Hello!

I need new headshots, and my agent recommended Kenneth Dolin and Michael D'Ambrosia. Both are nice over the phone and have great shots on their sites, and both are around the same price range, so I'm having difficulty choosing!

Any thoughts on either photographer?

Thanks in advance!

quote:

Originally posted by Afortheweb:
Hello!

I need new headshots, and my agent recommended Kenneth Dolin and Michael D'Ambrosia. Both are nice over the phone and have great shots on their sites, and both are around the same price range, so I'm having difficulty choosing!

Any thoughts on either photographer?

Thanks in advance!

Meet them BOTH in PERSON first.

I simply can't see how charging $500 for headshots in the current market is justifiable. I'm not saying their quality isn't good, I'm saying there's equal quality out there for much less.

Do some research, agents will always recommend a great photographer, but they're not the one paying for it. Again, nothing against either of your choices here, both are decent at what they do, but there's so many more affordable options out there with equal quality.

Just sayin', do your homework

quote:

Originally posted by Zampano:
I simply can't see how charging $500 for headshots in the current market is justifiable.

Not "justifiable"?

I've noticed a regrettable trend in Los Angeles recently. The owner of Isgo Photo Lab in Burbank told me that "the headshot market has been completely saturated with $99. bargain basement photographers without a clue." Out of desperation, many actors have even resorted to taking each other's headshots in an effort to save money.

I don't know how much your rent in LA is Zampano, but I'll give you odds that it isn't anywhere near mine. In fact, I'll offer anyone reading this, FREE HEADSHOTS FOR LIFE. All they have to do is pay the rent on my Manhattan studio for one month and we'll consider it even.

In your post you claim you can get "equal quality" at giveaway prices. I've seen that kind of work before too, and I can assure you that it doesn't pass the acid test. And you're leaving out the single most important factor of all in getting great headshots...

Reputation.

www.robertkim.com
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647/

OMG, Robert, I am down with that offer!!
One day... lol.

I also accept credit cards.

I never said "equal quality at giveaway prices". For someone who dosent like to be misquoted you sure do misquote a lot (second time you've misquoted me). What I said was there is equal quality for much less, and I stand by that.

I'm not going to start a pissing contest nor do I want an argument, we're here to help each other and that was my intention. I wanted to point out that you should always do your research and homework, there's plenty of photographers out there. Yes, there are a ton of crappy ones but if you do your homework you will find the quality you want for a reasonable price.

As for studios, your rent should not dictate the price you charge clients, that's not their problem, it's yours. The market, supply and demand dictates fair price. Right now, there is a saturation of bargain basement photographer s that have dragged down the market whether we like it or not. Some suck, some do not suck.

Not to mention, the industry as a whole has been bottoming out for quite some time now, it's the trickle down theory that has directly impacted the headshot industry, from the studios not buying specs, greenlighting films, slow casting, SAG issues, 24P wide films (gwc's), all of this trickles down to the actor that can no longer afford $500 headshot sessions. They are a discerning bunch and will find the quality they need for much less with a little determination and effort on their part.

This does not mean that charging $500 because you have high rent is justifiable, I personally do not think it is. I had to move studios to insure my prices stay affordable for my clients without compromising quality.

Again, this is not about which photographer is better, nor am I saying anyone suggested is a bad photographer. I'm just pointing out that research is best in this situation as those prices are not acceptable in this market anymore. 3 years ago they were fine but they are no longer justifiable considering what you can get for a fraction of the cost. That's a fact, not an opinion. There are countless photographers that have equal quality that charge much less.

I'm not here to point fingers or even make photography suggestions as I think that's unethical, but I think it's fine suggesting to the OP to do her homework before making a decision.

Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by Zampano:
I never said "equal quality at giveaway prices".
As for studios, your rent should not dictate the price you charge clients, that's not their problem.

Let me be brief.

First, read up on the term, "INFERENCE," certainly in terms of what you consider a "fair price" for great headshots.

Second, consider the elements that must be factored into the price of any product or service, most notably, overhead. RENT.

You don't seem to understand the high cost of living and working in New York. You mention that you have studios in both "Los Angeles and NYC," but your thin grasp on this harsh reality doesn't bode well to your actual experience in both cities.

And thirdly, are you inferring that I'm not worth the money?

www.robertkim.com
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453647/

Stop baiting me, Robert, you've tried and failed before and will fail here too. I have nothing against you, never have, yet every time I have a contrary opinion to yours you start to bait me into a pissing contest.

I never "inferred" that you are a bad photographer, your either very insecure or lack a grasp of a simple conversation. Clearly I don't have your overhead, I don't need an overpriced studio to shoot headshots in, that's just me, clearly you share a different opinion. So keep charging what you charge, to be honest I have no idea what that is because I do not care. I was talking about the OP's original choices and the concept of research. Outside of that just let it go, relax and try to stay on subject.

Thanks

What you refer to as "baiting" I call an honest, straightforward question.

You made a lot of assumptions and statements that I did not agree with. This board is first and foremost, a free forum where we can all express our different perspectives. It's up the reader whose advice they choose to follow.

If you want to use inflammatory language like this, be my guest.

So now the word baiting is inflammatory? You have a fascinating grasp on the English language my friend. Alas, I'm going to bow out now as none of our bickering will help the OP. Good luck and take care.

If it's used in the exact fashion you just used it in Zampano, you bet it's inflammatory.

But let's not get into a "PISSING CONTEST," to quote your carefully-worded phrase.

The fact that you're my direct competitor doesn't detract from the fact that offtimes you simply don't know what you're talking about.

Might I add one more caveat? I have nothing against any photographer, especially the two the OP mentioned, both of them are great photographers. I was derailed here, if I caused confusion I'm sorry, that was not my intention. I was just pointing out that the OP should do her research.

Thanks

Uh-huh.

Okay, here is my thought on this. Some photographers are well worth $500 and more. I just saw the work of the two the OP asked about after looking at their websites and I don't think either of them are. I would keep looking. These guys are too crop happy and chop off way too much of the head etc. I hate it when they get too wrapped up in getting creative for their own needs when their job is too shoot you for YOUR needs as you are the client.

Poster Faithlove asked about Kenneth Dolin here a while back and I said the same thing. She ultimately went with someone else and the results were wonderful.