professionals please! competitor issues concerning wedding photography?
Posted on July 04, 2010 by Ed
Okay, I taught a friend how to use her camera and gave her some pointers on photography. She was supposed to help me shoot a rehearsal and wedding at a winery. She didn’t show, which looked bad on me considering I had told the bride to expect 2 at the rehearsal and 3 at the wedding. Later she asked when my next wedding was and if she could help me with that one. I explained that after 2 times of leaving me hanging and making me look bad with a bride, that she would have to get her help else where. Low and behold she has opened a studio here instead of 300 miles away like she said she would. A potential bride called me and told me another photographer had a wedding price list exactly like mine and I had her to forward me the info. It was my (thought she was) friend’s studio. I gave the bride a link to my online portfolio and the phone numbers of some past brides. Well, she gave me her credit card and booked her wedding. Now, what would you do about the other photographer?
Well the good thing is, I have contracts going back over a year with what is on my price list. Her studio just opened.
hmmm, fork her lawn. too bad she lives in an apartment. oh did i mention she shoots out of her home?
Really, the fact that you helped her learn how to use her camera has no real bearing on the situation. The wedding and portrait photography business is slam full of folks with no training who got their first dSLR a few weeks or months ago and believe it now makes them as good as any professional. They are your "competition", but if your work is good and you have a satisfied client base, don’t worry. These wanna-be’s will not succeed in the business. They will give it up when they have their first really pi**ed bride who gets crappy beginner’s snapshots, or at most as soon as some one sues them for failure to produce acceptable results. Of course, in the meanwhile, they are producing sub-standard work and giving the professionals a bad name in the process. (See the post above mine who thinks all wedding photogs are slime.) Don’t sweat this much, she won’t last. Best wishes!
Discussion: 14 Comments
14 Responses to “professionals please! competitor issues concerning wedding photography?”
Leave a Reply
photoguy_ryan
- 4th Jul, 10 07:07am
Stuff happens. Live and learn. It doesnt sound like she has done anything you can sue for, unless you got a written and signed agreement about her opening a studio that close to you.
Well, one thing. Have you thought of baseball bats?? Dark doorway or alley?? You know I’m kidding, right??
References :
???????
- 4th Jul, 10 07:07am
My experience is there are good and bad in this industry, cuddle the good and avoid the bad, her lack of morals will see that she gets what is comming to her. Concentrate on you and she will just fade into the distance. You could sue her but is it worth it? – I dont think so, anyone can copy your pricing off your price list anyway. Move on and go forth!
Shes 300 miles away good luck to her, you sound very smart so just keep doing what your doing.
a
References :
leftie1959
- 4th Jul, 10 08:07am
I’m freelance and it happened to me on some of my artwork. It ended up in USA , in Pennsylvania, New York, the Poconos etcc….
when i find out, i called those people and told them that this was my work and i will prove it. Guess what? I stole all the customers because I WAS THE ORIGINAL ARTIST for one thing, and because i was honest enough to call them and warn them that if anything happens, I am not affiliated with this guy.
Another Guess what ? US State authority are after the guy and is just a matter of time, before our agents get him.
so, just tell your potential customer that this person, if they mention it, was dishonest and stole your services. Period. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself and claim what is yours.
References :
perki88
- 4th Jul, 10 09:07am
Just keep on keepin’ on. If she’s as undependable for brides as she was for you, you’ll have no problem.
You also might want to work up your price list a little differently so it doesn’t appear YOU coppied from her.
References :
Evan B
- 4th Jul, 10 09:07am
I’d take better pictures than the other girl, and market myself better.
Plenty of brides out there. If you do good quality work, and take care of your customers, you’ll be successful regardless of your "friend."
