It looks like somebody is a wedding photographer again. After a 6-month break from the wedding biz, Gary Fong has announced his return today with a price increase of 600%!

Yes, folks. In 2003, he was priced at $10,000. In 2004, he was priced at $20,000. Now, in 2005, he is priced at $120,000!

This is incredible and I'm glad he'll *finally* getting paid what he's worth. I wonder if he wants to use any of us OSP members as assistants?

May your sucess and winning personality continue to flourish in 2005, GF!

::Brian Adams

THAT is sick. Even Dennis Reggie would agree. That man charges 60 times what I do. Unreal.

Does that mean that he's the highest paid photographer in the world? I"ve never heard of anyone charging that much.

KK

QUOTE (katherine @ Apr 14 2005, 12:07 PM)

Does that mean that he's the highest paid photographer in the world? I"ve never heard of anyone charging that much. KK

Remember...there's a difference between charging and getting but I do hope Fong gets it! He's done a lot for this industry, as have Reggie and Colon!

They inspire us all!

I love how he says "($10,000/hr for a 12 hour coverage - this is a reduction from the regular fee of $12,500/hr)"

...everyone wants a deal I guess!

I don't know that much about Fong, but I thought it was interesting that I went to look up his site to find his portfolio and I spent 10 mins on Google and couldn't find it. His websites are pretty poor in my opinion just as far as presentation....

Maybe I'm just dumb and can't find it, if anyone knows the link can you post it?

QUOTE (Musicmanchris @ Apr 14 2005, 12:35 PM)

I spent 10 mins on Google and couldn't find it.

http://www.storybookweddings.com/

Maybe he doesn't really need a website to present his work. Check out pics of his studio. Really nice setup!

There have certainly been wedding photographers who have made more than $120,000 from one single wedding job, but probably from the sale of additional album volumes and framed wall portraits. I know that Andy Marcus once made $175,000 from one wedding.

Gary has a $1 million-plus/yr. e-store and multiple real estate investments in CA and CA (California and Canada). He really doesn't need to shoot another wedding, but there is a market for his price range.

All this is going to do is open the door for Reggie and Colon and Buissink and Marcus to list packages above the $100,000 threshold. A photographer with cojones like Gary's also will help ALL wedding photographers across the board. Suddenly, $5K, $10K, or even $25K sounds like a bargain!

I started working on my updated price list (even though I just re-vamped it 3 weeks ago) immediately after reading Gary's blog this morning.

That's right Brian! Keep raising those prices!!! I'm with ya!

...LET'S GO!!!

I'm afraid you already won that race, DJ

You do have the added expense of buying candy for Tim, however!

I guess this is his way of separating himself from the others.

You will never get paid a healthy sum like that inless you ask for it!

If someone can spend $120,000 on wedding photography they probably aren't going to spend any less...so if you want the business...you have to step up to the plate!

MJ

Yeah, I definitely checked out Gary's website and blog... I can't believe anyone would pay that much for photos! $120,000 !

It makes what I'm going to charge for the wedding I'm doing in May sound like chump change!

Well I can only move up from here!

--- Gregg

QUOTE

I can't believe anyone would pay that much for photos! $120,000

Good! You're on the right track...remember...we're not really selling photos...

David Jay
How about 50% photos and 50% you(your service, and their experience)?????

Amy!!!

Service is important and so is their experience BUT you're only given the opportunity to excel in those areas AFTER they SHOW YOU THE $$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what's important on the front end???

I agree with Brian... David Jay definitely needs to look at investing a higher budget in the realm of candy.

David Jay,
It's your photos right J/K

In wedding photography you are really selling yourself. You are trying to create a wonderful experience for the bride and groom which all starts when you first meet them.

Its your personality and you as a person that seperates your business. They are investing in you...


Ok DJ, let me know how I am doing

You're doing GREAT Aims! Keep it up!!!

QUOTE (Tim Halberg @ Apr 14 2005, 11:40 PM)

David Jay definitely needs to look at investing a higher budget in the realm of candy.

