The RM200 Wedding Photographers
Having done weddings for the last couple of years... I do notice a rather interesting trend... the RM200 wedding photographers.Due to the fact that DSLRs are much cheaper than ever before, we have all those who have just brought their first DSLR and as soon as that happens, either they themselves think that they are now "professional photographers" because they have a "professional camera" or their friends and relatives think so.
Once they get the RM200 or RM300, they would proudly proclaim, "Look ma*! Didn't I tell you I can earn back the money I spent on the DSLR? See? So easy!!!!"
*insert "Pa / Honey" where appropriate
What happens to the professionals that have to pay their bills? Can they afford to shoot weddings at that rate? How could they afford their rents, pay their bills let alone repair their equipment or upgrade if they charge that low?
This is compounded by the fact that being Malaysians, we as a nation LOVE free stuff; if not, buy 1 get 1 free is 2nd best. Quality? Nah~~~ we neither care nor want it as long as it's cheap or free.
Having spoken to a quite a few professional wedding photographers recently, it seems that the bookings this year have dropped significantly compared to last year... I wonder if we will ever get out of this downward spiral.
Anyhow, I guess all of us professional wedding photographers will have to do our best to survive and offer more value to our customers and hope that not that many fall for the RM200 wedding photographers.
So... why should one pay for a real professional wedding photographer:
1) Quality - in terms of delivering the best quality of work for photography as well as any prints or albums
2) Seriousness - professionals have backup equipment in case something fails during that special day and some even have backups of the backup.
3) Integrity - once you book them, they will turn up. If they don't, their reputation is at stake.
4) Experience - most professionals have been doing it for years; they can and do actually advice how or what to do during a wedding
The wedding day itself is once in a lifetime, why skimp or cut a couple of thousand ringgit when one spends upwards of tens of thousands for a house or room renovation; a couple of thousand just for gown rental; another couple of thousand for the makeup artist and the hair stylist?
If you do look your best during your wedding day, would you tolerate getting poor photos to remember your wedding day by?
posted by Steven Leong @ 11:23 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Actually what you've ranted about is totally true. The world is infected with people buying dSLRs even though they do not know how to use the system properly. And the worst thing is that once they have the camera they think that they are good enough to start doing wedding photography.
Even myself is unsure with my skills in this particular field yet because I do know and I am aware of the fact that experiences and quality is very important especially when it comes to wedding projects. It is a project that will enable the wedded couple to remember their significant day so there is no percentage of one screwing the whole thing up.
I loathe these people who thinks they are amazing when they change their system almost everytime when there's a new body out or whatsoever. It proves nothing. Really.
well, like PT Barnum say, there is a sucker born every minute. so as long as there are a big enough pool of suckers willing to pay low for part time hobbyist, why not. after all it's a willing buyer willing seller ecomnomy.
if u feel that u were undercut by these cikus then work harder to sell yourself and improve your services.
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