However, I’d like to make a point about charging low prices when starting out, since that’s how I built up my business (whether or not you may approve of this method or not…)

I was a newspaper photographer that started out advertising low prices ($500-$800) for wedding photography and videography. It got me enough jobs to build my portfolio and experience. I also felt that I was serving those customers who were hard pressed for a $500 videographer and let’s face it, there are many in this economy that are going to have a friend, family member or “lowball” videographer do their wedding simply because of price. (And, they’ll get a poor quality product for what is one of the most important days of their lives.) In my case, I felt that I was providing a level of professionalism beyond Uncle Al, though still a novice wedding videographer, but I was also helping a couple meet their budget and remember their special day.

Four years later, I’ve grown my business and pricing structure considerably to match what most videographers charge in my market. But, I think the important thing in charging so little when starting out is to be transparent about the reasons you are charging only $500. I was clear with each couple that I worked for that I was in the beginning stages of building my wedding business and portfolio. I showed them the small sampling of past work I had done and asked them to review it carefully before trusting me with their wedding video. They always seemed to appreciate that and I was hired on the merits of what I was capable of up to that point.

I’m not going to come down on anyone who chooses to “lowball” as a means of starting out in the business, but I despise false advertising. If you are entering the market with unbelievably low prices, be clear about WHY they are so low so that you aren’t dragging the rest of the professional videography market down with you.