Actually I noticed a new disturbing trend in CS Services wanted section. It is the cheap photographers' cheap section. Cheaper photographers are killing the lower-price range photographers. I know I am definitely not gonna be able to win their prices, but just for experiment's sake I tried quoting really low, something to the tune of a 40% discount. So in effect I am the cheap photographer, but not the bottom dweller, you know the $150 6-hours also take type? I contacted the guys in the Services wanted section, called up to chat etc..... what I feel now is that its much worse than those clients which I got from here in 2004/2005. Absolutely no take up, even though I have checked through the others galleries and there is no contest. People would not pay an extra say 300 bucks for much better photos and more experience. (I actually asked 4 of my family members to vet my pictures as well as theirs). Nowadays people can shoot decently and charge low. And a Manfrotto monopod I can remember clearly my wife purchased it as a gift to me then costed 80 dollars, now it is $128. So it is in reality *very much worse*. I may have the experience, give good service levels, reliability. But to quite a number of client, so what.... Very similar to the corporate world. My deduction is that, you ABSOLUTELY do not want to deal with the $500-700 range in the current situation, unless you have some good source of referrals, which I have not "cracked". Though I did not sample a high number, I also noticed that for the younger couples, they are not very friendly/appreciative type...you pump in the effort to explain the differences between you and the super cheap guys and its like falling on deaf ears....generally not a really nice experience. Pretty draining.... And yet during the TCSS sessions during buffet time @ weddings, I tend to get bros/sis complain stories about their freelancer photographer screwing up this and that, stuff which for us experienced PGs is part and parcel of the shoot, very simple stuff like dressing, punctuality, manners and dealing with family members. You find such stories in singaporebrides often.....
Again, like in the article said, there is a place for the lower-end photography, I just got off the phone from a 22-yr old having a simple ceremony in the morning + luncheon. She is very nice, so nice that I am contemplating to just close the deal even if its not the price that I wanted. Once you have been in several years in this line, you easily can tell the diff between a genuinely appreciative couple who cannot afford > 1k packages but is appreciative of your works (some even apologise! Am sure you may have met some before), and someone who is out to get the best deal even if it takes them months and meeting > 10 guys. I still have a couple of the latter, not sure how they still slip through, the type who will print in Malaysia to save money (true story)....I find it funny coz overall they paid $1050 for my service.
Bro Agetan, I started with $150 too, but 2 hours and its just 15 mins from my house by bus.
I just lost a SB-600 last night. Just purchased a SB-900 to replace.
I have somewhat lost a 28-75/2.8, 4 flashes (sure tube burn out, and I'm not the machine gunner type), 2nd hand AF-S 17-55. Actually lost a D90 too when it crashed to the floor and LCD displayed garbage, luckily it was in the last month of the extended e-warranty (1 year 3 months). I probably would not have survived if I continued to charge $700 rates on avg (pure-profit after taking out taxi, prints etc), in which the take-up rate would be good but logistics/admin is very taxing. You can take it if you are 25 years of age, But do this for 5 years and trust me it is a very different story when you hit 30 + having a regular 9-5 job and kids.
I also somewhat choose the good clients,they need to come to my place where I meetup which is 5 mins away + confirmation via deposit. In 2005 I spent so much time meeting up because during a phone call the subject of meetup to view portfolio would spring up, the sign up rate was only like ~ 20%. Every meetup incld changing, transport, waiting, and finally changing back (and usually showering again) would be nearly 1 hour. Imagine if you always need to deliver prints to the MRT to their suggested timing (for me they come to my lobby). So at least this vetting puts me in touch with the nicer couples which in turn the chances of referral is significantly higher (long-term survivability), some are so nice that I always feel I have not done enough for their big day!