Oh, sweet sleeping babies… Does it get any more beautiful than that?
I can’t choose… color or black and white …
Toby wasn’t very happy with us this afternoon – but the sunset was beautiful and mama and baby snuggles were sweet <3
In my last post, Part 1: The Cost of Custom Portraiture, I discussed the reasons why boutique photography studios, like Heartlove Photography, can be so expensive. That begs the question, why invest in such a service?
Photography, literally “light-writing,” is the combination of many factors that make-up the vision of the photographer. The light, color, location and compostion are the paint and canvas of a photographer. No 2 images are exactly alike, the concept may be similar, the inspiration may come from the same pin; but, your final product is a unique pice of art never occuring before and never to occur again.
Custom photography is not only about that one perfect photograph of your family, but about devoted 1:1 attention.
A custom photography experience is built around your wishes and every step of the way we have your experience in mind. Photography should not be a chore, but an exciting event in and of itself. You deserve to feel pampered and have fun throughout the experience!
I hope this helps you get a better understanding of the time, effort and money that will be put into your session. When it comes to preserving memories of your loved ones for a lifetime of enjoyment, please consider the cost and spend your hard-earned money on a photographer who will go above and beyond your expectations.
Cheers,
If your 8 megapixel iPhone camera takes great pictures that can be printed for pennies, why would you hire me? Many chain studios like Target, have free sittings and $3.99 sheets; so, why would a custom photographer charge hundreds of dollars for their sessions? The answer comes down to costs, experience and expertise.
When I first started, I didn’t know about all the expenses and the time that went into each session. My first price list was, I kid-you-not, Free Session (2 locations, unlimited outfits, 100 proofs) and $30 for a full resolution CD.
I know, I heard you all gasp. At the time, for the level of experience I had, I was probably over-charging. Truth. I mean my website was myspace.com/heartlovephotography for goodness sake…
But I did continue to grow and learn. I became more consistent. I was booking weeks in advance, 8 shoots a week at times and I was falling into debt because I hadn’t considered my expenses. Over the last few yeas I slowly changed the way I do business so that, like any professional that goes to work, I make a profit at the end of the day.
The cost of a custom photography is made up of the time, equipment, and the artistic vision of the photographer – not to mention expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate tax-paying business. My session fees include my time and the experience I bring to the table – here’s an idea of what that costs me:
Do you see what I did there? I told you what it costs. I’ll get into the dollar signs later, but the true cost is the time that I’m away from my family. The time that I would pump a bottle rather than nurse my baby. The time that someone else gets to watch my toddler sing and dance. Just like anyone who goes to work, they trade that time for money to take care of their family.
This is time dedicated only to ONE session. I don’t want to sound like it is a chore – photography is my passion and that fact should not be discounted. I’m lucky to have found a way to provide for my family while doing something I love – however to keep that delicate balance, I have no choice but to charge fair market value for my services.
My other business expenses include camera (and back-up camera), lenses, lighting, back up batteries/power, computer and software – totaling more than $10,000. Those items have expiration dates – like a car only runs for so many miles, cameras only last for so many shutter clicks. Add to that the cost of countless props, backdrops and accoutrement in my custom-built studio and the ongoing utility bills. I also have significant lab costs for specialty products – I only use professional labs who specialize in the highest quality photographic products, and I pay a premium for that. I hope for each image to become a treasured heirloom so only archival quality products will do. If you’ve ever invested in having your hair colored by an expert stylist, you understand that a $6 box of hair dye from Rite-Aid just won’t do. The same applies for professional photographic prints and products versus their consumer counterparts (like Walgreens, Snapfish, etc.) At the end of the year, I need to make at least $30,000 just to cover expenses.
Besides the time and equipment we use, you are paying for my talent and expertise. I have invested hundred, if not thousands, of hours and dollars training, practicing and perfecting my art – and I continue to do so daily. From seminars, mentoring to trial-and-error practice – that training factors into what the value of my time will be. That includes worrying about the details like being educated about birth when I go to a home or hospital to photography labor & delivery, having an understanding of safely posing a newborn baby and flattering a new moms figure only a few days postpartum.
Thank you for tuning into this lengthy explanation – I know it wasn’t the most exciting read! Now that you understand the cost of running a boutique photography business, be on the look-out for the second part in this series on why you would want such an experience.
Until next time,