Oh the joy of dealing with people!

[EricC]

Originally Posted by LarryLetzer

Remember, this is the 3d easiest profession to get into. First, the worlds, oldest, 2nd tire repair 3d professional photography - All one needs is a camera.

Anyone know what brand of grill Bobby Flay uses? I think I'll open a restaurant next. Maybe Emeril will let me borrow one of his pans so that I can cook like him.

-All one needs is a camera-

Larry I am truly sorry that you think that ANYONE WITH A CAMERA can hop right in and take your place. I on the other hand don't feel quite so threatened. But now that you have taken the time to list the professions..... Anyone know if Heidi's hiring I free Wednesday for a few hours.

Eric

[Terry Zorich]

Look, you party poopers... I fully understand that if you are rude and/or sarcastic, you're not going to "win friends and influence people". I'd caution that if you cannot provide funny/witty replies to stupid questions in a way that is not downright rude, then you should definitely not engage in any such behavior. Everyone can recite a joke, but not everyone is equally funny telling one, you know? It's all in the delivery. If you are unable to be funny about it, then just refrain. Or not. It's your business.

But there's another interesting point to address: Eric is right - fancy equipment does not a professional make.

Originally Posted by LarryLetzer

Our business is undergoing an attack from the prosumner many of them owning the exact same camera as many of you make your living with. So, unless you, and I act as the consumate professional why should these customers (the people that put food on our table) spend money with us?

First, because their pictures stink. When the average "prosumer" is getting photos as good as yours (after 50+ years in the business?), then your point is valid. But I'd have to assume you're probably just a little bit better.

Second, not everyone has the same access. At many events I shoot, spectators are not permitted into the same areas as I am.

I shot a big motocross event this past weekend. I counted at LEAST ten other photographers with digital SLR's. There were some local camera club members in attendance; although I didn't see any 1-series bodies, one of those club guys had a Sigma 120-300/2.8 just like the one I was using for most of the day. Another had a 70-200/2.8L, another lens I have in my case. One guy was taking photos with the intent of posting them online for viewing/purchase; he even got the track announcers to promote his on the PA. But no one even had sample photos or a display booth. Meanwhile, we had not only sorted photos by rider number, making it very easy for customers to find their photos, but we were showing pictures from that day's event on multiple viewing stations, and making prints and CD's onsite. I had the ~3000 photos we'd taken available through our website a few hours after the event was over, and I've already filled online orders. Meanwhile, that guy who was getting promoted on the PA...his stuff STILL isn't online two days afterwards. And when he does eventually get everything posted, there's the confusing ordering process to contend with. Apparently customers can submit their orders using a provided form, but it's not clear on how they are supposed to make payment. There are no payment instructions anywhere. But my favorite thing?...besides the abundance of spelling mistakes on his website, he mistyped his own e-mail address as com.info@[domain]...

I was the "professional photographer" at this weekend's event. Everyone else was just a guy with a camera...even the guy who's trying to sell his stuff online.

All one needs is a camera.

To continue Eric's analogies, I think I'll swing by the music store tonight and buy an acoustic guitar. What's a good one? A Martin, maybe? Because I think James Taylor has made a decent living writing and playing songs, and I'd like to do the same. I can carry a tune...

Or maybe I'll learn how to paint! That Monet guy just made blotches of color, right? That looks REALLY easy to do!

[Dave New]

Actually, you kind of made my point about humor. Just because you can crack a joke, does not make you a professional humorist.

Please leave that to the professionals (and I don't mean professional photographers).

It's hard enough being a professional photographer. Leave your stand-up practice for improv night.

[Norm_Cabana]

Dave, Larry,

Since I am the one who started this thread I feel as if I must address your comments. I don't know what kind of operation or focus that either of you have, but I am an event photographer and I spend most of my days in the middle of a race track. High society we aren't but I deal with many who live that kind of life.

I don't operate from a store front or a studio. Instead I operate out of a bright yellow and white 8x20 enclosed trailer and the thing is covered with the words PHOTO. In addition, I have all manner of display photos hanging inside the trailer and outside on display racks. Not only that, but we have two 44x66 inch photos in frames at the open end of the trailer. The point of this is that you would have to be BLIND to not know that we sell photos, yet without fail I will have people walk into the trailer and either ask if we sell photos or ask me what I do. Sorry, but if you can't tell what I do you deserve a bit of a ribbing when you ask stupid questions.

When I mentioned the lady that asked if I sold photos and I said I was taking orders for antiques, I didn't tell you that she and her daughter stood outside my trailer looking at my samples and her daughter suggested that she go inside to see the photos of her son-in-law racing. She flat out knew I sold photos, yet she had to ask the idiotic question. I even overheard the coversation she and her daughter had before she came in.

As with TAZ I pretty much define professionalism in my segment of the market. This may shock you, but most people aren't as uptight as you would expect. This past weekend I had at least three people walk into the trailer and ask "How does this work?" And my initial answer, given with a grin and a chuckle, was "Very well, thank you! Come on inside." The next response from them is usually "I can see that." as they are walking in and looking around. I then go through a minute long explanation of what we do and what we sell and we show them their photos. Without fail, as they leave the trailer, their comment is "Very impressive. I'll be back!" And they do come back.

Most of the time when I make my comments to my customers, it's to lighten up their mood. My trailer can get VERY crowded and it's easy for tempers to flare. Telling a guy to leave me with a full credit card lets him know that he's not going to get ripped off. Why? Because no one in their right mind would make a comment like that and then screw the customer.

My customers are friends. In some cases I've been serving the same customer for 5 years and I've been introduced to their kids who now buy from us. If I live long enough I'll probably be selling to the grandkids. In the last event, I had one customer selling stuff for us while he waited for his order to be completed. No, I'm not offending my customers in the least and I charge prices 40-200% higher than my competition.

[Norm_Cabana]

By the way, I am not recommending that you make fun of your customers rather I suggest that you and your customers have fun together. No one likes to be insulted and it WILL cost you business if you do so. Yes, I lost the business of the lady but I gained the business of the daughter. The people at the San Jose Grand Prix that I mentioned earlier...they weren't customers.