Pricing for Services

I just finished read a blog by Preston Bailey http://blog.prestonbailey.com/2011/10/05/wedding-vendors-make-yourself-necessary/, and felt that would be a good topic to blog about.

I have 2 key components for my business that I find prices for. I take these from what photographers or photo booth operators charge in the industry. I never try to undercut other competition like some do, as I feel I am in a business that is unique and marketable, or I should not be in it.

Sometimes, When a potential client asks for a quote, I sometimes feel guilty for the price tag which is high at times. However, I then tell myself I am worthy and qualified to do the job, and that it is an expectation to keep my going rates.  I have seen some wedding photographers with grossly under the scale and grimace at their practise. I sometimes feel they don't feel their worthiness, because their work is talented.  After talking to them, I don't get the sense they are undercutting their competitors, just insecure.

We recently increased our price for our 6 hour package for the photo booth. There is quite a difference in doing a job for 4 hours as opposed to 6. And our past rate of 6 hours was almost the same as 4 hours.  We have found that the people who request 6 hours can afford it, due to corporations and larger weddings.

As I see the fun and laughter and emotion with a photo booth, I am confident of our prices. The booths are definitely the highlight of the wedding reception.  Have you ever seen people line  up a long time to get to the dance floor?

Therefore, I will work at giving quality work, the best I can to meet the expectations of the client, for the price they are paying.

Wedding Season Trends confirmed - Photo Booths

This email from Bridal Fantasy has some trend stats in the way the industry is going.  Some changes with open minded brides and grooms!  Remember to book your Photo booth at least 6 months in advance, which is pushing it.

I love wedding stats, but most of all I love sharing them with you! Numbers don’t lie and these are impressive. I hope that they motivate youJ.

This is my compilation of highlights from the 2011 American Wedding Study (and in brackets my thoughts).

Top trends:

• Couples are increasingly skipping sit-down receptions in favour of cocktail parties, passed hors d’oeuvres, food stations and picnics/barbeques (but they are not necessarily spending any less money, so presenting couples with new and unique ideas will help in winning their biz)
• 1 in 5 couples are now using e-vites or emails to invite their guests to the wedding or as a save-the-date notification (if you’re a stationer/designer make sure that you’re offering these brides e-design packages and educating your web-brides re: on-line etiquette)
• 22% of couples are having Wedding Weekends ( = the perfect compromise between an at home wedding and a destination wedding, my understanding is that this is a weekend get-away closer to home that encompasses the wedding and other activities) – this is up 38% from 2009
• Photo Ops for All – 20% of couples now have a photo booth at their wedding (chic and unique spin-offs of this idea will attract brides attention moving forward)
• The Entertainment Factor – 3% of couples have started including professional dancers, comedians, etc in their wedding (today’s couple wants their wedding to STAND-OUT, providing unique entertainment is a great way to ensure this, so I’m sure that number will continue to increase)

Impressive Stats:

The Reception

• The most money is still spent on the reception (36% of wedding costs with the average price tag of $13,367)

Photography/Videography

• Average cost - $3,367.00 (that’s the 2^nd highest in terms of overall wedding expenses)

The Dress

• The gown is purchased 9 months before the wedding
• Average cost - $1,289.00 (20% increase from 2009)
• An additional $581.00 is being spent on wedding day accessories (the veil, headpieces, jewellery and shoes)

The Flowers

• Average cost - $1,426.00

The Cake

• Average cost - $480.00

The Wedding Party

• The typical wedding party has 4.5 bridesmaids and 4.5 groomsmen (not quite sure how that works – haha)
• The average bridesmaid dress costs $134.00

Destination Weddings

o        1 in 10 couples or 15% of couples have a destination wedding (a holiday in the tropics, Europe, etc that encompasses the wedding and other activities) – this is up 25% from 2009

Gift Registry

o        An impressive 93% of couples will register at 2 – 3 gift registries

The Engagement

o        63% of brides to be provide input on their engagement ring and 21% actually select the ring themselves

Credit - Heidi Dennis - Bridal Fantasy Edmontonhttp://www.bridalfantasy.com/

Is Rainbow Lake Pipeline Negligent?

Forest fires in Alberta threaten community already hit by oil spill

Reaction of  Melina Laboucan Massimo, member of the Lubicon Cree and Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner, to today's announcement that clean up operations at the massive Rainbow Pipeline oil spill near Little Buffalo were suspended at 11 am this morning due to uncontrolled forest fires in the region. Currently in Alberta there are 84 forest fires with 29 that are listed as "out of control".

