What is your stock "Worth"?

So since I have posted this video hiring a photographer, I have received several e mails about cost and price.  Things like, What is the price of an average photographer?  What is the cost a typical shoot or how should I price myself.  The answer is .... I do not know.  All of the questions are good and valid.  But what is a "average photographer" price?  I guess you could look up an old Photo District News article and see a survey they came up with.  However, in my opinion those are so bogus.  Everybody wants to show or tell people how much better they are doing then in reality.  It seems to be human nature.  Ask someone "how are you doing"?  They always seems to say good, great fantastic...ect.  Not too often to you hear anything negative.  Until they are on verge of a breakdown.

So why is it so hard to put a cost on our art / service?  How come everyone prices are all over the board?  Well, there are a lot of factors involved, especially when it comes to advertising.  Advertising prices are based on how many eyes are going to see an AD. Or it is a percentage of a clients AD buy.  When it comes to asking for a price, none of us will give up the cards in the first round.  We are all holding out for the best number possible.  This seems to be a game we all play with each other.  The client  play it with the agency.   Agencies play it with us.  Are we afraid of loosing?  Loosing out on money we could of had?  

What if there a system in place that money/price was a set factor.  We could finally be judge on our work alone?  What a concept.  That type of system is not likely to happen.  I think they might call that a union.  But think about the idea of strength in numbers .  Hmmmm....However, one point to be freelance is to have unlimited possibilities with a verity work and earning potential.  

I bring this up, because over the next year we will all be facing some tough negotiating.   How many times has a client ask you to come down on your price and you agreed by just dropping the price.  I'm guilty.  That was early on in my career.  As time goes on and the more experience I gain, dropping a price to get the job is the wrong approach and the wrong message.  UNLESS....get ready, both parties agree to give something up.  Why should it be one person burden?  This goes both ways for all parties involved.  That way no one is LOSING!

So to get back at the questions at hand....What is the price of an average photographer?  What is the cost a typical shoot or How much do you charge?  The answer is .... I STILL don't know.  We are never in a "average time" and certainly not now.  We all charge what we feel we are worth.  And during these tough times that lay ahead.  When your sitting front your computer and the phone is not ringing....your stock in "worth" may tumble a bit... internally.  So going forward, make sure your keeping your "worth" stock up.  Do things that are not going to put you in "funk".  Do some test shooting, blog, read books., talk with other photographers or try a different type of photography.  This could the best thing for you.  I choose to think that there are loads of opportunities coming ahead.  Exciting & tough times ahead.  Just  do things that are going to keep you sharp in this very odd time of ours.