Standardising shoot price, possible?

[TrailsofLife]

Just a thought lah...dun flame me...

There have been people signing up here to get actual day wedding shooters at low low price, just wondering if there's an association or authority or something like that to keep up the rates of these shooters? So those bo lisence one, cannot shoot even if they lower the price?

if not, possible to form one? I mean there transport association, or some specialist or taxi association to protect their rice bowl.

 

[Stoned]

Hmm, you suggest forming a union?
I'm actually keen, don't know about the rest.

 

[HelmetBox]

gary fong started something like this, you can check out the links to his page.

It aims to help seperate the working professionals from the influx of wannabes.

 

[edlye]

How about a multi-tiered syndicate pricing structure tied in with some sort of skills accreditation by your proposed union. Higher accreditation = higher price tier, syndicated pricing will level prices across each tier.

 

[TrailsofLife]

I not good at all this co-ordination, only can come out with talk-cork ideas...:bsmilie: Maybe someone with bigger infuence can do that.

 

[synapseman]

Even if there is a photographer's union, will it work?

Taxi and bus drivers are easy to regulate because you need specific training and licenses to own a cab, bus, etc. For cameras, anyone can buy one, how to regulate how people are going to use it? And if there is a scale based on credentials, it brings up two questions:

Got credentials necessarily means good photographer? Similarly, does it mean a photographer without the necessary certificates is a lousy one?

Then when you set up such a structured approach to pricing, it could actually open the floodgate for "black-market" photographers, since the public will now know that union-photographers charge at a particular rate. But more importantly, would the paying public care? How are the rules going to be enforced? Upon union members who flout the rules? Upon non-members who continue to spoil market?

IMHO, forming a union could bring more harm to professionals, and would do little to stop wannbes from doing what they do. UNLESS the union is backed up by tough legislature, passed by parliament, to have pirate photographers fined and thrown into jail.

Well, at least that's what I think lah...

 

[edlye]

I'll take this as an open discussion rather than a platform for expressing of jaded opinions (right or wrong, lame or good, will work or cannot work). Let's think how to make it work/how it can work, rather than why it wouldn't work.

The skills accreditation can be done by reputable peers (niched to wedding photography) in the industry based on the person's body of wedding works only. Since skills is the key focus here, formal education in photography or certificates will not be a criteria.

Instead of licensing, would self-regulation be a better option?

 

[Sion]

I think we have covered such subject before.

This is probably the solution:

UNLESS the union is backed up by tough legislature, passed by parliament, to have pirate photographers fined and thrown into jail.

If we could lobby the politicians to license wedding photographers (only those with relevant tertiary qualifications or college diplomas are allowed to practise wedding photography) we'll see an immediate improvement in fees and charges. :bsmilie:

And they would have to jail people like me who moonlights in commerical photography by operating an illegal home studio without licence and professional qualification. :bsmilie:

 

[synapseman]

I think forming an association/union/regulatory body is the easy part. (Or rather, relatively easy.)

The challenge would be to get the public to recognise and accept this body. One way would be though an advertising campaign, through mass media, especially those wedding magazines. Must have some kind of visible logo. It's kinda like what those in the retail and construction industry do. The paying public would like to know exactly what kind of quality they'd be guaranteed to have, so there could be a rating system (gold/platinum photographer, etc.). Then there must be official channels set-up to allow for customers to seek redress if the photographer fails in some way to deliver his end of the deal.

Certification may not be truly necessary, but S'poreans being S'poreans, we all like to see some tangible proof (other than portfolio works) of the photographer's ability. So, members of this association/union/regulatory body should at least have some kind of certification, and the body itself be registered with some kind of authority (just like how private schools and tuition centres must be registered with the MOE). Better yet, form links with international organisations as well. Basically, the body must have "weight", so that this would be the first thing people will look out for when engaging a photographer, and this "weight" would be substantial enough to squeeze out the wannabes from the market.

But I have one concern: Where would this place the freelancers? Especially the really good ones?

 

[Sion]

But I have one concern: Where would this place the freelancers? Especially the really good ones?

They form their own Freelancer Association?

 

[LittleWolf]

UNLESS the union is backed up by tough legislature, passed by parliament, to have pirate photographers fined and thrown into jail.

Just what Singapore needs, more regulations/restrictions and red tape. Crying for the nanny state again ...

If you need to resort to legislation because you cannot compete (price or quality wise) with freelancers/part-timers, then your services are simply not competitive. Instead of asking the government for protecting "you" from "them" (who defines who is "you" and "them"?), how about improving service standards or offer a type of service where you can compete?

If you seriously want photography restricted to certain individuals, be prepared for IT people to be granted an exclusive license to use computers professionally. Meaning that you couldn't use Photoshop legally anymore or manage your business accounts on the computer. Also, be advised that you'll need a licensed electrician to connect your flash sync cable to the camera and change batteries. Changing lenses or mounting filters will require the services of a certified optician. No more driving in the car to your customers or using subsidised public transport - your transportation needs will have to be satisfied by licensed companies at rates set by the Taxi & Truckers Association.

And Singapore will be bankrupt, because everyone with half a brain would search elsewhere for service suppliers on a globalised market.

 

[Witness]

skill levels may differ...thus pricings will differ too....like tt how.....

 

[edlye]

skill levels may differ...thus pricings will differ too....like tt how.....

But that only reflects the reality of the fact that if you pay peanuts, you get a monkey behind the camera.....

 

[Witness]

erhm u mentioned tt its a reality already...if not then how? i'm open to suggestions....

 

[TrailsofLife]

No wonder no one try to standardise it, haven't try already so pesimistic... Workers got NTUC union to protect...even house maid have some union to protect... its weather you want to do it or not...

 

[edlye]

erhm u mentioned tt its a reality already...if not then how? i'm open to suggestions....

I guess it will involve education of the paying public. I liken it to the state of sound reinforcement, especially for outdoors concerts in Singapore, the public's ears are so used to bad sound setups that they wouldn't recognise a good and properly tuned sound system much less be cajoled into the frame of mind that a decent sound system should be the norm and not the exception.

 

[edlye]

No wonder no one try to standardise it, haven't try already so pesimistic... Workers got NTUC union to protect...even house maid have some union to protect... its weather you want to do it or not...

Yes, it is always the dreamers whose dreams get shot down, isn't it?

 

[TrailsofLife]

Everything also must try mah... Dun you think those maid just gather at Lucky Plaza one day, or having picnic at the grass patch at orchard, just talking cork, and decide to unite to protect themselves. And they did it!

Shooters should do that also...

Last time(police wear bermudas time), anyone with car can drive around to pick up customer to make money, then got people charge cheaper to get more customers, spoilt the market, then a group of taxi drivers also unite to standardise the pricing wat.

Why cannot? Must do first, there's always a first step.

Maybe CS can help.

 

[TrailsofLife]

Also, shouldn't push the balme to the public first. There will always be people who wants cheaper option(Singaporean mah)...

Wedding shooters should unite first, then public will know the standards.

 

[Stoned]

Well I think for one, maybe those of us on CS taking jobs via the consumers corner or otherwise can stop accepting lower pay than the standard? If customers can't find photographers they might consider paying more.

Naturally there are selfish people who will undercut so I'm not sure how far this would work.