tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17534827.post5600831363436785042..comments2024-03-27T22:02:52.479-04:00Comments on Digital ProTalk: Business Day Thursday: Where Has All The Business Gone - Part 2 - Running Scared!David Ziserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674227631785266632noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17534827.post-13902834763559736312008-09-30T00:08:00.000-04:002008-09-30T00:08:00.000-04:00Guided Light Photography:I think you missed the po...Guided Light Photography:<BR/><BR/>I think you missed the point, as it seems most of the public did in not trying to understand what the Treasury Secretary was trying desperately to prevent.<BR/><BR/>My comparing a $60 haircut to Wedding Photography is absolutely relevant as both are luxury items. You can go to Supercuts and get a $10 haircut or you could get Uncle Joe or the Photography student that answers your Craigslist ad to take your photos instead of hiring the pro who, while delivering a better product also will charge equivalently more. Jesus taught in parables too.<BR/><BR/>What your ingnorance fails to understand is that you were going to pay one way or the other. Today the US Stock Markets lost a trillion dollars in value. Where do you have your retirement money invested? Think maybe you have a lot less today than you did Friday? Have kids who's college funds were invested in mutual funds? Better hope they are really smart or really good at sports. Have any business loans you will need to be taking out anytime soon? Be prepared to pay several percentage points higher than you would if the bailout works properly. Have you taken out a Mortgage in the last 15 years or a home equity loan or refinanced your mortgage at a much lower rate than the original. Well you have the greedy Wall Streeters to thank for that. Mortgage Backed Securities repackaged the loans that were on the books of your local banks and freed them to lend that money they freed up by repackaging the loans to you at a lower rate. If it hadn't been that the majority of this country is too stupid to understand the first thing about credit, being overly optimistic about their prospects for future income, over-buying and over-extending themselves to the point where they couldn't pay what they promised they would, we wouldn't have seen these problems happen.<BR/><BR/>This bailout wasn't about saving the Wall St millionaires and billionaires, it was about keeping this country from repeating what it did in 1929. But people like you are to cynical to see the all too plain writing on the wall. Henry Paulson's plan would have let the government sure up the banking system for $42 Billion a year. That is how much it would have cost the tax payers each year over the next 30 years. Now which sounds like the better deal $42Bn a year for 30 years or $1 Trilion in one day?<BR/><BR/>All people like you are capable of is regurgitating what you hear from no nothing pundits who bleat on to their flock of sheep to boost their ratings and line their pockets. Let me ask you who is hurting worse today, the billionare who just lost $200 Mn dollars today or the person retiring next year whose IRA went from $200k to $160K. The rich don't get hurt, they suffer setbacks, the middle class and the poor get hurt, and it is usually their own thoughts that they are sticking it to the man that leads them down that road in the first place.Alessandro Rosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03864626819646083566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17534827.post-86820555016618410112008-09-28T13:30:00.000-04:002008-09-28T13:30:00.000-04:00I've not read your first post yet, but, I just ran...I've not read your first post yet, but, I just ran across your part two. I appreciate your thoughts.<BR/><BR/>Photography is not the only business effected by technology. How many of you print your own images, create your own audio, work on your web sites, design your own brochures or ads and print business cards cheaply. Technology is constantly changing the way everyone does business including our clients.<BR/><BR/>I've always said you need to bring something new to the table that the average photographers can't do with point and shoot. <BR/><BR/>Marketing is also different. The opportunities for a larger audience and opportunities are the trade off for positive advances in technology. <BR/><BR/>It is tough and their is a lot of competition, but, it is possible to grow your business even in this economy. <BR/><BR/>Rosh<BR/>http://www.newmediaphotographer.comRosh Sillarshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134109493930678057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17534827.post-90333957921000318332008-09-26T10:45:00.000-04:002008-09-26T10:45:00.000-04:00A couple of years ago, I managed a photo lab that ...A couple of years ago, I managed a photo lab that had a studio that did head shots for realtors and mortgage lenders.<BR/>I could not believe the "duh" level for some of these folks.<BR/>"No sir, your other left." I am sure they have shaken out of the system by now. Our business shakes out the fluff, too. Four dollars profit? Yeah, baby!<BR/> On the other hand, I do not need to sell a three hundred dollar eleven by fourteen. I do not have to support a few retouchers, a couple of sales people, and a crew of schleppers.<BR/>Maybe, someday.