Many times we hear the question, “Why do professional photographers cost so much?” This article may help explain some of the reasoning. There are many photography options out there for consumers. In the end, the choice is yours. Hopefully this article will assist you in making an educated decision when you choose your next photographer.
Why Choose a Professional Photographer for your Portraits?
In today’s society it has become common place for people to own their own digital cameras. Many also own home photo printers. They may choose to print their photos at home or just as easily upload them to a local store for pick up in an hour at a low, low print cost. Viola, instant gratification! So, why is there a need for custom portraiture from a professional photographer? In all honesty, for some, there is no need for custom portraiture. Others consider custom photography more of a luxury. It requires an investment in time and money from the customer. Custom portraiture is for the consumer that appreciates specially customized art that is tailored specifically for the client in a relaxed, comfortable and unrushed environment.
Custom photography can easily be compared with automobiles. One can drive any type of vehicle to get from here to there. However, given a choice, would you rather drive an economy car with no power windows or locks or a luxury car with leather interior, heated and cooled seats and cup holders, individual climate controls, built-in GPS and automatic everything? Some are fine with the economy ride; others enjoy the higher-end experience. The same analogy applies to portraiture.
What exactly is custom photography?
Custom photography is all about THE experience from beginning to end. It is about finding a professional photographer that will give you their undivided attention and will take the time to listen to your vision for your portraits. There is no waiting in line and no feeling of being rushed. Sessions are custom tailored for each client. A custom photographer works personally with each client to ensure they experience the highest level of satisfaction with their portraiture experience.
A custom photographer will typically show you an extensive gallery of fully edited images complete with basic blemish removal, skin smoothing, color correction and a sampling of graphically enhanced creations. Custom photographers offer a variety of products that can not be found at other photography studios. They will assist you in the selection of your heirloom portraits and are willing to design custom wall displays created specifically for your home.
A custom photography studio is not for everyone. It is not designed for “just a few quick shots”. It is an experience that many people choose to budget and plan for. It may be a special once a year session to capture a family as it grows. Or, it may be a series of sessions over a year to record milestones in a child’s life. Whatever the reason, your loved ones deserve the experience of custom portraiture and you will treasure the works of art you get from a custom photography session.
Why does custom photography cost so much?
There is a great deal of time involved in creating high end custom portraiture. The time invested in the actual session is only a small portion of the time and cost involved in custom process.
People might wonder, “Why should I pay $50 for one professional print when I can have pictures printed myself for under $2?” In reality there are many other factors to consider when breaking down the cost for custom photography.
Here is a timeline of a typical on-location session in a client’s home.
· session prep time (determining backdrops or props for session, packing up equipment, loading vehicle, etc.) – 30 minutes to 1 hour
· travel time to session – 15 to 45 minutes
· prep time at location (unloading equipment, equipment set-up) – 15 to 30 minutes
· actual time spent photographing – 60 to 90 minutes (up to 3 hours for newborns and 8 hours for weddings)
· clean up time (re-packing and re-loading equipment) – 15 to 30 minutes
· travel time from session – 15 to 45 minutes
· uploading images from digital cards to computer – 30 minutes
· backing up original images on external drive and DVD disks – 30 to 60 minutes
· posting sneak peek images on blog – 30 minutes
· image editing time (basic blemish removal, color correction, skin smoothing, digital art creations, etc.) – 6 to 8 hours (up to 40 hours for weddings)
· uploading files for online proofing gallery or preparing files for in-person ordering session – 1 hour
· additional proofing time (editing image sizes and converting images to black and white or sepia based on client’s order) – 30 minutes
· preparing order invoice – 15 minutes
· ordering images from professional lab – 30 minutes
· sorting images, checking order and packaging completed order – 45 minutes
· additional correspondence time with client (e-mails, phone calls – images ready for viewing, images ready for pick up, answering questions, etc.) – 30 minutes
As you can see, the average time a photographer spends on a basic one-hour session can range from 13 to 20 hours. This time is dedicated solely to that session. When a photographer charges a session fee, you are paying for the photographer’s time and talent for your session which does not end after the one-hour session time.
So far we have covered the photographer’s time. There are also numerous costs to the professional photographer that should be factored in. There is more to taking a professional photo than just the camera. Portraiture for a professional photographer is a skill, acquired through extensive study and experience.
This is a break down of some of the items/costs a professional photographer when running a business.
· professional camera
· back-up camera (a professional photographer cannot chance camera failure)
· multiple professional lenses for a variety of shooting situations
· multiple large format digital camera cards
· lighting and other basic equipment
· back-up batteries for all equipment
· backdrops
· props
· dependable computer system
· digital storage mediums for backing up images
· professional computer software for editing and creating digital art pieces
· professional lab costs (a good photographer knows a professional lab is essential for high quality professional portraits)
· product samples
· website – creation, maintenance, hosting, etc.
· professional fees – business license, professional forums, continued education, etc.
· business insurance
· business taxes
· studio rental/mortgage
· utilities
· advertising/marketing costs
· packaging supplies
· office supplies
This is just a rough list of the basic needs of a professional photographer. Salary for the photographer and any employees must be factored in as well. The same holds true for any professional business.
Why are chain store studios cheaper than a custom photographer?
A chain store studio does not cater to the individual client. They make their money based on volume, not customized service. *Get the most people in the door in the shortest amount of time.* They don’t need trained professional photographers because their equipment is set up in a basic cookie-cutter fashion where it is the same for every client – look through the camera and push the button – no lighting variations, no creative crops, no customization.
A chain store studio will not come to the client in their own home where their children are most comfortable. A chain store does not offer outdoor sessions. They do not give parents whatever time they may need when their newborn needs to eat or when a young child is unhappy. Chain stores offer a bare bones portrait experience. A custom photographer offers a luxurious boutique experience where the client’s comfort and happiness is key.
Reputation
Being well known for quality work and having a good business reputation takes time for any professional photographer. It takes time away from paying sessions to continually hone their craft, to learn new lighting techniques and digital editing skills.
Many photographers first start out by rushing into business thinking there is nothing more to it than taking good pictures and they offer prints at rock bottom prices. They neglect to factor in the costs of business and equipment needed to sustain a professional portrait business. They quickly become overwhelmed by the business side of photography. In turn their customer service lacks, the quality of their work suffers and they have no variety in the products they offer.
Professional photographers with sound reputations know they must always reinvest in their business to stay on top of their profession. To create good work they know they must have reliable equipment as well as back-ups of back-ups. They know that using professional vendors yields professional quality products. They must have continuing education in order to stay on top of the latest trends in photography. Professional custom photography is much more than just taking a good picture. It is an investment in a service that can produce works of art that will be cherished for a lifetime…or more.
In summary, there are many photography options available. And, there are consumers for every option. In the end, the choice is yours. Do you want simple, quick and easy snapshots that may or may not withstand the test of time? Or, do you prefer custom created heirloom images that can be enjoyed for generations to come? The old saying holds true, “you get what you pay for”.
*Content is inspired by an article from Professional Child Photographer and Marianne Drenthe
