Is Photographic Business Really Bad in Singapore?

[Zann Tiang]

I don't believe you need to trade in your passion when you turn pro, I've seen some photographers managing to maintain their passion and style in what and how they shoot. It might be hard, but it is possible.

like you mention, it's hard.
rice bowl or passion? well, for a full time photog that is.
clients wants certain things, there's no way to say no easily.
well, even if you totally disagree with the certain concept and how the shot will look like.

any violence objections to the above mentioned?

 

[Zann Tiang]

one more thing is speed.

nowadays, clients want things fast..and faster and faster.
they often think the dslr means faster time. well, all the DI really kills sometimes.

havin a photorep to free up your shooting time will be good.

okie, get this straight. i'm not promoting myself. i'm promoting the idea of photorep.
i believe there'll more ppl doing photorep soon other than my partner and i.

being a pro and handling biz eats into your shooting time.
i once heard from a pro that most pro will only have 30-40% of their time shooting.
the rest is all client client and client. not to mention DI.

 

[SniperD]

Sigh..........

 

[Jawsure]

The photography trade in Singapore isn't that down and bad. Many at times, its all hear say from other who constantly dwell over their past "peaks".

Of cos when times are bad, clients would naturally tighten their budgets for shoots and advertising cost. Most of the commercial photographers would have their regular clients and ad agencies who will still support them. It is pretty much true that the market is rather down these days but there are still shoots out there.

Different types of photographers have their different market to explore into. Business doesn't just come to you, individual actions must be taken to ensure smooth running of their business. And clients these days are looking for better values interm of photography. Photographers these days are trained to multi task in shoots... taking up secondary appointments like : food stylist, fashion stylist, art directing. etc...
As much as we would all prefer to let individual stylist to undertake their specialise task, if the budget doesn't allows, the photographer's additional abilities will come in handy.

Regardless of the different market you are going into, competitions and price war is inedvitable. I am sure even PictureFarm is having the same problem like most of us. It is not how bad or slow the market is, its more to what you do when times are down.
So guys... don't just sigh and agree with everything bad. Its not that bad... its how you handle it.

 

[sequitur]

i've met a photographer friend recently,

yes it's hard to maintain, hard to get jobs. he told me he's gunning for a major project right now and chances are he might get it, but all that is earned will probably only last enough for around 3 months before it's all back to square one again.

it's tough to sustain in the industry.

 

[SniperD]

actually you can't exactly wait and gun yourself for 1 project.. it's suicide it's how your marketing skills work for you.. it doesn't mean that you can only take on ONE project at a time.... get more assignments... fill in the blank spaces in between... there's opportunities but how do you see one, is the question

 

[pointblankshots]

If you're good, you're good... I know that good clients stays with good photographers. never bitch about bad clients, for all you know, bad work or rather half hearted work started with the photographer who's not putting in effort because of bad budget given by the client. A job is, a job, irregardless of what the price is, if you've accepted a shoot, stop complaining & do your shoot good... Why bother hassle & tassle with the amount of photographers struggling. It's a business afterall, survival of the fittest really...

 

[Jawsure]

Seriously people.... for those "photographers" who can't stop complaining and bitching abour how bad the market is and how sad your income drops to.. just do all of us a small fav.. QUIT THE INDUSTRY!! Get a job working as something else. If you can't take the heat, don't play with fire.

 

[pointblankshots]

sad to say, photog is facing a threat from what other professions are facing.
external photog. yes, i'm talking about someone whom will be more hardworking, more creative, more experience than an average photog, but charges only a fraction of the price.
think near, say a malaysian photog, he has the skill and standard, you have the skill and standard. but, he charges at 3/4 the price you charge.i'm assuming on same standard thru out. who do you think the typical singaporean will choose?.

If the wedding market in S'pore has too much competition, you'll have to cough up better images. To start this all, never make money from the poor/average if you wanna avoid the price wars, Instead, get yourself up in the market. be good and make those who can pay, use you... Surely, you'll have heard of Portrait Gallery, Andrew Choi, Studio D'fia, eng howe. How did they survive that long in the market so competitive though... Easy, they live up to it... These guys are good, they ain't your average photographers they put in effort for every shoot, irregardless the amount. Now, they're rewarded with their never ending clients...

 

[pointblankshots]

Seriously people.... for those "photographers" who can't stop complaining and bitching abour how bad the market is and how sad your income drops to.. just do all of us a small fav.. QUIT THE INDUSTRY!! Get a job working as something else. If you can't take the heat, don't play with fire.

I'll agree. Stop complaining and get going. The photographer's industry is for ppl who dare go against the odds. There'll never a best photographer, only one who go all out to reach for the sky. Even if you dun, you won't come down empty-handed...

 

[Cash]

I've been noticing that more and more individuals and entities are beginning to offer outdoor photoshoots, studios and workshops for a fee.

Not that I'd anything against it as it will be said that the money was to cover overheads and et cetra, but nowadays, you get to see all kinds of 'models' doing it and that leaves me somehow skeptical about the whole idea of all these in Clubsnap.

Maybe I don't know the philosophy and novelty of the forum but I suppose it's where hobbyist meets?

And there goes the irony- the very guys offering the services are photographers themselves. It's like the bulls over the other field offering the cows over here some fresh beef steaks.

So is the photographic business really that bad?

Please comment. Hope you guys don't run into OT by straying into another field of profession as I'm talking about photo business (studios, freelance, labs, equipment stores) here.

Try to share your good or bad experiences as well as what you think about the coming era for photography.

