web sites, a potential customer can become confused when they don’t understand (i) exactly what the photographer is offering, (ii) the benefits of hiring that particular photographer, or (iii) any of the claims made by the photographer.

A photographer’s web site can create confusion by:

• having too much information or too little information. Oddly enough, the correct amount of information might be related to the photographer’s prices.

• offering too many choices.

• using too much technical jargon.

• showing a lack of consistency in presentation or message.

• having no differentiation from other photographers.

Some businesses intentionally try to confuse their customers. This is done so that one company’s products or services can’t be easily compared to its competitors. This practice can be common among companies that sell a commodity in an oligopoly such as telecoms and home energy companies. How much do you enjoy dealing with these companies?

A confused customer is always an unhappy customer.

Many photographers use one of those dubious haze filters on their lenses to eliminate “haze”. Perhaps putting a clarity filter on their business might be more effective.

 

Credibility and Trust

While shopping in a Toronto grocery store today, a woman approached me and simply asked, “Donate?” She held up a laminated piece of letter-sized paper which had the headline “DONATE DISASTER RELIEF” along with some small, generic pictures of people who may, or may not, have been in disaster-stricken areas. I turned her down.

The woman continued walking the store aisle, asking everyone else the same thing. As far as I could see, everyone turned her down.

Although she may have been legitimate in her request, she had no credibility. The flimsy piece of paper she held was obviously cheaply printed and her “presentation” was unconvincing.
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Are you just a price tag?

While shopping for a pair of winter shoes recently, the ones that I liked most ranged from $99 to $199. All of these shoes looked good and all were comfortable. Which one to choose?

Most of these shoes had only a simple price tag attached. But one pair had a twelve-page booklet attached which described how the shoes were made. These were the shoes I bought (for $179).

When a customer asks something like, “What’s your price to do four business headshots?”, this is a good indication that the customer is shopping price. This is not the time for a photographer to act like a price tag. Instead the photographer should be a booklet of information.
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Photography On Purpose

Photographers, why are you in the photography business?

“To take pictures and make money,” I hear someone say.

 

While walking through a park, a young girl sees a photographer taking pictures of some people and she asks him what he’s doing. The photographer replies, “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m taking pictures.”

She continues her stroll and a few minutes later, the girl sees another photographer taking pictures of people and asks him what he’s doing. The photographer answers, “I’m busy making a living.”

After walking further through the park, the girl finds another photographer taking pictures of some people and asks him the same question. The photographer says, “I’m making a special portrait for this family’s photo album.”

 

For corporate and commercial photographers, you should be in business to help grow the value of your customer’s business. Your job is to use photography to help their business succeed. If their business doesn’t succeed, neither will yours. You are their business partner just as much as they are yours.

 

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