Getting jobs that pay?

bilgami

bilgami

Veteran
I live in South Texas its a small market and here ppl do not like to pay for anything they want the world but dont wanna pay for it. I shoot Weddings and Quinceaneras I charge 500 for a Wedding and 400 for a Q. I include everything when I put a dvd together preps, recp., ceremony, rehearsal ect. I've spent 12hrs in a day shooting an event but still ppl think 4-5 hundred is to much. So my question is how in the heck do I drum up biz and does anybody else have these probs and how do u deal with them?

:dankk2:
 
I have the same problem. I'm not a professional wedding videographer, but I do them on occasion to get some extra money. Basically I tell people what they will get for different prices. Obviously, they'll get more for a higher price. It's a hard subject, and one that has alot of importance. Are there any other videographers near you that you have to compete with? In my opinion, there is a fine line between offering a better price than a competitor to attract buisness, and slashing prices because of competition. The thing I try to avoid is selling myself short, or doing weddings for dirt cheap. Sometimes if people don't want to pay you have to turn them down, that's the hardest thing for me, especially being young and broke. Just be honest and up front and tell them what they will get for 500 dollars, versus what they will get for 1k, 1.5k etc etc.....
 
Show them the competition's rates, then charge in that ballpark, undercutting them only slightly. That may put things in perpective. Maybe get copies of their own adds to flash in front of your prospective clients (just make sure you don't end up selling the competition!).

Do you have a brochure and/or sample DVD documenting what they are getting from you? It really is a steal--if they knew they'd just shut up and say thank you. (SOO much better than cousin Frank's pixelvision recording, too.)
 
what sort of gear do you have. Get a shoulder mounted 3 chip camera, some lights with chimeras, and some lav mics. Those "visuals" should allow you to charge more. Or sell them the raw footage cheap and wait for them to edit it themselves...they will be banging at your door
 
Yeah - I agree. Just shoot and hand them the tapes for $500. No dvd authoring.

I was caught in that situation for a bit after working for cheap for a while. Especially when you're caught in the "friend/family/friend of a friend/relative's friend/but I'm friend's with your mother" rate.

It's gonna be tough to turn stuff down, but that doesn't mean they should exploit you.
 
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sounds like you are working way to much for way to little. if they only want to pay a little, give them a little. don't give them the whole enchilada if the are paying you beans :).

you should also really look at your self..a HARD LOOK. forget all that stuff about showing off your equipment. not many care and they don't know much about it anyway. don't even talk much about it.

would you buy from you? SALES, my friend is key. you need to learn how to sell your work and your skills. if you can't do that ( which not everyone can) you should admit it and work for someone who can sell better than you. there are lots of books out there with tips on closing a sale. as a videographer if you suck then you have to work at getting bettter and getting paid accordingly.

know what you are selling, too. if you don't believe that you are creating something lasting and significant of value, you won't have anything to tell your prospective client. so many broad statements, here but I hope you get some points.

what you are charging seems like a raw footage fee for about 5 hours. why are you doing that to yourself?
 
eignacio said:
Yeah - I agree. Just shoot and hand them the tapes for $500. No dvd authoring.

I was caught in that situation for a bit after working for cheap for a while. Especially when you're caught in the "friend/family/friend of a friend/relative's friend/but I'm friend's with your mother" rate.

It's gonna be tough to turn stuff down, but that doesn't mean they should exploit you.
Click to expand...

I know how that's like.
 
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