what I'm seeing in the content biz out here in LA
 

with the client pool shrinking I'm seeing a real shrinking of the amount of shooters here is the area... I know of 3-4 already gone and just heard about 2 more producers that are going to move over to something else.

and oddly enough it's the somewhat 'shady producers' that are being pushed out of the biz. just as recently one of the more 'awkward' agencies as closed it's doors.

I guess the nut jobs will be pushed out of the internet end as well? I mean after manwin steals/buys the internet that is :thumbsup

thoughts?

i am calm and patient - quality will prevail

you think that's the way it will turn out? I'm thinking it's about client relationships as well as quality product. the days of 'hey look a vagina' are long gone and several producers did make a living off that for years.

what are you seeing on the ground over where you're at?

similar - producers disappearing left and right, girls rather doing escort than porn, agencies struggling for clients and so on...

we have also reduced our personnel but we have the shop and that is - believe it or not - doing better than ever. And our alternative income sources are growing too.

even if we stopped shooting in total me and my partner could still live comfortably. that's why i am not in panic mode like many others

are you a shooter? I always though you were just the internet face. the agencies out here claim they are busy day and night however one testing center closed while the other never has lines anymore... plenty of models to shoot.

i did shoot in the beginning, but i suck ;)

my partner does that, i do the sales etc.

and yeah, we have the same problem, one testing center closed and the other now collects for a couple of days before the do the lab stuff. so no chance anymore to get a test from one day to the other

yes the biz is getting smaller yet I'm finding the more quality people are staying. same in your area? years ago a client suggested that all the mom and pop shooters would fold leaving the content biz in the hands of bigger producers... what I'm seeing on line now with programs is like the auto industry in it's early days... used to be many many many car company's, that eventually folded or got bought up by the biggies...

As REO once said. ROLL WITH THE CHANGES. Plus theres still plenty of good shooters out here, they just dont post on this wine list we call GFY.

who's reo?

reo speed wagon -- early 80's

that's what I was thinking too. seemed like a weird reference to me though. you can tune a piano, but you can't tune a fish etc...

For the non hip rockers..... REO SPEEDWAGON

http://www.speedwagon.com/tour.php

Been seeing shooters quitting for the last 3 years. Most are using their shooting skills to shoot something more profitable and less trouble.

Just so glad I never went the exclusive route. We can survive on what we shot for years to come.

I would love to shoot weddings, I hear so much bad stuff about them though... 'bridezilla'!!!!!!

I shot a wedding....Once.

Never again.

Depends on your business model I guess.

This economy could get 10 times worse, and I would still make money shooting content. Some guys who were 'just' shooters have been forced to also become webmasters as less programs and companies buying new content.

If you still want to be just a shooter, nothing else, then you are going to have a hard time unless you are one of the most sought out guys, or hired by Brazzers or those still shooting a ton. You have to roll with the punches, and some are having to learn to be WM and market their own wares themselves.

Once this economy turns around, I am sure there will be an increased demand for fresh new stuff, and everyone will go rushing back in after the money. But until the money is there, people will have to adapt or die.
:2 cents:

I've shot a few weddings, and yes--never again.

The only thing worse to shoot IMHO is kids. I've shot family portraits for friends, and have realized that young children are pretty much uncontrollable. I can see why the word "infanticide" was coined.

I was taught that any business that makes money, more and more people will enter that business until that business no longer makes money.

what was the main issue?

I've seen some great kid photograhy... be much fun, but with long glass and only candids :thumbsup

what about pet photographers?

bring your pooper scooper! :1orglaugh

Good theory, and most likely true from experience or history.

Right now, for many, adult is making them no money. So they are headed back to MceeDees to try on the Hamburgler outfit.