The Northern Sunrise county council has declared a local state of emergency for the areas around Little Buffalo and Marten Lake due to the forest fire. The Alberta Wildfire Facebook site has also asked members of the communities of Marten Lake and Little Buffalo to evacuate voluntarily as they are on an evacuation alert.

"Today's suspension of clean up operations and the evacuation of workers at the massive oil spill site near Little Buffalo due to wildfires shows the on-going threats that oil spills pose to local communities. We pray that this fire doesn't add more problems to an already devastating situation of Little Buffalo and for the environment."

"This is already the second evacuation of the spill site in less than a week. We want to know where the provincial and federal governments are in dealing with this dangerous and potentially escalating situation. Fears and concerns are mounting in the Little Buffalo community and both levels of government seem to be missing in action in dealing with this serious situation."

Background: Plains Midstream Canada, owner of the Rainbow Pipeline, issued a release earlier today saying it had suspended clean up operations due to a forest fire threat. The company cited an evacuation order issued by the Northern Sunrise County Emergency Response Centre that was effective at 11 a.m.

Residents, including children, sick after large oil spill in the Peace Region

4 May 2011 (Edmonton) — Little Buffalo community members, including school children,  continue to experience nausea, burning eyes and headaches after one of the largest pipeline spills in Alberta history last Friday by Plains All American leaked nearly 30,000 barrels of oil into Lubicon traditional territory in the Peace Region of Northern Alberta.

Instead of attending an in-person community meeting, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) faxed a one-page fact sheet to Little Buffalo School. The fact sheet indicates that 28,000 barrels of crude oil, or 4,500 cubic metres, has spread into nearby stands of “stagnant water.” The spill, April 29 at 7:30 a.m., occurred only 300 metres from local waterways. The ERCB said the spill has been contained, but community members report that the oil is still leaking into the surrounding forest and bog. The ERCB also said to the community that there is “no threat to public safety as a result of the leak.” Yet people are still getting sick, the local school has been shut down and children ordered to stay at home. An investigation into the incident is underway.

“It has been four days since classes were suspended due to the noxious odours in the air. The children and staff at the school were disorientated, getting headaches and feeling sick to their stomachs,” said Brian Alexander, the principle of Little Buffalo School. “We tried to send the children outside to get fresh air as it seemed worse in the school but when we sent them out they were getting sick as well. 

“The company and the ERCB have given us little information in the past five days.  What we do know is that the health of our community is at stake,” said Chief Steve Noskey. “Our children cannot attend school until there is a resolution, The ERCB is not being accountable to our community; they did not even show up to our community meeting to inform us of the unsettling situation we are dealing with. The company is failing to provide sufficient information to us so we can ensure that the health and safety of our community is protected.”

The ERCB fact sheet states that air monitors are in place on site and have “detected no hydrocarbon levels above Alberta Ambient Air Quality guidelines.” But this is little consolation for a community that is scared to breathe the air. Veronica Okemow has six children, the youngest one attending the school, and she is very worried. “We are deeply concerned about the health effects on the community,” Okemow said. “It is a scary thing when your children are feeling sick from the air. People are scared to breathe in the fumes.”

Melina Laboucan-Massimo, a member of the Lubicon Cree First Nation and also a Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner said: “The Plains All American spill marks the second pipeline spill in Alberta in just a week, with Kinder Morgan spilling just days before. This is an alarm bell for Alberta residents. If this 45-year-old pipeline were to break elsewhere along its route there would be more safety and health hazards. Communities across Alberta and B.C. are demanding an end to this type of risky development; yet the government refuses to listen. Instead it continues on as business as usual without plans for the cleaner, healthier, sustainable future that is possible.”

Where is your Freedom

Just a quick note this morning. I have always been troubled by the arrests of the G20 Summit in Toronto. I had earlier blamed the Conservative Government as they are known for their Justice agendas.  However, With this article, I was surprised to find that the Liberal Provincial Government passed this "secret law".  When I further looked at our so called Charter, It would have broke the rules of our Charter.

So what has our country become? Are we now no different than the countries overseas that we wished we were never like? Life a frog in boiling water, If that's a true fact, our country has become blind to the abusive powers of our state.

Link to Secret Law passed.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gscPW57r14RHb_ffCOSSbvhnszRw?docId=6692219


Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Search or seizure

8. Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.

