When your dishwasher finally gives up the ghost and has to be replaced, what do you do? If you’re like me and have no idea how much a dishwasher costs, you get to Googlin’. Soon, you find out that you can get the Hyundai-level dishwasher with no bells and whistles for about $300 and the stainless steel Mercedes-level one for $1500.
That’s pretty easy to understand because it’s a commodity. The better built, the more features, the more it costs.
So, it’s not surprising that when a client is looking for a wedding vendor, the price range they find is mind-boggling to them because why would one photographer charge $500 and one charge $5000 for the same amount of time on the day and the same digital files?
The difference is experience and level of service.
That $500 photographer has probably not been photographing weddings for very long because that’s well below market rate here in Upstate New York. The chances are good that it’s not a legal, tax-paying, insurance carrying business because, after taxes, time, and all the other costs to run a legitimate business rather than a hobby, $500 would equally out far less than minimum wage.
And there’s no way I’d advise my clients to choose a below minimum wage photographer taking photos on a day that can’t ever be repeated.
Wedding industry professionals charge based on not only the physical things they deliver but their expertise and the time they save you.
So the next time you find yourself looking at a price tag you didn’t expect for a wedding vendor service, ask them why they are different. We don’t mind! Any wedding vendor worth their salt should be proud to tell you why their expertise is well worth the price tag.
If you’re planning a wedding in Upstate NY, we’d love to talk to you about how we can make your day even better than you imagined. Say hello!
