Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/02/23

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Value Placed on Work
From: kabob@tiac.net (Bob Keene/Karen Shehade)
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 09:42:15 -0500

Ted- (et al)

I just had a revelation....I'm sitting here at the terminal, reading this
GREAT thread, and all of a sudden I realize....

i've sold myself short.

I do weddings/headshots/pet portraiture. And I do very good work. NO ONE
works harder for their wedding clients than I do!!!!!! NO ONE!!!
And I've been undercharging. I make a 'fair' price. I make my money- but
there is always that undercurrent of:
"Wow... that's alot of money... " and then....

I cut them a 'deal'.
I charge less for reprints.
I grossly underpay myself for my labor (especially albums, which anyone who
has done one KNOWS is a bitch-load of work).

no more. NO more.  NO MORE!!!!

My rates go up as of now. They go up to what I'm worth.
Perhaps my 'demand' hasn't been as high as it should be because of my own
"self-worth" hasn't been as high as it should be.

I'm going to review my portfolio/sample albums. I know they are good.
Lesser people are making more.

I hereby state two things are going to happen this week:

1)  I'm printing up a new price schedule.

2) I'm not cutting my prices. If they want me, they have to afford me.

thanks again to the LUG. It's been rolling around in my head. Maybe like
Ted said, I need someone else to sell my prices.

I am a professional, I deserve to be treated like a professional. But first
*I* must treat *myself* like a professional.

Bob Keene
Keene Vision Photography
"Creating Visions That Last A Lifetime"
(and what is a "Lifetime" worth....?)