This post has been weighing heavy on my heart for a while. I have known I was going to write it but had no idea what it was going to say…until tonight. It’s something I have prayed on, thought about, prayed on some more and tried to remain patient while waiting for some kind of answer. Tonight it came to me clearly…”If you want it, fight for it!”. So here it is- the honest truth.
This little business that I have spent the past 6 years building is not having a great year. As a matter of fact this is one of my worst springs that I can remember and after my busiest wedding season ever in 2016, my wedding schedule is pretty bare as well.
Also, being honest, I just wrote a very long theory as to why I believe this is happening but to spare you all of that I will sum it up by saying there are A LOT of DSLR (or in other words…big, fancy cameras) floating around out there and a lot of people know someone who is willing to take some quick photos for them for free or next to nothing. This makes it hard for people to pay big bucks to a true professional (although it is soooo worth it) and I get that. I spent a lot of time on my pricing when I started my business and changed it as needed through the years. I started out low while I was still fine-tuning my personal photography style and still perfecting my skills and increased it as my photography kept improving so that my fees matched the artwork that I was delivering to my clients. I paid attention to other photographers and made sure my pricing was competitive with those who’s work was similar quality to mine. I took into consideration all of the expenses (taxes, business license, website expenses, marketing fees, equipment upgrades and upkeep, marketing, etc). I have always tried to keep my pricing reasonable. But times have changed at least for now and what is reasonable to MY ideal clients might have too. While I know that my work is worth every penny that I worked my way up to, I also know that many quality photographers are charging less now and many clients are just going with that “friend with a camera” to save money. So the dilema I have been praying on…Is it time to hang up the towel? Should I go back to shooting personal photos like when I first fell in love with photography and give up on the idea of a growing business? I thought about it but my heart said “NO!”.
Soooooo at least for the time being I am going to take it back a few steps. I have changed my pricing and my 2017 clients will be getting amazing deals! I will be working more for less money but hopefully in the process will be builiding new relationships with new clients who will fall in love with the artwork and memories that I create for them and stand by me as I fight for my business and dream. I hope that you will be a part of it and I can’t wait to start capturing your memories this year.