Detention or imprisonment

9. Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned.

Arrest or detention

10. Everyone has the right on arrest or detention

(a) to be informed promptly of the reasons therefor;

(b) to retain and instruct counsel without delay and to be informed of that right; and

(c) to have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus and to be released if the detention is not lawful.

Michelle Nieviadomy

I had the gift of photographing this beautiful First Nations woman from Edmonton this week. I met her while covering photos for an event with the Provincial Government at the New Remand Centre.  She wanted some photos for her upcoming promotions for her concert.  One of my passions is to represent Native people and promote them as role models. I listened to this woman on a rough song track and her voice is amazing! Some of the paraphrased lyrics were that it is "your turn to rise", the world could use another hero, Sound of a Warrior cry,world could use a little change. I'm sure if she continues to believe in herself and go for her dreams, you will hear about her soon!

Canvas Gallery Wraps - Family Portraits

For a limited time only, Order your family portraits and have them mounted on canvas for your feature wall. Approximately 6 feet across.  Prices starting at 1228.00 dollars.

Expires April 30th.

Easter Special Code.

National Aboriginal Achievement Awards 2011

Good day world:
I had an amazing weekend and give all glory to my Creator who made it possible. As I am a 60s scoop (History is that many Natives from the 60-70s were taken and placed in white foster homes for various reasons) With this came my years of identity crisis as I struggled with my Swiss citizenship but being brown and obviously native. Fortunately my town of Medicine hat had little natives so I was not prone to discrimination. I felt normal for the most part, except the times I scrubbed my skin hard to turn white like my 3 siblings.  As I grew older, I dated and didn't want to tell the girls I dated my nationality when they asked because of shame.  I attended Choices program by Thelma Box and this helped me to start my healing and love of my self.

This weekend I shot a wedding at the Fort Ed park and loved it. I don't normally advertise for weddings because I love my small summer weekends and hate shooting in them big crowds of other photographers and wedding parties. If I do them, I would prefer Friday and week day weddings, as this one was. It was also a smaller wedding with less attention, which I loved. So I was done by 5pm and was able to attend the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.

I was looking at finding ways to attend this national award ceremony at the Jubilee Auditorium, but stopped when I learned the prices were 350 dollars a ticket.  I emailed Ontario and offered my services as an event photographer.  God works in funny ways, because that afternoon, my friend Leona Carter from the City of Edmonton asked me if I wanted to get some photos of the mayor and have a ticket. Well I said sure and was stunned to be attending. Well , in the end, I didn't have to take photos but got 2 tickets for my wife and I. I had a fun evening of capturing one of the most beautiful race of humble people I have seen. Remember, I have not been raised around natives until I moved to my place of birth  - Edmonton a few years ago. I was no longer ashamed as I seen so many beautiful native women and men. They were not the stereotypical type we see all the time. I held my head up high as I wanted to be like these.  Please see my photos in Facebook  under Trevor Boller Photography for the gallery for this evening.

Something happened this weekend as I attended church and was learning to forgive my birth mother who lost me as a child. I learned it was her that I was ashamed of and projected it towards all native people.  I go forward now with pride and a desire to work harder and sell harder. I am going to be fierce at my photography and lose any fears.  I am thankful for who I am - an original. After all, I'm probably one of the only treating carrying cards with Swiss nationality in the world? Should I call Guinness?

The photo with a model was in TVs Canada's top model one year.

Colors in Business

For those of you unfamiliar with colors, It is just a basic grouping of personality groups in 4 areas. We usually are strong in 1-2 of them. Without getting into detail, the orange are where excitement is at - Police, Ambulance, Entertainers, Thrill seeking, hate the office desk.  Gold - Administration people who go by rules and structure and thank God for them because your paycheck is always there because of them.  Blue are often caregivers and show empathy. Counsellors, nurses at times. They will cry at your long distance commercials.   The Green will take a long time to process what I just wrote. They can be engineers and wonder how something is built, rather than how it looks. Have fun in Ikea with them!

So in the world of hundreds of photographers, I need to market how I am different. Why does an event planner want to pick me out of the other hundreds of established companies. Well it involves some Sweet grass prayers I learned from the Native people, and some inspirational music by Martin Kloppers ( cello). So after picking up my traits from past training papers, I was able to find some defining points of who I am.  Very rough at this time, Boller Photography is uniquely capturing emotions from the heart, and  creating a group spirit during photo shoots.  I have underlined my strengths of my colors of BLUE and ORANGE. I know it needs work, but I need something for my new promo post cards!

