Warning: This is a bit of a “Dear Diary” rant (mixed with random images to keep it REAL), but if you’re a working professional photographer, or an aspiring pro, it’s pertinent, so have a read. If you’re neither of those, this just might fill your drama cup for the day. Look at it this way–you can spend 10 less minutes watching Dr. Phil or Oprah…

Photographers are an incredibly skilled group of individuals. They capture what many others can’t for all of time, in a way that speaks to and connects with people that other messaging cannot. Most photographers are very creative and hard working. They are full of life, innovative and endlessly critical of their own work. Annnnnnd there are way too many photographers that are ridiculously short sighted, and for lack of a better term, stupid businessmen. Oh yeah. I said it. Stupid. Spell it out: S-T-U-P-I-D. I have long lived by the saying “It is better to teach a man to fish, and feed him for a lifetime than give a man a fish and feed him for a day”. Learn how to run your business properly and you will survive the long haul of freelance photography. Satiate your financial appetite with lean fish here and there, and you will starve before too long. It’s that simple.

Iconic Delicate Arch at sunset in Arches National Park, UT

I recently bid on a project in which the client was asking for extensive rights to a large number of images from a shoot that would have taken a week’s time or so. Being that this client had members or partners that would desire usage of the images as well, the client was asking to “share” these rights with its partners. The rights request was large, but that’s not uncommon in this day and age. It seems rights requests are more extensive, and you simply have to adapt your pricing structure to answer their needs. After all, everything is possible with the proper budget…

I was torn over bidding on this particular project, because I needed the job. Hey! This photog just welcomed baby boy #2 last Wednesday! I decided that as much as I needed this job, I couldn’t justify a bid that was unfair to this (photography) industry. Understanding that Salt Lake is not NYC or LA, I put in a bid that was priced right for what they were asking for in this market. It likely could have/should have been much higher in other markets, but I felt it was priced right for this job in this area (an important factor, IMO, when pricing out a job). To many, my bid might have seemed low, and I’ll be honest in saying it was moderate, but worthy. To others less experienced, it may have seemed exorbitant…

A monochrome take on Dead Horse Point State Park, UT

I received an email from the client this morning stating: “Mr. Barker –I think we’re going to go with another bid that came in for less dough.” Fair enough. I can’t fault the client for working it on their end to get the best deal possible. Come to find out, the winning bid came in at a quarter of what my (moderate) bid was. In the end, this photographer will be making less than $150 per image for unlimited rights for five year’s time. In addition, the photographer is losing additional business to the client’s partners who will have access to all the images shot for whatever they please.

Two words folks: PROFESSIONAL SUICIDE. I have no doubt the photographer that won this bid is skilled and very capable of delivering a final product that will satisfy the client. I also have no doubt that this photographer will not be able to continue doing business like this and stay afloat in these tough times. Could I have done a better job? Hell. Yes. You think I’d say otherwise???

Sunrise at Dead Horse Point State Park, UT

I am the first to admit that we as photographers must be willing to bend the previous rules of business in these tough times. I am no old codger stuck in the golden era of photography where quality images were few and far between, and those with the skills paid the bills, period. I believe, however, that this photog simply broke all of the rules and in so doing, is twisting the knife in the chest of an industry he himself so adores (or maybe he doesn’t–who knows?). I love shooting pictures. I love making my living doing something that puts a smile on my face every day. Yes, it is up to each individual to go out there and make a living for himself, but it grows increasingly harder when photographers are willing to sacrifice their integrity and latch onto a sliver of what they could have in the end, for just a little bit right now.

Please don’t read this as a self-pity post. This is simply a cry to fellow professionals to stay true to your business and help this industry. For the up-and-comers: learn how and what you should charge. Know when to walk away. Shoot shoot shoot, and build that portfolio. You can spend your time under bidding and landing the small fish, or you can continue to build your portfolio so that the big fish won’t be able to say no once the opportunity comes along.

If this blog post hits home for you. Pass it along…

Edit: Good friend and skilled photog Justin Cash sent me a link to John Harrington’s Photo Business blog that is super pertinent to my post above. John makes a very valid point about going after clients that are more result and service oriented rather than focused solely on price.

Visit www.adambarkerphotography.com