<BR/> Thanks, David for the thoughtful topics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17534827.post-52348676938041620892008-09-26T10:29:00.000-04:002008-09-26T10:29:00.000-04:00There are some good points made in today's blog.An...There are some good points made in today's blog.<BR/><BR/>Any else reading Dane Sander's book "Fast Track Photographer"? He also discusses this topic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17534827.post-22597872630142635752008-09-26T09:21:00.000-04:002008-09-26T09:21:00.000-04:00David:I concur with your assessment. Customer ser...David:<BR/><BR/>I concur with your assessment. Customer service will always be the key to success whether you're selling hot dogs on the street corner or steaks downtown. Every clinet wants to be treated right. And marketing will maintain your name in the public eye. As an emerging pro I am struggling to achieve a balance between competitive pricing and my level of experience. However, I am committed to improving both my technical skill as well as my business acumen to be successful.Laura & Bill Zaspelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07900511943116182841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17534827.post-70651577453552844222008-09-26T08:22:00.000-04:002008-09-26T08:22:00.000-04:00I agree totally that a photography business -- or ...I agree totally that a photography business -- or really, any business -- is built or marketing, but also customer service and sound business practices. I am one of the emerging pros that David is talking about, and I have no plans to run a business that makes $4 profit for a year. That's just crazy.<BR/><BR/>But I also know that getting to a point to where you can make a living from photography takes a while. You can't just go down to Circuit City and buy a $500 camera, call yourself a wedding photographer and expect to make six figures. You have to get your skills to a point -- and I'm talking about your business skills as well as your photography skills -- to where people demand your services.<BR/><BR/>The bottom line is that if you do quality work, provide it as promised to your customer, go the extra mile, and get yourself in front of people, then people will pay you what you are worth, whether or not the economy is good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17534827.post-9896260560119572022008-09-26T06:56:00.000-04:002008-09-26T06:56:00.000-04:00@ alessandroSpending $60 for a haircut is a little...@ alessandro<BR/><BR/>Spending $60 for a haircut is a little different than spending $2000 on a wedding photographer to capture a once in a lifetime event. I get a haircut once a month, let's hope my daughter only gets married once in her life. I'm also a little offended that fantastic wedding photography is being compared to a haircut, not thinking so. Nor do I think that a business that is driven by greed and the love of money should be saved by the taxpayers of this nation, let them fail! It's time for some new blood anyway.<BR/><BR/>David, once again you've given some clarity to this troubling situation, thank you.Guided Light Photographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01340271190963535290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17534827.post-838539379882383792008-09-26T03:49:00.000-04:002008-09-26T03:49:00.000-04:00I have been photographing families from Kentucky t...I have been photographing families from Kentucky to Texas since 1965 and I have always worked as much as I wanted and I have always had more work I could do. It's not the economy that keeps you from working, it's you.<BR/><BR/>Excellent photography and excellent service count more today because there is so little of it.Billy Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06301546929480226547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17534827.post-41957620482568333162008-09-26T00:07:00.000-04:002008-09-26T00:07:00.000-04:00David,Here is a true story that may give you an id...David,<BR/><BR/>Here is a true story that may give you an idea of where you are wrong in underestimating the effects of the economy on disposable spending.<BR/><BR/>I have worked in banking most of the last 15 years. I was laid of in May and while I wasn't too concerned, I significantly cut back on my spending. I started a short term consulting contract the other day and decided that before I went in I wanted to get a haircut as I may have let my hair grow longer than the standard professional length, so I went to a place near where I used to work that catered specifically to male clients and drew its clients from the people working at JP Morgan and Bear Stearns and other of the investment banks in the midtown area and charge about $60 a cut. I was talking to the stylist and she was saying that bookings were down so much that they were starting to worry that they would have to close down. So if people who think nothing of dropping $60 plus tips on a haircut every week or two are starting to tighten their belts on something like that, imagine what they are thinking about the several thousand dollars that they have to spend on photos for a wedding, either their own or a son or daughters....<BR/><BR/>People are actually taking this seriously and are seriously cutting back on spending on luxury items, even people who could still easily afford them. Peoples confidence is way down and if Congress doesn't pass some sort of package to sure up the financial markets today, you could easily see a 10 to 20 percent shock to the equity markets in the next month.Alessandro Rosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03864626819646083566noreply@blogger.com