Ever wonder why so many photographers are so expensive? It seems a little unfair to us when we start to explore the cost of a photoshoot or wedding and Reunion session. I mean after all we all have great camera’s in our pockets now a days in our cell phone’s or even tablets. A lot of us know of someone who owns a nice expensive camera and we consider calling on them to see if they would mind shooting your wedding or special upcoming event. These are all something to consider when you get the urge to get the family together for pictures and rightfully so considering how inflation has taken away some of our hard earned money just for the essentials.

So why would you pay someone to do this for you? Its simple a good professional photographer will provide you not only with beautiful images but will also provide you with a great experience. The professional photographer will have taken everything into consideration to make your session be as worry free and enjoyable as possible. From what to wear and what to bring to create a beautiful gallery for you and your family to enjoy for years to come. 

There is something else to consider when pricing your session and that being is it worth it for you to have someone that you have researched and chatted, emailed with be the one you hire for your special occasion? Keep in mind that if you have been referred to by someone or found your photographer through social media or their website that they have spent years perfecting their craft and countless hours studying how to be the best professional they can be. 

Being a good pro is far more than the quality of images they produce. Much more than the hours they spend editing the images after the session and preparing them for delivery or building the photo books or wedding books. It’s they way they make you feel about them personally because the good ones value  relationships as much as they do your business.

Below is a article I recently found that explains how much time and effort  a part time/ full time photographer puts into maintaining a legal business. 

PROFESSIONAL

PHOTOGRAPHERS

spend an average of

1+ hours of prepping (emails, consults, etc.)

1-3 hours shooting

10-30 minutes of editing per picture (4-12 hours)

5+ hours of everything else (driving, posting,

ordering, packaging, delivering)

PER SESSION.

They invest thousands of dollars in equipment,

software, and props and spend countless hours

learning how to produce beautiful images.

They don’t get paid vacations or sick days. They

don’t get bonuses for outstanding performances

or for holidays. They don’t have insurance plans

or any benefits and 35% of their profit goes

straight to taxes.

Please understand that they are business

owners and they have a LOVE for photography

but that LOVE won’t pay the bills.