I have a hard time imagining that someone who was just recently taught how to use a camera is suddenly doing it up Beckstead style…
References :
Professional Wedding Photographer
http://www.evanbaines.com
Dawg
- 4th Jul, 10 10:07am
If she has learned from you and you’re continuing to grow (as we all are) then you have an edge both in experience and ethics, use it to your advantage. By that I mean be better at what you do – no skulduggery necessary, just take this as motivation to be provide superior service and expertise. If she plagerized your price list and has no references then you’re way ahead…stay ahead.
References :
Jack
- 4th Jul, 10 10:07am
First off, I hate wedding photographers. You can never trust them. I had one that still owes me my album. He went bankrupt and i lost everything. So my suggestion is that if you do business honorably you will get clients. Change up you stuff.
A good business person will always be ahead of the market in their area. Let others check out the better business bureau. IF you are dependable you should be listed in there too because it is a third party.
.
References :
epic_laydown
- 4th Jul, 10 11:07am
I wouldn’t worry about it. If she’s inexperienced, it will show in her work, and she’ll lose customers and go out of business. I feel sorry for the people booking her though. Might be a messy situation.
References :
Sue M
- 4th Jul, 10 11:07am
Firstly, I’m no expert so this is just my opinion…
There is probably nothing to be done about the other photographer but as you say you have an advantage in that you already have a database of clients (& therefor a network of friends & family) + bookings already.
For the future though I would find your point of difference (from the other one) & market that. You already know what she is offering & prices, so maybe emphasise something you can or do offer that she won’t be. In my case, other local photographers charge the earth for a CD of photos from the wedding, but this is included in my package.
References :
adam m
- 4th Jul, 10 12:07pm
I’m not a pro either but it seems anyone could have moved into your town and opened a studio in competition with you. At least with this one you know her weaknesses are her inexperience and lack of professionalism. Now I wouldn’t use this to slander her, but instead do what you already started to do and highlight your strengths. Maybe you need to start or spruce up a website. You need to show that you have been doing this for a while and are good at what you do. It’s already happened, you should use it as an opportunity to improve your skills. If you still need some revenge you can always fork her lawn some night too.
References :
Dr. Sam
- 4th Jul, 10 12:07pm
If she was not your employee with a non-compete clause in a contract, you can’t do a thing about her opening in your town.
I say, just give it a while and she will dig her own grave.
I do like the suggestion to change your price list. Give a bit of an upscale look.
Who knows? With the new competition, it might bet you back on the cutting edge of your own game and it will push you to improve your skills and client services. (Look on the bright side…?)
References :
all-knowing "1"
- 4th Jul, 10 01:07pm
undercut her prices like a MoFo for a few months! Have like a ‘going out ‘FOR’ business’ sale, and steal all her potential new clients- you have a huge portfolio by now, I’m sure, and can attract a lot of people. She took advantage of you, so… hey, it’s just business… right?
References :
foggy_idea
- 4th Jul, 10 01:07pm
Get the jump on her, prepare several "sample" albums. Then go to every venue that hosts weddings, ask to speak to the wedding coordinator, and ask if you can leave a sample album with her, for potential clients to view. Leave business cards with the coordinators. Also go to Bridal salons, wedding planners and do the same. Talk to everyone involved with wedding plannings, get your cards and your photos out there. Out market her…
References :
Ara57
- 4th Jul, 10 02:07pm
Really, the fact that you helped her learn how to use her camera has no real bearing on the situation. The wedding and portrait photography business is slam full of folks with no training who got their first dSLR a few weeks or months ago and believe it now makes them as good as any professional. They are your "competition", but if your work is good and you have a satisfied client base, don’t worry. These wanna-be’s will not succeed in the business. They will give it up when they have their first really pi**ed bride who gets crappy beginner’s snapshots, or at most as soon as some one sues them for failure to produce acceptable results. Of course, in the meanwhile, they are producing sub-standard work and giving the professionals a bad name in the process. (See the post above mine who thinks all wedding photogs are slime.) Don’t sweat this much, she won’t last. Best wishes!
References :