No more candy for you!

Here's a double dog dare ... suspend what you think you know about photography and business and dollar value and consider again what DJ is suggesting: Gary Fong, Dennis Reggie, Mike Colon and even our guy ('cause you gotta have a guy) David Jay are NOT selling photography. They're selling Gary Fong, Dennis Reggie, Mike Colon and David Jay. I understand how it can get confusing because WHILE they're selling themselves, they also happen to be delivering some pretty amazing talent. But for our purposes, don't get distracted by that. It's their talent that backs their name ... but it's their name that closes the deal before the bride even picks up the phone.

It seems to me that Gary Fong is simply LEVERAGING HIS POSITION (like what happens with a stock split or a merger/acquisition with major corporations) of not needing to shoot weddings and putting his name in a new orbit as a result. Leveraging position, of course, requires knowing your position, building your position, timing your moves, believing in your abilities and the skill of intelligently tolerating some seriously felt risk. If we neglect these critical aspects of our businesses, the best we can hope to do is sell our photographs. For some on this forum, that can be good enough to make a decent living, simply because you have the goods artistically and technically. But, what could it look like if we moved from talented technician to wealth building entrepreneur?

It's funny to me that no one on this thread has mentioned anything about Gary Fong's pictures. All we've been talking about is him ... and that's exactly what he was planning on with his announcement. He's a genious! ... a well timed genius.

QUOTE (Amy Nave @ Apr 15 2005, 12:02 AM)

In wedding photography you are really selling yourself. You are trying to create a wonderful experience for the bride and groom which all starts when you first meet them.

I like what you're saying Amy, but I wonder about the last part ... I get the impression that it all starts way before "you meet them". I was sold on Mike Colon and Gary Fong way before I made their acquaintance. I didn't have to. I've never even met Denis Reggie or David Beckstead, and I'm sold on them too.

Same thing with Oprah Winfrey or Bill Gates. I know jack about talk show hosting and the insides of peecee computers. I certainly have never met them. But these characters aren't just selling talk shows and software. They're selling the dream. They're the dream. They're mythical.

That's the magic.

Wow!!!! This conversation is deep

I can see how you could get sold on these guys before you meet them. However,for me, they sealed the deal after I met them

I may end up removing this post. Definitely is way to late to be posting (thought process is blocked)

I can agree that they are selling themselves, not their pictures, because I don't think they're pictures could possibly be worth what they are charging. For instance, Gary Fong is now charging 15x what David Jay is charging. Does that mean that he is 15x better than David Jay at photography? No! In fact, from what i have seen of Gary Fong's photography, I think David Jay is not only better than Gary Fong, but significantly better than Gary Fong!

I guess what it means is Gary Fong has done a 15x better job (probably because of length of time in the industry) at selling his name. (Don't worry DJ, you'll catch up...)

It is correct, that this is not ultimatly about photography. It's about selling yourself. My favorite wedding photographer in the business (Beckstead) is charing a quarter of what Dennis Reggie charges! And yet, I bet most of the people on this forum would say that Beckstead is a better photographer (maybe not, but that's my guess anyways...)

So...very interesting discussion.....Great input everybody!

wow...i just went to G.F's site and his forum. They are also talking about his increase and very opinionated (to say the least!!!). here is a link to it HERE

Gary even posted a reply to them. I can honestly understand why he did what he did.

KK

Judging from his reply, it was because he hates wedding music and wanted to cut down the number of weddings he does considerably. I think his planned worked.

Great point Amy!

When you met those guys you became convinced of the message you had heard about them.

But the message had been out there for a while and that took some significant effort on the part of those promoting that message ~ effort that had everything to do with their business and, ironically, very little to do with their photography.

If I'm hearing DJ right, I think he's saying that if we want to be true entrepreneurs who practice photography, that mindset is a necessary prerequisite. But maybe we just want to be true photographers who practice business.

Let's think of another example: How about the iPod?

Remember when you first heard about how cool iPods were but didn't even understand what they were? Now, think of how cool iPods actually became once you got to hold one in your hands and play with it for the first time.

