Professional photographers are so expensive!
Updated: Feb 11, 2020
I have decided, for many reasons, to clear up some of things that people say about hiring a professional photographer. I can't tell you how many times I've been contacted about a photo session and people tell me that its too expensive or they found someone cheaper. It's something I hear a lot and I will probably always hear it moving forward. I am never upset or hurt because at the end of the day there are many people that value what I do and what I provide for them and those are my clients. We become friends and create amazing memories and have an awesome time! They cry when they receive their images and thank me a million times over. I do this job for that reason. I receive overjoyed gratitude and the humbling feeling giving something to someone that means everything. But, it is also my business and I take that very seriously. If you're a skeptic wondering if it is worth booking with a professional photographer, read on to hear 3 common reasons why people choose to avoid them and why you should re think that decision!
1| PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE EXPENSIVE!
To some people we may look expensive but we do not run our business for free either. We need to make a living too! There many expenses that we have to cover to do our job and deliver amazing images to our clients. Before I even opened my business I invested in over $5,000 in equipment! There are also monthly and yearly subscriptions we pay for. Things like editing software, website domains and services, insurance, invoicing and business management services and paying sales tax on any services or products we sell. It all adds up and we still have to pay these things despite our slow time of year. Photographers invest in their business because we love our jobs. We still need to pay our bills and put food on our tables just as much as everyone else! That is why I provide my clients with an unforgettable experience and strive everyday to make it better! I, specifically, am 100% self taught and I didn't just get to where I am by grabbing the first camera I saw and start booking clients. I spent years watching videos, asking questions, posing friends and family and practicing everyday learning my gear for years to develop my craft. Hiring a photographer is an investment. You are investing in putting all the hard work into a professionals hands. You are investing in their experience and the experience we provide to our clients. You are investing in displaying memories of your family and loving pets in your home that you can cherish forever!
2| MY FRIEND HAS A CAMERA!
This may be true! They may have a nice little point and shoot camera or even a decent entry level DSLR camera but do they know how to use it? Are they just throwing it in auto mode and telling you to stand over there and smile? If you want that sort of thing then by all means go for it! But there are a few things to consider before you make that choice.
First is the photographers knowledge. When you book with a photographer you are paying for a lot more then just the pictures. You get to work with a professional that knows what will look best and what wont. When I work with a client I have the creative eye and knowledge to see what others almost never can. I build a trusting and comfortable space filled with fun prompts and conversation that allows you to be your self and relax while I take care of the rest. Knowing what angles to shoot at and what poses to position you in takes a lot of work and practice and it can be a very difficult thing to achieve. You can rest assure that you will be delivered with images you will love.
Second is the photographers time. Even before a session I begin planning your session. I talk with you about your visions and what types of images you would like to have, I help with outfit ideas and location choices. I may even drive around scouting new locations that will give you exactly what you're looking for. During a session I do not have specific time limitations. I will shoot until I know I've got what I need. When I finish a session with a client I immediately go home and back up all your files for safe keeping. I cull through the hundreds of images taken and choose the best possible images and begin editing them. Each picture is carefully cropped, retouched and hand edited to my specific style with extreme attention to detail. I go over each image carefully removing any distracting objects and making sure the entire image is perfect before delivering to my clients. This can take any where from 3-4 weeks. Why can it take this long you ask? Well, I have a life to! I have other clients, I have a family to care for, I have hobbies of my own and lastly I cannot sit at my computer all day and night or I can promise you I will die from a migraine!
Third is products. As professional photographers, we have access to the very best printing labs that the general public does not. We can fill your walls with quality wall art that you cannot get anywhere else. With the high resolution photographs our expensive gear can produce, we have the ability to blow up an image we take to billboard size!
Can your friend and their camera do that??
3| IT'S TOO MUCH WORK!
Many people may feel finding a photographer, scheduling a date, getting ready, finding an outfit and posing for an hour may be to much work. Or maybe they fear they wont look good in their pictures and they are just scared. Well I am here to say... I cant make you! What I can do is provide you with a very easy booking process, stress free and laughter filled picture taking experience and beautiful memories and keepsakes. I am always talking with my clients about their visions. I am a very easy person to talk to to and do not get annoyed if you send me 13 outfit choices you are considering. I actually love that! I will help piece together everything with you so you do not have to worry.
If you are hesitant about being in front of the camera because you hate yourself in pictures please understand I am no magician but I do my very best to make you feel relaxed and loose during the session. If you are tense and fake smiling you wont feel very confident. I will say I'm pretty good at getting people comfortable in front of a camera because I just talk and joke about everything! I know what looks good and what doesn't and a lot of times people are way too hard on themselves. I am able to bring out the beauty that you sometimes overlook. If you do have a specific area of your body you are uncomfortable with I will be very conscious of that while shooting to make you feel your very best!
When you are searching for a photographer there are a few things you should look for to make sure they are the right fit for you! Visit their website and browse through their services. It's important they specialize in the type of photography you are looking for. Almost all professional photographers only specialize in one or two areas of photography. I do not enjoy working any type of events, newborns or sports because my area of expertise and passion is doing Equine/Pet and Family Portraits! Next is to read their about me section. Get to know them and find out what they can give to you! View their work and make sure their style is something that you love! If you do not love what you see then keep searching. A photographer wants to work with someone that is in love with their work and will be happy with what they receive. Everyone does things a little differently or we would all be the same! Make sure you feel completely comfortable in your decision. Lastly read their reviews! If people loved their experience they will rave about it and want everyone to know about how awesome their images were and how incredible their experience was working with that photographer! The process is really not as stressful as you may think!
There is always a photographer for everyone but you get what you pay for! You want to pay for an inexperienced photographer that charges $300 to do your wedding then those are the type of images you will receive. Invest in the experience and knowledge of a professional. Take the opportunity while your kids are still young and before your beloved pets cross the rainbow bridge. You will want to remember every detail of them through high quality images not pixalated cell phone snap shots! Everyone deserves a legacy!
Cell phone snapshot vs my image taken. What do you prefer??