By knowing colors, it will really help with your relationship with business people or your coworkers. You will understand why they are so anal in some areas and it drives you crazy. It will help you feel good about yourself with your traits, and that you are normal! I have names of people or organizations that do them if you are ever interested. Take care!

Family Portraits

Family Day weekend is spent in many ways in Alberta thanks to the Klein days.  Some of us attend movies, family visits, dinners, theatre, winter fun, or just relax.  This family from St Albert was celebrating an anniversary of their parents and had family come together from various parts of the province.  It can be nerve wracking but the music from my Blackberry kept me focused. I use music in my ear to help me stay creative when shooting, which is why I usually always have a wire coming from my one ear. I would rather look silly then have silly photos!  Homes by Audie Benson Estate Homes - St Albert

Padmanadi Restaurant

On February 14, I had the pleasure to be hired in Edmonton's best Vegan restaurant for the day of lovers.  Kassim gave the gift of photos to his customers and their special ones.  The Ambassador from Indonesia came to visit and eat with her entourage.  She was visiting businesses in the communities and was real pleased with the success of Padmanadi's restaurant.  Thank you Padmanadi's for your yummy food and they always makes you feel like family.

Valentines & Tim Hortons

If you go see my new gallery today, you would think Tim Horton's sponsored it.  Here is the story behind this gallery. I belong to a small group of friends who have decided to meet about once a month to create activities of significance.  Each person takes a turn and Shelly was up and did a Valentines theme. She always wanted to play Twister, so after this game we made up home made valentines cards.  The intent was to go downtown and hand them out to the inner city people.  Well we set up a table and the group bought some Timmies, muffins, cupcakes, water, gloves, and brought some coats. We even bought some roses for the women who came.  They came almost immediately and we soon became busy with handing out the treats. They really loved the cards and some took an extra for their girlfriend. It was truly a day of giving and humbling one self. I ended up giving away my down filled jacket to a very young humble man about my son's age. He did not feel worthy to accept gloves of one of the coats that didn't fit him. That was my favorite part of the day, and I only did it because I can go buy another coat, and this man could not. I look forward to doing this again soon. Thanks for all your support.

To view gallery of the events, go to www.trevorboller.com  Click on Boller Photography Arts and then click on Valentines. Enjoy!

Welcoming "Grandfather" ceremony - Edmonton Remand Centre New

If you have 20 mins or so, check out a new gallery on my website under Boller Photography Arts - Grandfather.  I did a photo shoot yesterday with the Solicitor General of Alberta.  The Elder Taz McGillis was facilitating the bringing in of a rock (Grandfather) that came from Colorado, USA.  This rock will be carved by artist - Leo Arcand, who will make this approx. 5 ft cube of stone into white carving altar.  The New Remand Centre shut down much of its work force for 4 hours to allow a Native Ceremony take place in bringing in of the rock. If you ever work with Aboriginal people, know that there is always protocols in doing what would seem a simple way. I commend the Stuart Olsen Construction for being respectful and accommodating to this process.  The slide shows shows invited guests walking with the rock through the corridors of the new remand centre. Prayers were always said along the way. If you see smoke from a shell, this is called smudging and is in laymen's terms - a prayer that goes up to heaven in the smoke. The smoke cleanses our mind body and spirit when smudged so we can pray with clarity. ( Its amazing)   It was one of the most amazing photos I have ever done in my life and was deeply moved. I am thankful for this opportunity. Although I was not raised in these ways, I am respectful for them and see how similar their ways are to the ones I learned. Enjoy!

BMP Photo booths and Boller Photography

So we are almost at the end of January already and have survived the following: Meeting with clients, Grant Macewan University 3 Thursday Nooner promos, Aboriginal business Circle, Red Deer Christmas party for Stantec, Bridal Fantasy, Matrix Hotel Christmas Party, More networking with Edmonton Tourism and Meet in Rockies with hotels.  It is real nice to have a quiet weekend and reflect and breath.  Today we will invest in our small group friendship and quality time from our church.  My highlight was having Serena Mah from CTV come to my house to purchase the attached photo of her son I captured one evening.

We had some great contacts and contracts from the last Bridal show for Bridal Fantasy. Although it is expensive, it just might be worth it. I recently took on a new Photo wedding shoot for August. I am careful and selective who I take on as clients and am just not in the business for every wedding contract.  I love my summers and I have to have some heart into the shoot.