Well, the message that "iPod = Cool" began way before you touched it ... at least long enough for you to take out time (and significant amounts of money) to try and touch it.

In a sense that's what these Masters have been doing all along. They cast the legend to the masses and reinforce that vision over and over and over again until we all either believe it or decide that it's just not worth it..

But, don't you think they were doing all this before you met them? If not, what motivated you to seek them out? The beauty is that when you met them, they validated why they are so esteemed. Metaphorically, you found out that iPods really do = cool.

Here's my point: If we spend all our time working on our photography (which I love to do by the way ... I have so much to learn!) and not enough on our message (building our business well), the best we'll ever become are skilled technicians trying to sell pictures.

Rhetorically, do we really want to be retail workers hawking our really cool crafts or do we want to be a highly creative, nimble-quick and responsive business that is known for something distinctive and wanted and commands a premium?

Can we see the vision here? Are we dissatisfied enough with the status quo to take a risk? Can we see what it will cost all of us to join Gary Fong (and Mike Colon and David Jay) in raising the bar?

Now I'm on a roll ... What different thing do we need to do today, this month and this year to take our businesses to the next level?

OK ... I've crossed the line I'll stop preaching ... at least until my new favorite friend Amy responds back or DJ chimes in and corrects all my errors!

So maybe I shouldn't be getting my degree at Brooks Institute of Photography? Instead I should get a degree in business, marketing, and if they had it a personality degree J/K

So I am still a little in favor of the photography aspect, however, I realize that you as the photographer is something that sells it first hand. Thank the lord for DJ's book list, forum and all the wonderful photographers who are willing to mentor

Are you sure Fong's post isn't his way of saying two things,
1. "Alright, I'm out..." 2. "BUT, if someone is willing to pay $120,000, I'd probably do it..."

The music must have really gotten to him...

There are only a select few that can run their businesses off of their name only, REGGIE, COLON, FONG...but for the majority of us...we can't run our businesses like they do! I think it was their inital love of photography that got them in the door, their business sense that made them successful but, their character is what took them to the top! Character...how do you relate with people...do people like you?

Personally, I think this business is all about caring about people. If you really care about your client...wouldn't you want them to have the best possible photographs of their day? Now, if that means honing your photography skills, then that's what should be done. I agree that business and marketing are absolutely essential to success. But, wouldn't it make sense that a photographer would naturally use their amazing imagery to market themselves? Instead of just being creative or just being about business...we should all be creative business people. We should use our imagery to relate to people, to connect with people and most of all distinguish ourselves from the others.


MJ

I totally agree Janey,
When the bride can take your caring/smiling face and link it with your amazing images, that's when you've got it made.


That is what these photographers have

You might be right MJ. Fong could just be dangling a carrot. But even if he is, I don't get that sense from Denis Reggie who makes about $50,000 a wedding in revenue x 52 weddings a year.

I like how you combined things too Janey. It's not that we need to pick business over marketing or marketing over business. None of it is mutually exclusive. That's why a brooks degree can be so valuable while AT THE SAME TIME a marketing degree might help out too. I wouldn't mind picking up a "personality" and "likeability" degree while I'm at it.

Maybe that's the magic for these guys ... they've crafted the whole package or at least enough of each piece to make their name mean something.

Buissink and Beckstead, for example, seem to have a little more cred on the photo side (their work stops me in my tracks), while Reggie, Colon and Fong lean more to the business side (Reggie's the godfather, Fong's the wealthbuilder and Colon's the cool, rock 'n roll, orange county, edgy, 6'4'', celebrity phenom) ...

but truth be told, all five have the enough of everything to make it flow. They know themselves and they know what it takes to leverage what they're good at.

I think that's why there's so much buzz on DJ ... he's young, has the goods technically and is looking to raise the bar business wise.

Here's the question: How are you contributing to rounding out your complete package? How am I? What would it look like for us as a community to raise the bar together?

On your team,

ds

Dane,

If you wrote a book, I would be first in line to buy it. Great points my friend!

