my perspective

Today my topic is about pricing.

Why do photographers charge so much? I hope my perspective will help you understand what goes into my photography business.

What is involved with a typical two hour session?

-I spend 30 minutes to and from the photo site. This includes getting my car loaded and my equipment ready. With the opening of my studio, this will change. ?

-I spend 30 minutes setting up, and talking with the client.

-I spend one to two hours shooting photographs, trying to get the very best from the person I am taking photographs of.

-After the session I spend an hour backing up 2-6 GB of photographs from the session.

-The next step is sorting. I sort through all the photographs, looking for only the very best. I look for what is technically correct as well as what is most interesting.

-Photoshop is next. I crop and touch up all photographs. This can take up to 2-4 hours.

-Uploading the photographs online is next; this usually takes about a half hour.

-I then talk with and help the client order and place orders. All orders are sent out to my lab. All prints are sprayed for preservation. I have all 8x10 size portraits and up mounted. Depending on the order size this can take some time.

You can see how a two hour photo session can easily become about 10-12 hours of work. When you buy a photo from me, you are not just paying for the paper it is printed on but you are paying for my time and talent as a photographer. The above list does not include the overhead cost that all businesses have, including a photography business.

What about weddings you may say. When I photograph a wedding I spend an average of 8 hours shooting. After the wedding I spend at least 80 hours in post work.

Remember that chain store studios do not put the time and energy into you or their images; this cannot be compared to what I do. Many of these companies are actually a financial drain and many are no longer in business for this very reason.

Portraits are serious business and they are what I am passionate about. Having a personal photographer in an investment for all time, I wish to capture these moments in your life and preserve them for generations to come.

great news: come on over!!!

I am so excited to announce that I am opening a studio! Starting March 1st I will be able to provide a place for photography!!! I will continue doing outdoor photography as well as other locations but this is a place for all the sessions in-between. I am renting studio space at the Carpenter's Wife Store at 112 W Wade Lane in Payson. I see this as a great opportunity to provide the best photography services possible. I have so many more surpises to come so stay tuned!
Today I am posting photograph that reflects how I am feeling...giddy as can be!