Hi Genie,
Many thanks for your last response I found it very helpful.
My next question relates to the advantages and disadvantages of renting studio space. my work is mainly portrature based and I am thinking of renting some studio space to to do some of my shoots. However, this will cost me a lot more money. I am concerned that clients my think I am ‘small time’ if I’m just a location photographer. what do you think the advantages of having a studio are and do you think that it is worth the expense? do you think it may help raise my perceived profile as a photographer.

Many thanks, Jacqueline J photography Melbourne

Genie says:

[emember_protected]Hello Jacqueline, glad to be of service! Another great question and one that I’ll answer in two ways. First, perceived value and second, target market. If you walk into a shop with beautiful fittings, marble floors you ‘understand’ why a t-shirt will cost you $200. This is to do with perceived value. It would be much harder for someone to sell you a t-shirt for $200 without that amazing backdrop. However, you sell photography – a truly customised product, so if your customer experience is completely in place and you are confident and professional at every turn you can represent this perceived value without the need for a studio. Secondly – target market. It will be much easier to photograph natural pet images on location than sensual glamour images. One of the very first things we tackle in the Focus on Business course for emerging photographers is to identify the target market, so feel free to book for our full day course in Melbourne on Thursday 16th June and have many more of your questions answered! The Genie[/emember_protected]

Hi there Mr Genie!

I am starting a photography business and want to ask a couple of questions that I think would really help me. I am not sure on what products to sell – what advice would you give on how to price digital images? should I even offer this service on my price list – I know a lot of people want digital images these days but I’m not sure how to make money on this. Do I just charge for my time instead? Many thanks Jacqueline J Photography Melbourne

Genie says:

[emember_protected]Hello JacquelineJ!

Digital images – so much to say! The main issue here is the perceived value of a digital image! We often discuss the difference between the intangible and tangible value of an image. To take the example of our own studio – we sold a framed 10″ desk portrait for $245. Sounds like a lot! So people would say to me how much for a digital image. I would say $245. The reason being, what they are paying for is the intangible value – not the cost of the paper, ink, glass and wood. When offered the choice of a finished framed portrait they can display with pride in their homes, and a digital image which will never really effectively represent your work – you can’t control external monitor settings, resolution etc. They may say I want to print it ! Well, will they use a professional lab and have their screens calibrated so that the image is perfectly printed? Take pride in your work and take the time to find out what the clients really want. If you could present them with an image of themselves that they loved, that encapsulated their personality, or to put it another way, told their story, they will start to realise the emotional value. Remember too that you are creating a custom piece of art. I know this is an issue experienced by many other new and emerging photographers. To me, photography is only truly represented as a print that is presented professionally ready to display.

It can be a challenge to charge for your time when so many others are offering their time for free, but this is even more reason for you to ensure that you place an adequate monetary value on your work. They can only really decide which images they love when they can see them! For more information, come along to one of the Focus on Business courses for emerging photographers and get to grips with the $1000 Breakdown which gives you the ability to build a budget and understand how to create your prices.

Keep the questions coming!

Genie
[/emember_protected]