I really enjoyed the Chamber of Commerce mixer last Thursday evening. I made some great relationships which is what it is all about to me. The business comes after.  I am slowly starting to see my purpose in all this fun stuff of business.

If you read this, I pray your business or life is blessed, not for reading this but because I love that!

Photo booth at The Bridal Fair Wedding Show - Edmonton

On January 16th, we had our first wedding show with the MJ1 booth. We had no idea with the response we would have, but had confidence that it was a great product.  Our goal was to present it as the new entertainment and that it would fit in the decore / theme with the bride's wedding.  Tracey picked out material for a new door instead of the screaming red door as an example for the brides.  Many brides said that was their color for their wedding.  We also extended the special pricing discount until Jan 30th if they were at the Bridal Fair.  I still need to go through the box of all them names and emails.  We had over 100 brides come into our photo booth and get their photo taken with their entourage. Like any party we attend, there was much laughter which gave us energy in our job.

The day went super fast after literally answering questions all day long and people never stopped coming. I was fortunate to get away at times when our pricing sheets ran out continually which is a good thing. The friendly staff at the Shaw would never charge for their copying.

And finally Lisa came by and presented our booth with a prize for the Most Original product. I was never so proud as that treasured moment. We always celebrate any success - large or small.  I also can now put my success emails in a special folder that I learned from Business Resolutions with Charmaine Hammond.  


Charmaine taught us Mind Maps for our goals. It made sense and yes I do stickies and no they are not effective in the long run! I highly recommend her for any corporation talk as she can engage everyone and great information.

As my wife Tracey said on the weekend, our life and marketing feels like we are constantly in the Apprentice Tv Show which makes this biz so much fun. There are no rules.

Boller Photography Focus

January 11 today and the month is fast clipping by. Last week was a fun week as I was able to focus on my photography now that the photo booths are off and contracts are filling up.  We just finished a great weekend at the Chateau Lacombe where we did a Christmas Party for the staff. The staff were so much fun and Colette from Sales/events was super hospitable.  I have never been treated like royalty before!

Last week I met with Leona Carter from the City of Edmonton - Aboriginal Relations Office. She told me about how the city is working with Aboriginals and their needs.  We met at the anniversary of the city and Aboriginal agreement where I was doing a photo shoot a couple months ago. I had also worked with her in my past as a parole officer and she was on the parole board.  She asked me if I would find them some photos of Aboriginals in every day situations and portray some role modeling of them.  I could write a book about why I want to do that sort of thing and promote it so it was a perfect fit! I started snapping photos that day and ended up at the Rink of Dreams by CTV. I was inspired in a new direction than what I was doing and loving it. I was shooting photos in winter weather and the cold didn't even bother me. I loved the work that was being developed by my Nikons! The photos were recognized by CTV's Stewart Shaw, Serena Mah, and my favorite - Carrie Doll. I am making the photo attached for Serena Mah, who is the mother to the boy with the stick. What a humble honor it is.

Well, We are currently getting ready for the big Wedding shows - The Bridal Fair and Bridal Fantasy. We will have to manage other parties with our Photo booths and Im sure will be tired by the time January ends! Thanks if you got to this far!

Edmonton Double photo booth rental

Twas a few days after Christmas and I just read a twitter to blog regularly for my website.  So Christmas was spent at my roots - Medicine Hat Alberta where my parents reside and sister & family.  I even managed to get a Wedding job there for April while I was there. We stayed in the Medicine Hat Lodge and it did wonders for our marriage.  I even got to do the boxing day special with the mad hatters.  We bought a TV for the bedroom and business shows. Eat your heart our Oprah! Once she said no Tv's in the bedroom as  it takes away from the intimacy focus. Well, its better for us!

Yesterday we got MJ2 (booth 2)  from Chicago and now need to grind to pay off these babies. Thankfully we just got our first New Years contract yesterday with Matrix Hotels of Edmonton. As I am a relationship man, I love all the relationships I have made in the business since we started in fall. I can't believe we still have a business and that I am doing my dream. Our 2nd booth was to increase income on busy dates but also for larger corporate events. I recommend 2 booths for any crowds over 200+.

This year I will be focusing more on my photography, more skills learning, more of everything in that area. I will BE DO HAVE.

So I ask God for help to make us successful for 2011 because I can't do this year alone! Have a happy New Years and see you soon.