Goodness what a joke! After so long, this useless discussion is still going on? And some full-time pros are still sore about the issue?
It amuses me that people say time is money to them, they charge a lot cos their clients are "up there" yet they spend their precious time discussing around and around the topic which to me, is no issue at all.
I wonder, who are the ones with good skills and yet charging cheap? Can you guys post some of their pictures here please? I hear that complaint a lot. And ironically, it's from the pros who say they don't charge cheap. Why then do they need to care so much anyway? And spend their expensive time here rambling about this?
I think there is a bigger selfish agenda. While one can say it is to raise the photography standards, wake up I say. That won't happen. It's a global phenomenon wherever you go.
My analysis is that pros here cannot go even higher cos they are facing a bottleneck from those below them who are competitive and charging lower than them. There are many clients who are not always looking for the best. As long as it is reasonably good, they will be willing to accept at a few hundred or thousand $ cheaper.
So that's why we hear time and again these pros come out to say CHARGE MORE, CHARGE MORE! Like asking you to do a stupid thing: Come on, rev your car higher, step on the accelerator, cos there is a long time of them waiting at the back. As long as you don't move forward, they can't too. But what they don't tell you is that in front of you is a brick wall. You are the scapegoat to break that wall for them. Once broken, they can then move forward.
The downside to this silly rambling of "CHARGE MORE, CHARGE MORE" is that we are now seeing sub-standard photographers out there who jump into the business with little skills and charging couples. And unfortunately, since the latter have often little idea to judge what is good photography, think the photographer is that good when in fact he or she is bad. Let's be honest. We have all seen these. If you need more convincing, I can post pictures here for everyone to judge.
There are many such photographers around. I see a lot of monkey see, monkey do works which are horrible and couples innocently (and sometimes foolishly) think they are the in-thing. That's the kind of standard we are setting now. I've personally seen works taken by photographers at my friends' wedding... only a very small handful are good. The rest, I would say, are trash, in the sense that, those who are charging a little, will be better off throwing their cameras away, while those who charge more should perhaps consider lowering their fees.
So I re-iterate again, who are the skillful photographers who are not charging more? Please prove to us here. Else, please stop all the nonsensical CHARGE MORE arguments. Are you barking up the wrong tree or arguing in front of the wall? You do your own job, earn big bucks, be happy. Don't go around telling other CHARGE MORE just so you can go even higher for your own benefits.
If life were so good, why don't you tell the barbers in Singapore, Eh uncle, why you charge only $10 for haircut? Your work quite good. Charge $20!! Why don't you tell your favourite char kway teow stall, Eh auntie, why you charge only $3 per plate? You stupid is it? Charge $10 lah! Work 4 hours a day instead of 10 hours! You can spend more time with your children, grandchildren, relax at home, blah blah. What a crappy argument!
Instead, I would like to go the other way and say, Photographers, CHARGE LESS!
Or what you feel comfortable. The so-called "atas" or top photographers got their own "top clients". Their works so good right, and "smart" clients are good judges right? So they will never go hungry. Don't worry about them.
I hate seeing Singapore becoming a snob and elitist country. Everything so expensive. Something so basic as housing already got problem. The next thing we don't want is financially challenged couples to take 12 month bank loans cos they can't even afford a photographer at their wedding!
But you know what, I am very confident that won't happen cos if anything, photography will be a lot more challenging. It's saturated. Some of the pros know it, and they are scared and frustrated. They are affected, at least in some way. But isn't this the same case for many other businesses? If you cannot take the hardship, stop whining and change your job. There are many other "foreign talents" who will be more than happy to come here and be paid less and yet produce works that rival yours.