(ps. I'm not trying to ruin people's offer of shoots, hope you can read along constructively)

i really dun get your worry. It's an open market. If there's a demand for such activities, people will offer and others will take it. Simple as that. besides, more people get exposed to outdoor shoots, now isn't that good for the photographic community? i wonder

 

[eyes]

i really dun get your worry. It's an open market. If there's a demand for such activities, people will offer and others will take it. Simple as that. besides, more people get exposed to outdoor shoots, now isn't that good for the photographic community? i wonder

For one thing, I am the one least worried. Just that I find cheapo studio or model shoots should not collect money.

If one should ever decide to collect money, collect more, and make it worthewhile and professional.

The problem is those who offer such shoots are neither here nor there- from amateurish or wannabe bad models (who can't model at the first place) to lack of art direction, bad hairstylist and costume/ fashion designer.

Ultimately, it only ruin the standards and do you seriously think that after the whole event you can still includes these tasteless ordinary shoots as part of your portfolio without making yourself a laughing stock when meeting your prospective employer?

Even the old time HDB photo studio under my block does a better job.

It's the newbies that should be worried as they're not exposed to such things and may be mislead into tasteless 'photo shoots'- wasting their time.

 

[lavenderlilz]

It's the newbies that should be worried as they're not exposed to such things and may be mislead into tasteless 'photo shoots'- wasting their time.

not to mention money too

 

[Bluemoth]

hi I just wanted to add my opinion on this topic. I find that the industry is really difficult due to the fact that cameras are getting cheaper and therefore more people who are not photographer are trying their luck on making a quick buck. Ya like setting on P or auto is going to make you a Pro.

I had this guy that told me "Hey I got money so I'll get a cheap DSLR and just be a temporary Pro". The thing is he know nuts about photography except P&S, cause I know this guy. Photography, I believe is art and the photography scene in Singapore is being spoilt by these wannabe. If you just started out I can understand you would want to quote a lower price but there has to be some justification.

Even our neighbours seem to be getting our "clients". I just lost out a big assignment from a Golf resort in Indonesia who happens to belong to a Singaporean. Anyway the photographer they approach was an Indonesian who charged Sin$500 for covering a 2 day golf competition. No way I can counter that offer. It's actually not the markert rate.

Anyway I would like to advise all the up and coming photographers to please try and be realistic about the quotation as when the time comes you would be one of us facing this problem. We have to watch out for each other to bring the beauty and skill of photographer's in this region. Once that happens there would be a much bigger pie for us all. As people will know that Singaporean photogs got high standard.

 

[EiRiK]

Oh please. My wife's cousin recently got married, and her photographer (who charges a bomb) drives around in a Porsche.

just curious how good he is to charge so high... can scan some of your wife's counsin's wedding pics for us to see?

 

[lauLEE]

ya right..

sometimes i think i look better and more photogenic than the so-called professional models.. :embrass: :bsmilie: :angel: :sweatsm:
:embrass:

How do you arrive at such a conclusion?
haha...

 

[lOrBeRt]

I have a lot of people telling me this. Not that I want to say so, all of the personal makeover and graduation studios I went (3 in all), the make-up artists, the bosses and the photographers all said so. And one of the studios is very well-known in Singapore, I do not hear them saying the same thing to other customers while I was in their shops. Not that I want to boast, even my friends and relatives said so too. Anyway, I was just sharing my own opinion.


Well.. just look at the photos of the supposedly pro-models posted in some of the forums. Need I say more?

Anyone can reach his/her own conclusion.

you are very confident of yrself.
maybe you would like to show us a before and after makeup photo?
since u r soo confident tt u can beat all the pro models ...

 

[RuthBaby]

I have a lot of people telling me this. Not that I want to say so, all of the personal makeover and graduation studios I went (3 in all), the make-up artists, the bosses and the photographers all said so. And one of the studios is very well-known in Singapore, I do not hear them saying the same thing to other customers while I was in their shops. Not that I want to boast, even my friends and relatives said so too. Anyway, I was just sharing my own opinion.


Well.. just look at the photos of the supposedly pro-models posted in some of the forums. Need I say more?

Anyone can reach his/her own conclusion.

to be a gd salesman.. they must know how to lie thru their teeths....
aiyah
ive been to alot also.. all tell mi the same thing .. wan mi to sign up their package...

but i know im pretty la.. jus a bit on the heavy side... LOL!

 

[pointblankshots]

Well.. just look at the photos of the supposedly pro-models posted in some of the forums. Need I say more?

Not everybody is made to be beautiful though. A model's main priority is to carry out the mood of the ad. Photography plays a major part in capturing beauty at stipulated angles. In fact, the models in the forum's not great but, remember, they're just helping a fellow pal with his/her photography portfolio. They don't deserved your comments as to whether they pretty or not. I'll agree if the photographer is probably not capable enough of getting the right looks, but c'mon, spare the talents in the forum...

One thing I know, if you ever, ever try asking Diva, Elite or the other agencies to represent you, you'll be the first one shown to the door(if, that is how you look in the forum).

 

[oceanxp]

I've been noticing that more and more individuals and entities are beginning to offer outdoor photoshoots, studios and workshops for a fee.
....
So is the photographic business really that bad?

Please comment. Hope you guys don't run into OT by straying into another field of profession as I'm talking about photo business (studios, freelance, labs, equipment stores) here.

Try to share your good or bad experiences as well as what you think about the coming era for photography.

(ps. I'm not trying to ruin people's offer of shoots, hope you can read along constructively)

the market is constantly changing ; so photographers got to adapt and come out with creative services appealing to the consumer mass. Overall, i dun think it is as bad.