Groupon. Living Social ads. These are very hot topics in the photography community. People feel incredibly passionate about it and are either fighting for it or against it. For that reason I suspect this post is going to piss a few people off. Sorry!
Why haven't I offered my services in Groupon or Living Social? It seems there is a new boudoir ad being advertised in these places on a daily basis. Yet, I have not jumped on board. Why is this? Let me break it down a bit for you:
- First off, I haven't been hurting for business really. I had a slow month in December but I knew business would pick right back up again after the holiday. Photographers generally don't offer these deals when they are operating a healthy business. They have no need to. I have watched some business destroy themselves with these offers, basically tying up their entire year with shoots that they aren't profiting from.Ouch!
- Groupon customers are statistically looking for a deal over quality. And most are happy just purchasing what comes with the deal instead of adding on to their order. This is not always the case. An exceptional photographer can upsell and make it worth it to them. But why would an exceptional photographer need more business? Shouldn't they be getting enough just based on their talent alone? Sometimes, they might be new to an area and just need to get their name out there, in which case I could see investing in the groupon experience not to make money but for PR, basically as an advertising EXPENSE.
- Groupon and Living Social as organizations do not even check to make sure a photographer is actually qualified to offer a deal. They also don't make sure the images the photographer submits are even theirs. Just in this past week, I know of TWO photographers whose images were stolen and being used to promote another photographers groupon ad. Yes, you heard that right. There are faux photographers out there claiming other photographers work as their own. They have no way of being able to duplicate the work being shown for a paying client. SCARY!
- Boudoir prices are already discounted pretty much across the board for most photographers. They are competing with shoot and burn hobbyists so their prices are pretty low for trying to operate a profitable and legal business. I just can't see this being a wise decision for me. However, if I ever get desperate enough, you might just see me joining the ranks too. And, if it saves a business that is great! I just don't hear about a lot of those kinds of groupon stories.
- Boudoir is a luxury service. By doing a groupon it cheapens your brand.
So, with that all said, please do your research when getting these deals for photography, especially for boudoir photography. I don't know about you, but if I am going to be wearing lingerie for a photo session and at my most vulnerable, I definitely don't want to cut corners by going with the cheapest deals. And, if you do decide to go with a groupon, do your research in advance! Make sure the work being shown is actually from that photographer!
Finally, if you do see Haute Shots offering a groupon, will somebody please slap me? 
February 5, 2013 - 10:34 am
Sad to say that I contacted groupon once to see what they could offer, but I wouldn’t go lower than offering the session for less than $150. They seriously try to talk you down on your price so then I decided they weren’t for me. I’m sorry, I can’t work for free. Good post!
February 5, 2013 - 11:11 am
While I can see the benefits of Groupon in some industries, like restaurants, others are setting themselves up for failure. It’s been my experience that businesses that offer groupons are either: 1. Brand new, which then it might make sense to get the word of mouth out there, in the case of restaurants or 2. Losing their asses already, using Groupon as a ditch effort to increase sales.
Everyone sees all the salon Groupons that go by… I hear about them all the time from my clients, who are trying to get deals on pedis or massages. About 25% are happy with what they end up with. Should I regale you with the terror tale of my client who bought a Groupon for a pedi, and ended up at a regular office building, sitting in a metal folding chair, with her feet in a plastic tub meant for bussing tables?
Good for you for standing your ground. Your team appreciates it, and we know that our work stands for itself and should be desired, not discounted.
February 5, 2013 - 11:13 am
Hello!
I totally share your point of view. We wrote something similar back in July, when the market in the UK hit the bottom for Boudoir
http://fabyandcarlo.com/2012/07/deal-or-no-deal-groupon-and-london-boudoir-photography/
I believe that educating your leads on quality and not quantity is the key. It takes time, but it is the way to go if you want to create a small business which produces outstanding images!
Ciao
Carlo