I believe a lot of people think that when they buy a portrait, they are buying a product...just an image printed on a piece of photo paper. But a portrait is more than that. It's a piece of art, a moment captured in time, a composition of light and shadow and color. It's the result of vision, technique and artistry.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm just like everyone else when it comes to complaining about prices. Sometimes I think, "I wouldn't pay X amount of dollars for that" or "Why does that cost so much?" But since I've started my own business, I try to put things into perspective. So even though some things aren't in my price range, I try to take into consideration that there was probably a lot of hard work put into making a certain product, and there's a good chance there was also some fancy equipment used to make said product, not to mention all of the behind the scenes work. Basically, I just try to respect the prices, even if they aren't in my spending range.
To help people understand what all is covered in the cost of a portrait session and prints, I've broken down a typical session into time increments to show that the "hour" session you pay for is far more than an hour's worth of work.
15-30 minutes- customer contact, session planning
30-45 minutes- brainstorming, idea gathering
30-45 minutes- setting up and prepping equipment, or packing equipment (if session is away from studio)
30-60 minutes- traveling to session (if session is away from studio)
15 minutes- setting up on location (if session is away from studio)
1-2 hours- shooting session
30-60 minutes- traveling from session (if session is away from studio)
30-60 minutes- cleaning up and putting away equipment, or unpacking equipment (if session is away from studio)
After a session is complete, the work is far from finished. Included in the print prices and/or CD prices, you get all of the following work.
10-15 minutes- image uploading
15-30 minutes- sorting, deleting and narrowing down images
30-90 minutes- editing images
5-10 minutes- narrowing down images one last time before making proofs
20-30 minutes- uploading proofs to website
20-30 minutes- making and ordering proof book (if included in session)
Once proofs are available to customers and they place their order with me, I'll need to place the order with my lab and then process it once it arrives.
15-30 minutes- reviewing order with customer
60-90 minutes- creating custom products (collages, invitations, Christmas cards, etc).
15-30 minutes- placing order
10-15 minutes- burning a CD (if ordered)
15-20 minutes- sorting through prints and re-packaging orders (for in-town customers)
30-60 minutes- delivering order
And then after all the photography is finished, I have to market my work, continue educating myself and keep my business running. I won't break down the time increments on this, because it's harder to measure, but I regularly spend time:
Advertising on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn
Updating my website
Writing blogs or creating email campaigns
Researching new ideas for shooting, editing and marketing
Managing the financial side of the business
Attending photography meetings, workshops, classes or conferences (a few times a year)
On top of all the work done, you also have to take into consideration the type of equipment used to make and edit photos and to keep a business running.
2 cameras
4 lenses
2 flash and/or 2-3 strobes
batteries, chargers, extension cords
multiple light stands and tripods
multiple backdrops and props
2 computer and software
2 printers and ink
1 website
multiple memberships
multiple classes and conferences
1 vehicle and gas
There are two last things that I forgot to mention, and they are pretty big ones if you are considering making an investment in my photography. Actually, you could call them priceless to your investment-- my education and experience.
When it's all said and done, photographers who are self-employed aren't just photographers. They're editors, designers, bookkeepers, marketers, bloggers and more. So keep that in mind when you hire a photographer. We are more than just glorified button-pushers. We are professional photographers, and it's true that you get what you pay for. You spend a little more for quality and you get an experienced photographer, quality work and excellent customer service.
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