I saw a post the other day on Facebook & thought maybe I could answer a question that maybe a lot ask themselves. Why are photographers so expensive ???
I just wanted to give a little insight to some stage's a photographer's work load involves, expenses & why some may seem more pricey than others.
Newborns in particular.
The average newborn session …
Talking to the parents to arrange booking, times, dates. ( can be anywhere from 20 minutes - 2hours depending on the parents requirements )
Pack up all needed equipment into the car. ( 15-20 minutes )
Arrive at your home. ( 30 minutes travel depending )
Set up. ( 15 minutes )
2-4 hours shooting. ( ok and having coffee, tea & biscuits )
Clear up, set down, pack car back up. ( 15 minutes )
Drive home. ( 30 minutes travel depending )
Load images to PC.
2-4 hours photoshop time.
Make CD up, get to the post office.
All ready you can see a newborn shoot has already turned into over a 10 hour day from start to finish. Working with newborns isn't just putting down the baby & snapping away. Photography isn't just a nice posh camera. We can all get a posh looking camera for a few hundred pounds. It takes skill, people skills, patients & most importantly care.
This isn't even talking the cost's to a photographer but here just a few …
Camera & the rest of the technical stuff.
A decent PC.
Editing software.
Website.
Backdrops, props, blankets. ( they become very addictive )
Fuel.
Insurance. The list continues but you get the idea :)
You might be able to go to run in & out of max spielmann's or such like places & get your photos done for around £20. But what are you going to get ? A rushed experience because people are queuing & they have no time ( or patients ) to give.
Professional's have all the time & patients in the world. A photographer often becomes a friend, someone who captures many years of memories.
Maybe we need to look at it in another way like maybe you could buy some false nails for a few £'s but still we will pay a lot more to have them done professionally because they are going to be done well. The added cost you pay for your photographer is worth every penny for that extra experience & quality.
Hopefully this will help you understand why we charge what might seem quite a lot but you get what you pay for. Not everyone will choose the same photographer as each photographer has their very own style, props & way of doing things. But please make sure you choose your photographer because you love their work not because you love the price.