For GF, it may just be a matter of markets and math. Usually, people are spending about 15 to 20% of their total wedding budget on their photography. Therefore:

a $5K budget gets you a $750 to $1K photographer
a $10K budget gets you a $1500 to $2K photographer
a $20K budget gets you a $3K to $4K photographer
a $40K budget gets you a $6K to $8K photographer
an $80K budget gets you a $12K to $16K photographer

i'm sure you can all do the math. the ratio kind of tops out with people who have budgets over $100K, however. why is this?? because the majority of wedding photographers are priced under $10K per wedding.

there are plenty of couples in the world who are having $1 million-dollar-plus weddings. what are these couples paying for photography? typically, they are paying $10K to $50K, but only because there is nobody priced over $100K . . . until now! if you keep the ratio the same, a couple with a $1M budget should be spending $150K to $200K on their photography. in that case, GF is actually giving them a deal!

donald trump just got married in florida and had a $5M wedding, but he *only* paid $30K for charles and jennifer maring to photograph his wedding! what a cheap-*ss! (these figures are approximate, and based on what i have heard)

if you have millions or even billions in the bank, there is very little difference between $12K and $120K. the perceived value that GF has established for himself with his new prices will work in his favor. the beauty of it is that if it doesn't work in his favor, he won't care. also, even if it doesn't work for him, it will help all of us and GF will be happy about that too

just my 2 cents!

:: brian

I agree with Brian. I now believe that someone will be sold on GF's hefty name and price. No one is going to pay him that obscene amount if he doesn't charge it. And you're right about the billionaires out there...they won't even look twice at his price. What's 120 to them if they're earning that in interest anyway????? There is a market for them and that is GF.

KK

I'm with MJ - someone who appears to understand the balance - market yourself til you are blue in the face if you don't have the images to back up the hype - you got nothin. It will be fun to watch the master and see how he does - like the rest of us - he's got to take some risks too. Radar

I've read the replys to this post and find it most interesting. It's easy to sit back and criticize, because we aren't doing $120k weddings.

I do know that some of the things have been touched on, but I'm going to throw in my two cents worth.

1. Emotionally.....Gary's a character, but a fun and crazy character. I think people gyrate to that kind of personality. I've had lunch with Gary a few times over the years when I had a studio in CA. I got in the business a few years before he did and over 17yrs., I did so-so in buesiness. I went through two divorces, and never got it right. My fault, nobody elses. The clients I did have over those years liked ME. My photography has usually been salable, but it was my personality that people liked. As stated, it's GARY you're buying. The photography is secondary.

2. Business wise, Gary's been very astute. It took years to develop his plan and expertise. I was lucky to have seen Rocy Gunn way back in the late 70's early 80's and that was incredible and I know Gary took a lot from him. I think to be financially successful in photography, you need a strong background in marketing, advertising and business. I tell that to my high school seniors that the photography is secondary to suceeding in photography. I know a lot a tremendous photographers that aren't financially successful and a lot of mediocre photographers who are fabulously wealthy.

3. It's interesting that nobody's mentioned this, but how many fabulously wealthy photographers do you know that live anywhere outside of a metopolitan area? If you're going to command $120k/wedding prices, are you going to do that in Eldon, IA? I think not! I just bought a 23 yr. old studio in SE IA and the previous owners had the best reputation within a 25 miles radius. They retired and now I'm struggling because the business has dropped off 50% since I took over. I know I had more experience than them, I've used radio and newspaper to no avail. My personality is more fun and crazier than the previous owner and I didn't raise their prices. I'm getting about 1/3 of what I did in LA. e.g. a 30 x 40 was $1,500 in LA, here in IA, you can get one for $439. Now I know that $1,500 in the LA area is still cheap, because Charis was getting about $5,000 for one 20 yrs. ago in S. CA.

What if Gary got plunked down now here? Would he survive. I doubt it, because (not counting his $120/wedding asking price) nobody around here knows him or has the income to afford him. Could he buidl it to that level? I doubt it. So you have to figure that you need to be near money to make a lot of money. Now I know everybody has a story that will negate what I just said, but it that the rule? I learned that when it comes to life, do we base our decisions on the norm or the exception?

