PRICING AGAIN!!! - Wedding Photography & Videography In Malaysia

Article by: Hasnuddin Abu Samah
http://www.adan.biz
http://adanphoto.fotopages.com

To inspiring photographers...

I notice that many photographers now realize that they actually put a not so profitable price for their service. But they also afraid to put the price they wanted to, because the risk of losing the job to other cheaper photographers. OK, now we know the problem. What are the solutions?

First, let makes things clear. Photographers who don’t want to expand and improve their standard can stay with their low price. OK, there is nothing we can do about it. It’s their choice. For photographers who want to improve their standard, and charge the way they wish, maybe I can give some help here.

So, why you need to charge higher? It’s not just for the sake of money actually. When we charge higher, we have enough profit. With profit, we can upgrade our equipment and our SERVICE. Imagine, if you get paid RM 100 to do a job compared to if you get paid RM 1,000 to do the same job. Definitely you will do the RM 1,000 job better. In that sense, you will produce a better quality of work. Your client will get a better value for their money and this industry will grow another step further. That is why.

Here is the truth

It is true, when you start to increase your price, you will lose some job. The good news is, it’s only happen for a while. During my freelancing period 10 years ago, I charged RM 100 per roll. But I want to improve. When I decided to increase my price to RM 150 per roll, I lose a lot of jobs ( Well, RM 150 per roll is very expensive at that time! ) A regular client of mine ( Mak Andam at that time ) no longer being my regular income provider. I have to face it. After suffering a few months, I started to establish my new price. But, guess what? I get another new, more rewarding client. I improve more, gain more experience and gain more profit. I increase my price every 1-2 year. And that process keep on going. I increase my price, lose a job for a while, get better client, make profit and increase my price again.....and so on. Now, I can charge RM 2,000 just for my service to shoot a 4 hours wedding in KL. That is not including photo prints, album etc. But, for business purposes, I do offer a cheaper package to my client by sending my staff photographer to cover the event. I personally train them to achieve the required standard. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t say that I’m the best photographer nor a successful businessman. There are more much successful photographers out there. It’s just they are too busy to write.

I learnt things the hard way. I thought I can help to make it simpler for others.
So, for those who want to improve their photography career, face it. Take the risk. You will be where you want to be. Good luck!

Hasnuddin Abu Samah,
Director, Adan Photography & Videography.
Please visit this website for more info:
http://www.adan.biz

Have your read it?
You can read my previous writing regarding pricing issue at http://adanphoto.fotopages.com/?&page=1 or you can search for it in our previous posting in this fotopages entitled: Lets Have Some Talk On Pricing

Wedding Photographer Meeting:
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Most recent comments... (In posting order)

Bro, dulu masa belajar dengan 'sifu' saya, saya hanya guna digital camera. Kemudian bila saya dah bersedia untuk menceburi bidang fotografi perkahwinan, saya beritahu persediaan saya untuk beli kamera baru, kamera digital. Tapi 'sifu' saya beritahu, baik guna kamera filem untuk jangkamasa panjang. 'Sifu' saya pun dah 10 tahun ambik kahwin melayu ni, tapi masih dengan mak andam lagi. Saya dan 'sifu' saya hanyalah freelance photographer aje (part time). Pasal harga, masih kekal RM150 lagi. Pasal gambar kahwin ni, peak season ni masa cuti sekolah aje, time macam ni tiap2 minggu mesti full sampai tak cukup tangan. Sebenarnya pasal harga ni, bergantunglah pada style gambar yang kita ambil, kalau style photojurnalism cajnya mesti mahal, tapi kan bro, ada tak bro buat studio photography juga dalam pakej perkahwinan? Kalau kaum Cina, gambar perkahwinan mereka memang mahal, sebab yang mahalnya pada studio photography. Kalau yang murah, kaum India cajnya hanya antara RM80-120 per roll aje. Jadi kita kaum Melayu, memang tradisionalnya sejak zaman dahulu lagi guna perkhidmatan mak andam. Jadi pengantin banyak guna kos yang banyak pada pakaian, pelamin, khemah dsbnya. Kaum Cina dan India kagum bila tengok gambar kahwin melayu, mereka kagum sebab kaum Melayu banyak guna hiasan seperti pelamin, andaman, pakaian. Soalan saya, perlu ke kita naikkkan harga ambik gambar kahwin ni? Bukan semua orang ada duit banyak memandangkan keadaan ekonomi Malaysia yang lembab sekarang ni? Orang yang bertaraf sederhana dan kurang mampu, mereka nak juga gambar kenangan seumur hidup mereka, tapi tidak mampu nak bayar jurugambar kahwin yang mahal2. Ini hanya pendapat saya, harap bro faham keadaan sekarang ini.