What do you do when...

[cibs]

your neighbours invade your feeding grounds?

Imagine this. Your neighbouring country's professional photographer sends his or her group of photographers into your country under his or her brand name under the pretext "Professional Wedding Photography at affordable rates." They do not bring in any investment of any sort into the economy.. just their brand AND one or two of your locals are helping them market themselves in your home ground.

 

[creampuff]

What investment into the economy are you referring to? Unless there's a restriction on foreigners coming in, it's very much open season... that's globalisation.

 

[jamesong]

In Singapore they need employment pass to work, if not caught, OK. This is hit and run case.

Too many times and very often, your "rice bowl" broken, then you will have to inform immigration dept.

your neighbours invade your feeding grounds?

Imagine this. Your neighbouring country's professional photographer sends his or her group of photographers into your country under his or her brand name under the pretext "Professional Wedding Photography at affordable rates." They do not bring in any investment of any sort into the economy.. just their brand AND one or two of your locals are helping them market themselves in your home ground.

 

[Sion]

With air travel, telecommunication and internet, the geographical boundary of a photography business can be pushed further.

A resourceful Singaporean photographer can offer his service to East and West Malaysia or even further.

You have to either come up with a product more competitive than theirs or expand your territory.

We can't escape from competition whatever form it may take.

 

[snowspeeder]

It's always about fair competition, unless otherwise. If the other party can be so resourceful, then what is stopping us from doing the same? To be stagnant, is to be obsolete; only a question of when that will happen.

 

[Sion]

In Singapore they need employment pass to work, if not caught, OK. This is hit and run case.

Too many times and very often, your "rice bowl" broken, then you will have to inform immigration dept.

Photographers from UK, Malaysia etc. have been setting up shops in Singapore and thereby getting legitimate residency to live and operate their photography business here.

The only thing you can report to the immigration authority is those OSM coming here on visitor visa but taking up paying assignments. But you won't be popular with the P&P kakis here. :bsmilie:

 

[xziredmp]

actually. i have seen such problems. but oh wells.. malaysia market is big. but they just want to earn some singapore dollars thats all.

so if i ask you to go malaysia and earn ringgit will you go ?

issue is that how can you make yourself and your package worth their money.

its not like other countries when you can easily brand yourself as "Singapore well-known photographer" and start charging premiums thou.

:bsmilie:

 

[cibs]

Ok.. all well and understood regarding the competition.. but the fact remains that your its one of your nationals that has initiated this.. therefore undermining the 'credibility' of the local photogs. How then? Why support another country when you can support your own? I think the term is nationalism/patriotism etc..

 

[insanne]

Ok.. all well and understood regarding the competition.. but the fact remains that your its one of your nationals that has initiated this.. therefore undermining the 'credibility' of the local photogs. How then? Why support another country when you can support your own? I think the term is nationalism/patriotism etc..

Actually, I notice that your stated location is in Brunei, but since you are posting in a Sporean dominated forum, I will ask within a local context.
Then, does that mean that Sporeans cannot work for Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, etc and all must work for Creative???

 

[chngpe01]

your neighbours invade your feeding grounds?

Imagine this. Your neighbouring country's professional photographer sends his or her group of photographers into your country under his or her brand name under the pretext "Professional Wedding Photography at affordable rates." They do not bring in any investment of any sort into the economy.. just their brand AND one or two of your locals are helping them market themselves in your home ground.

There are 2 ways of looking at it.

1. Moaning and rant about it, getting frustrated and angry. Feel marginalized and dependent on the authority or at least somebody to stop it.

2. Take the competition in stride and learn from it. See their works, benchmark against them and find ways to be more innovative, creative and also better marketing effort.

The choice is yours and obvious.

 

[daydreamz]

well said...often there is too much whining here about foreigners and few want to actually learn from them and what value add they bring to the overall mix (obviously they do else nobody would hire/employ them or use their services coz they're not always cheap). we need to embrace globalisation and not isolate it. cheers.

There are 2 ways of looking at it.

1. Moaning and rant about it, getting frustrated and angry. Feel marginalized and dependent on the authority or at least somebody to stop it.

2. Take the competition in stride and learn from it. See their works, benchmark against them and find ways to be more innovative, creative and also better marketing effort.

The choice is yours and obvious.

 

[cibs]

ok.. point taken.