I get a kick out of the photographers that deep down inside know that they'll never be able to get to Gary's level. They'll cheer him on and want to be around him to learn, but they'll never have the guts to go back to their studios and even double their prices. It's all about survival and when you're struggling, you're sure as the devil not thinking about how you're going to get to the point of charging $20k for a wedding.
You're worrying about where the money is coming from to pay the light bill.

Your market area usually controls your prices and I'm finding out that in a depressed area, how good you are isn't the determining factor, but the economy and people are. So even when the economy sucks, if you've got the attributes of a Gary Fong, Reggie, or Bussink, you still get your prices, because you're in a market area that is pretty recession proof. What happens if a father of a bride is worth $100M, the economy takes a hit and he is now only worth $50M? Will he go from a $120k wedding to a $10k wedding photographer to save some money?

All this talk of $120k weddings is admirable, because it gives us a bit of a lift and some food for thought, but for 99% of us, it's not reality. Look at professional athletes or entertainers. They make insane amounts of money. Are they worth it? They like to think they are and as they get more awards, more homeruns, baskets, endorsement deals, they actually buy into their own 'greatness'. The truth of the matter is, we little lowly consumers are what make them! Is Celine Dion worth $450/ticket in Vegas? Pretty easy.....if I have the money,yes. If I don't, no.

Is Gary Fong worth it? If you've got the money, yes. If you don't, no. If I ever get married again, would I want Gary? Yes, would I be able to afford him? No. Pretty simple.

This whole topic boils down to who are we talking about? About maybe 1-2,000 weddings in the WORLD/year that could care less about what the photography costs and can have anyone!

What we need to be thinking about is the other 99% that we realistically consider as our market. Go and learn from these masters, go check out your market and charge the most your market area can support. If you're in South Dakota and draw a 100 mile circle, how many million dollar weddings will there be in 2005? If you want the Gary Fong type of weddings, be prepared to move to Chicago, New York, LA, Paris, Milan,etc. and have a pile of money to live on for a few years until you become great.

I'd like to know if Gary would ever do doing a wedding for some young girl that her daddy could afford only a $3,000 photographer, but wanted to give her the best and knew he really wanted Gary? Would his compassion for a caring dad that knew he could only afford so much outweigh his ability not to waiver on his $120k asking price? I'd like to think that Gary would if the father had the guts to at least ask!

in 1984, I married for a second time in LA and our song was Lionel Ritchie's 'Truly'. That was our first dance song and I was so in love with this woman, I'd have given the world to have had him show up at our wedding and sing that. At that time, I'd have been pressed to have been able to afford renting the sound gear for him EVEN if he would have sung for free!!!! I never even had the guts to get a 'no thanks' from him.

Maybe he would have done it just because I asked and was sincere. Would Gary now submit to doing a wedding if asked by a sincere and 'poor' father?

Whew, that took an hour of my life to write, anybody out there that understands what I just commented on? I'm looking forward to this entire new forum from opensource!

Yep...GF and DJ are definitely the man! or men?..(you get my point) I'm not going to make an initial opinion like how I did when I first read this thread about his price change. I didn't know GF's credentials and all his contributions to the industry. Wow...who was I to ever comment on such a thing...

instead of freaking out on his price...I think I just need to sit back and see what I can learn from this guy and his work. I admire him and DJ for the knowledge that they share with us.

KK

Possibly I wasn't clear enough in my earlier post - Gary Fong DOES have the images to back up the talk. And as I've checked out some of your sites - I'll expect to hear some more talk from DJ, Dane Saunders, MJ, and Brian. Very Very Nice.
Radar

Thanks pep9454 for your last reply and taking the time to share. It's obvious that you know a lot about his business!

QUOTE

I know a lot a tremendous photographers that aren't financially successful and a lot of mediocre photographers who are fabulously wealthy.

