Economic Realities and Maui Photographers

There's been quite a bit of hype on various destination websites regarding the "state of the economy" and consumers' expectation of negotiating professional fees.

There's always somebody willing to sell their service more cheaply than somebody else. That doesn't mean we should all race to the bottom in setting fees. A client who's looking for a 20 or 30% discount off your pricelist may not be the client you're after. Conversely, the photographer who is willing to cut his fees dramatically just to book, may not be the photographer you want to retain. He may be a part timer who doesn't depend on his photography business to pay the bills, so what happens if he loses his part time gig? With the "state of the economy", that's a real possibility. Where does your deposit go when he leaves the island, especially if you've booked 5 or 6 months out? What happens when he gets a call from a client who wants to book him for his full rate on the same date as your discount wedding?

When your discounted photographer shows up for the wedding, is she bringing everything she normally brings? Her assistant? Her top end lighting gear? Her best creative attitude? Will the edit be cut short to minimize time spent? Corners are always cut when the product is discounted. Photography, like other businesses, is run for profit, and a discounted rate means less service to make up for lost profit. For your Maui wedding, this seems like a terrible risk to take. You don't get any "do overs", that'll cost you double.

My suggestion to everybody is to calm down. I've seen recessions come and go. To potential clients: Find photography you like and a package you can afford and book it. Don't believe the William Shatner ads and "negotiate like a pro". You might wind up with someone who doesn't shoot like a pro. To the professional Maui photographers out there: When the recession ends, you're going to be bummed that you can't book a full price gig because you held the date for a discounted one.