Lately I feel like I am the last resort when it comes to hiring a photographer. I don’t know if folks are shopping until they find me or if photography is an after thought. I am the first result on Microsoft’s Bing search engine for Harrisburg photographers and in fifth place on Google. I even get calls from people needing photo restoration by looking in the Yellow Pages.
I am soo very hungry to get more photography gigs but I won’t work for less than I am worth or under the speculation that I will get paid. I’ve been a approached by a few businesses and individuals asking if I would work Pro Bono because they project earnings that they cannot quantify. Why is photography an after thought albeit often is the only visual record and tangible thing one can take away from an event?
Self_portrait_on porch 8/2005
Recently, I was contacted by a couple that was getting married soon. It was a modest event so they weren’t paying me much money. However they waited until the last minute (the night before) to tell me they didn’t have any money. I had arranged for a babysitter and waited for 20 minutes to meet them to find out I was stood up.
From now on I will have to stick to my event contract which requires a date reservation fee and/or payment in full four weeks prior to the event date.
Like I said, I am hungry to get more clients, especially weddings which is my passion, but I won’t fall for being a sucker any more.
I figure if you really like my work, then you will make a serious commitment to hire me. After all, I spend time every day after my full time job, after I put my son to bed, continuously enhancing my skills and exercising my creativity to become a better photographer. I invest in education and other professional learning opportunities. I will not, could not be stood up. I should not, cannot be stood up. (Sorry, just finished reading Green Eggs and Ham to my son before bed.)