I guess it all depends on what your motives are...a lot of people aren't wedding photographers because they want to be fabulously wealthy.  And just beacuse they aren't...does that make them unsuccessful?  If that is someone's only goal, then how does that end up servicing the client?  I think wealth grows from one's expertise and sincere passion...so the more you care about your real purpose, which is making your client happy (because, let's face it, if it weren't for them, we wouldn't even be in business)...the more wealth and opportunity will naturally come your way.

QUOTE

It's interesting that nobody's mentioned this, but how many fabulously wealthy photographers do you know that live anywhere outside of a metopolitan area? If you're going to command $120k/wedding prices, are you going to do that in Eldon, IA?

It seems anymore these days that is doesn't matter where you are...as long as your name is out there. How many weddings do you think Denis Reggie shoots in Atlanta? Not many I'm guessing. He travels constantly. How many $120K weddings do you think Fong will shoot in Kelowana, Canada? So, it might matter if you're just starting out your business, but if you're at the point where you're charging atleast $20K and people know who you are...any place is only a plane ride away...

Plus it seems that fabulously wealthy photographers usually have multiple homes all over the U.S....and usually in more remote areas...

Have the best day everybody!!!

MJ

Oh, one more thing...check out Fong's Xanga...www.garyfong.com...

Just because I can afford a $150,000 wedding doesn't mean that I will WANT to to spend that much. What's that verse again? "A fool and his money are soon parted..."?

The intelligent, affluent consumer (i.e. donald trump) knows that $30,000 is more than enough to get a likeable photographer who produces outstanding images. Why blow the extra $90,000? Simple. Lack of intelligence. Nothing against GF...I am sure he is a great guy, and I know he does good work. But I can't bring myself to cheer for this type of hype. I can't say, "That's great for him if he can get it."

Yes, it's capitalism. Yes, people will pay what they perceive as value and can afford. But it's also "parting fools from their money."

QUOTE (Musicmanchris @ Apr 14 2005, 11:35 AM)

I don't know that much about Fong, but I thought it was interesting that I went to look up his site to find his portfolio and I spent 10 mins on Google and couldn't find it.  His websites are pretty poor in my opinion just as far as presentation.... Maybe I'm just dumb and can't find it, if anyone knows the link can you post it?

---------------------------------------------------------------
Guest comment was LAMO so I edited it! Great response from Brian though! You're a stud!

Dear "Guest,"

If you ever return to read this, I have the following to say to you . . . Although this is an open forum where differences in opinion are welcome and often celebrated, your anonymous, short-sighted slam is certainly not appreciated. If you care to leave a comment like this again, please share your name with us. If you actually took the time to read some of Chris' posts, you would realize that he's quite the opposite of "dumb." If you were just joking around, you're not very funny. I'm sure we would all welcome your contribution to this forum provided you actually had something valid to say. Best of luck to you . . .

::Brian

Hey Brian,
That's a well-restrained response to "Guest", who obviously has not spent any time on this Forum, other than to make his slam.
As for charging astronomical prices to shoot a wedding, I have to believe that there is a lot of ego and greed involved. I don't care how good you are, to ask anyone for $120,000 to photograph their wedding is pretty "ballsy". And for someone to pay it says more about their perceived status than their bank account. Gary Fong seems like a pretty cool guy, but I just don't understand his motives here.
Christopher

Hey everyone...wow. This thread has really caused quite a commotion. Gary Fong himself has visited our threads and posted his members to check out what we're saying. Click here to see what I'm talking about. So I'm sure that "they" very well could have been the "guest". Or it could be the man himself. (I would hope not)

Some great discussion going on and I'm bummed I missed out!

My brother's wedding was awesome but I can't wait to read through this thread and put in my two cents...or four...or...well I'd be broke if I put in much more than that!

QUOTE

Yep...GF and DJ are definitely the man! or men?

I'm a mere boy compared to Gary. I appreciate all of your support and I sincerely thank you....but Gary Fong is Gary Fong! I'm a 25 yr old punk kid! It's like when commentors compare Lebron James with Michael Jordan? James is good (with potential) but Jordan is Jordan! I want to prove myself and I hope that God gives me the chance to...but Gary has proven himself over and over and over again.

more later...

