Get "Real" Article in PP of Ohio Magazine September 20, 2007

We found this article below by Patrick Rice in the Professional Photographers of Ohio magazine to be very timely and helpful to all full time portrait photographers with so much competition going on.  For those of our valued customers who are part time, we ask your indulgence and urge you to review earlier blogs which been addressed to start up and part time photographers.

Over the past ten years, the photography business has become more challenging for many of us.  "Real" professional photographers are retiring, downsizing and going out of business.  There has never been as much competition as there is right now. Uncle Harry and Digital Debbie are taking a bite out of the wedding photography business [note by Wicker By Design: we see this new competition throughout portrait photography].

More and more consumers are buying high end digital cameras and taking photos themselves instead of hiring a professional.  I am hearing of "real" professional photographers lowering their prices in order to compete.  This is certainly a recipe for disaster.  Other "real" professionals are panicking and deciding to relinquish their digital files with the assignment.  Again, another misguided attempt to solve the problem of less business by not addressing the "real" issues.   Lowering prices or giving away files only lowers your profits and potential sales.

As "real" professionals, we need to differentiate ourselves from just anyone with a camera.  Start by emphasizing the fact that "real" professional photographers belong to professional photographic organizations.  That "real" professional photographers have a vendor's license and liability insurance.   Show potential clients that there is a "real" difference.  Produce only the highest quality products.  I can't believe that some of our "real" professional photography colleagues still use Sam's Club, Wal-Mart or Costco to print some of their work.  If you use the same level of photo finishing as consumers, how can expect to get paid better for your images?

Create a "real" professional experience for your customers.  Have a respectable looking place to see your clients with awards and membership certificates on the walls.  Keep the place neat and clean.  Vacuum and dust once in a while.  Answer the phone when it rings.  Forward your calls if you need to, but don't just let an answering machine or voice mail take your calls.

Remember, Uncle Harry and Digital Debbie are probably at their day jobs during normal business hours and can't take calls at work.  "Real" professional photographers do business during normal hours.  Call people back in a timely fashion.  It is amazing how many customers tell me that they never get called back from other photographers. 

As I have written before, "real" professional photographers are responsible for many of the problems that now face.  If we act like Uncle Harry and Digital Debbie, we deserve to be treated and paid like they are.  Get "real."  Enough said.

Further note by Wicker By Design:  We cannot help noting that Patrick Rice's emphasis on quality is dramatically underscored by your props.  We have heard countless photographers tell us how "wowed" their customers are when they see our props, both because of the unique design and the extremely high quality of the construction.