I got my start in the fall of '02 actually shooting content, and it seems since then a lot of the shady dudes have been axed out of this biz -- from other shooters, to shady agents, to shady producers. Not saying that all the shady dudes are out, but a lot of them are. And it seems the more this gig turns to actual "work" (as opposed to sitting around all day, doing bongs, and "working") the more the dopes, lazies, and the frauds go away.

yes, that's exactly what I'm seeing as well... 2001was a great year in the biz for sure. started fall 2000 and 2002 it was cranking

There is no doubt that by now most the half-assed, unskilled content producers who were able to get work a few years ago when programs were throwing money around shooting content are out of the biz by now just like so many of the bad programs, lame sites and shady companies are getting aced out. Unless one consistently does top quality work, has access to lots of new models, great relationships with big clients, a great reputation and alternate sources of income, it would indeed be very hard to be an independant producer nowadays.

I shot weddings (photo/video) for 14 years before getting into adult.

I've shot a few since and have an excellent rig for doing them today.

A high end guy with good accounts can rake it in this way: just think of it as an exclusive content shoot and you will see that exceeding your current day rate may be quite easy, even in this economy.

not that i wanted to do that, but how does it work - something like $1000 day rate and then $2 per print?

think selling prints is dead.... more like $3000-$5000K per wedding on the low end and up to $50K in the high end. this would include video as well as post prodduction... give the client a dvd or bd, walk away

i've always wondered why an enterprising wedding photog hasn't opened a site selling wedding photos to everyone who attended the wedding. seems a lot of mula is left on the table just selling to the wedding couple.

Compared with todays models and selling it to sponsors who think it should be cheaper it's not such a bad gig.

Some of these guys posting about it being so bad must be single or hired a weekend hack to shoot content.

Exactly. A decent wedding is Saturday or Sunday only. So the good shooters can pick and choose who they shoot for. The market swings between hacks who shoot at the weekend and rely on an ad on something like Craigs list. And the top end who don't have to advertise.

jesus christ, people really pay that? not in this part of the world, i guess - lol

one more reason not to marry or make it a drive through wedding in vegas

some models are pretty cool and fun to shoot, some are the complete opposite. life is in session. $.02

PS: i worked as DJ on weddings, I had my fair share of "bridezillas" - lol

many people are under the impression that getting married is a once in a lifetime event. and shooting weddings takes a very specialized skills set. specialized skills sets are expensive to purchase. I see beautiful stuff on the wedding shooter forums.

This man is the definition of consistent QUALITY.

:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

interesting I wonder if this will also drive down the rates that performers are paid

We have increased our shooting again and will be contacting shooters we have used in the past to help us pick up the slack.

Minus the few of you (you know who you are).

No one is paying that here either and i have seen great shoots from friends weddings :2 cents:

it's taking the rates back to a realistic rate... think of it like this: when everyone has an apple tree why are apples so expensive? when all the shooters and agents hit town the rates were artificially inflated. now they are going back to normal.

very cool... love to see folks get great wedding pics... chance of a lifetime etc..

lots of good shooters available Dave... don't expect you'll have any issues at all getting solid content. :2 cents:

Have any of you guys been keeping up with the insanity in California pertaining to the govt. getting ready to REALLY start "regulating" your shoots?

Not only are they talking condom use...but now they are talking about "employee" insurance for the girls AND a "Safety Instuction" manual that will have to be signed on location. AND they are talking about having inspectors come to your shoots to make sure that it is "safe".

The govt. of California is looking to put you guys out of business. :(

Been following it on a couple of big threads over at Xbiz , and I'm just astounded at the idiocy of the govt. there.

If you are shooting in California and any of these new rules go into effect, you guys are screwed.

I did the wedding DJ thing yikes :D was ok sometimes but it can really suck.

we will move the biz to mexico.

Exactly...oceanside.

move to europe

Whatever happened to the content producer with the large green watermark across the photos? That was horrible stuff. Didn't he end up in prison or something along those lines?

hehe - we were only booked when they wanted rock music - up to stuff like Metallica. so only the first 1-2 hours were a bit awkward till the grandparents fainted and the rest was drunk enough :1orglaugh

some of those weddings were really remarkable :pimp