Hey Pep9494 - nice post - who are you? Can you give me a little clue?

DJ and others:

I'm really disappointed to see the tone in this thread. One of the reasons that I enjoy this forum so much is the fact that the conversation is decent, worthy of reading, amusing, and you can actually get something out of it. I would hate to see it turn into the same-old forum that you can find anywhere else, including the HUGE forum at www.dpreview.com, where there is so much "slamming" going on, that it can really be a waste of time.

I also think that one of the reasons that this forum has been so great is the fact that it has stayed small and tight-knit. I'm not suggesting that the forum shouldn't grow, but maybe we could something like take the "Guest" feature off and not allow anyone to post until they have introduced themselves in the "Introduction" thread. To just have random people posting negativity is really annoying, and takes away from the great feel that this forum has had!

Nathan

Gotcha covered...I haven't read the whole thread but I think this is a good conversation for the most part - I took care of guest comment though. - silly people!

Hey everyone,

I know I am a bit late but I would like to give my 2 cents. Before I do, I want to say to everyone involved that this is a great conversation. We're all on a journey as artists and businessmen, and there's no other group of people I would rather journey with than you guys. You bring professionalism, a passion for people and a desire to be authentic to every conversation. My life and business have since joining.

I think Dana has done an amazing job articulating perceived or market value. There are many products or services in the marketplace and they all have a niche in the market. It's a complex combination of strategy and the perceived value of the consumer base that determines a product or services value or success. Gary has taken full advantage of his perceived value in the market place and it has paid off. More power to him. And thanky ou to Amy and MJ for bringing balance to the conversation by reminding us that to really care about our clients we will continue to strive at giving them the best photography possible.

Aside from all of this there is one thing that DJ has been saying and I hear a lot of you reiterating. It's about you. You are something special and there is no price too small to pay for how you are. Share with others who you are through your business and your photography and people will be lining up book you.

Kurt

WOW..... what a rollercoaster! I have so many emotions right now.

For me wedding photography is 2 things..... its about "photography" and its about "business". (Don't get me wrong though, Its about everything you can imagine with photography, the techincal skill, the composition, the being able to capture the moment at the right time, to use "light" the right way, being creative....)

I love what I do, I am thankful I can "make" a decent living with what I charge now, my 5 year business goal was 5K in 5 years.... I am there.... next year is my 5th year on my own.....

Good for GF to raise his prices.... I am off to look at mine... maybe its time again...

I have tons of photographers listed (mentally and booked marked on my puter) as a wonderful source of knowledge, experience and talent (my heros and mentors).... Many of whom (which they may not know it directly) are here, but it also includes Gary..... My list can go on and on....


I hope that I can learn from what he is doing....
leanne

Leanne,

I love the spirit of what you're saying. It really captures for me why I felt the need to put up such lengthy (and probably overly verbose) posts on this issue.

Way back on Page 1 of this thread, I think it was DJ who was making the gentle case for us to make OURSELVES the product we're selling (holistically ~ nod to MJ here ) and not just our photos. Then, some purist folks I have tremendous respect for (nod to Amy here ) countered back with the call to our craft, namely photography.

My responses then were basically a call for all of us to lay aside our notions of what works for a second, and listen again to what DJ was suggesting ... to take the humble posture of learning from those who run successful wedding photography BUSINESSES well.

What a gift it is to take that posture. I've said this on other threads before, but it's funny to me that one of my mentors is ten years younger than me. DJ may be a 25 year old punk, but I'd be a 35 year old fool to not learn from that guy. And the fact that he's a friend, makes it all that much sweeter.

His invitation (and those from others ... see David's reading list) ... to reform how we think about our businesses is nothing short of wisdom.

What a blessing you guys all are! Thank you.

-ds

PS ... Was I reading things wrong or did I just notice that Gary Fong himself was reading this thread and made a little "unregistered" post?