Why the Cost?

At first glance, custom photography can seem like quite the expense and if you are unfamiliar with what to expect, it can all seem very daunting.  This informative article by Caught on Film Photography gives some insight into planning your investment with a professional photographer.

(article has been slightly revised in order to be applicable to Megan Marlene Photography’s unique specialty and services)

Why are Professional Photographers so expensive?

In this modern age where everyone has digital cameras, scanners, and home “photo printers”, when people upload their photos to a local drug store website and pick them up a few hours later, we hear this all the time – How in the world do Professional Photographers charge $40 for an 8×10 when they cost just $1.50 at the drug store?

Here’s why.

Simply put, you’re not just paying for the actual photograph, you’re paying for time and expertise.  First, let’s look at the actual time involved.  If you don’t read this entire page, at least read this first part.

For a one to two hour portrait session:

- 30 minutes of initial contact and communication between photographer and client

- 30 minutes to 1 hour of driving to and from the studio

- 1 hour consultation and session booking

- 2 hours prepping for session, designing set, shopping for props

- 30 minutes of continued communication between photographer and client leading up to session

- 30 minutes to 1 hour of driving to and from the studio

- 30 minutes of prepping the studio, cleaning, setting up, etc.

- 1 to 2 hours of shooting, including breaks

- 30 minutes of welcoming the client and saying goodbye to the client, along with information discussed

- 30 minutes to load the images onto a computer (2-4 Gb of data)

- 30 minutes to back up the files on an external drive

- 30 minutes to review images and select final images for editing

- 15 minutes to prep, edit, and upload sneak peek to Facebook

- 4-6 hours of Photoshop time including cropping, contrast, color, sharpening, saving a copy for print, internet, and backing up the edited photographs

- 30 minutes of communication between photographer and client to set up ordering appointment

- 30 minutes to 1 hour of driving to and from the studio

- 1 hour in-person ordering session

- 15 minutes to process payment

- 1 hour prepping images for order and submitting order to lab

- 2 hours to upload images to gallery and send information to client

- 30 minutes to receive and verify prints/products

- 30 minutes to package prints, including making handmade packaging

- 15 minutes arrange for pickup/delivery of final order

- 30 minutes to write and upload blog post

You can see how a single session easily turns into more than 24 hours of work from start to finish.  So when you see a Photographer charge a $120 session fee for a 1-2 hour photo shoot, you are not paying them $100/hour. Instead, the session fee simply covers the very basic of expenses, including the shooting time and direct overhead connected with the session. In actuality, most Photographers depend on print and collection sales to make up the majority of their business expenses and personal salary. Business expenses alone take up 50-75% of “profit”, not including lab costs and funds set aside for taxes. In the end, most Photographers take home 25% or less in personal salary.

Now for the expertise.

Shooting professional photography is a skill, acquired through years of experience.  Even though a quality camera now costs under $3,000, taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.

Most Professional Photographers take years to go from buying their first decent camera to making money with their photography.  In addition to learning how to use the camera itself, there is a mountain of other equipment involved, as well as numerous software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website, etc.

And let’s not forget that you actually have to have people skills, be able to communicate, make people comfortable in front of the camera – and posing people to make them look their best in a photograph is a skill all by itself.

Think of it this way – the next time you pay $X to get your hair done, a pair of scissors only costs $1.50.  But you gladly pay a lot more to hire a Professional.

What about the cheap studios at the mall?

Please don’t compare us to the chain store studios.  But if you must, consider all the time and work that we put into our photographs, compared to what they do.  Good luck getting a two hour photo shoot at a chain store, or the custom experience and pampering that boutique photographers offer.  And of course, look at our work compared to theirs.  You truly do get what you pay for.

The truth is, most of the mall and chain store studios lose money.  In fact, in 2007 Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios because of the financial drain they were putting on the company.  What the chain stores bet on is that you’ll come in for some quick and cheap photos, and while you’re there, you’ll also spend $200 on other things.  They don’t have to make money, they are just there to get you in the door.

 

A note from Megan:

Thank you for taking the time to read this article and gain some insight into planning your investment. I hope that you realize just some of the differences between what I do and the chain stores or photographer down the street. It is my goal to offer something unique and completely wonderful, that you can’t find anywhere else. By limiting the number of sessions I commit to and holding to the highest standard possible, I do my best to give my clients just that. I know that custom photography can be considered a luxury and is not for everyone.  It requires a commitment of time and effort, as well as the actual investment in portraits and products after the session. But for those who are willing to make the investment, the beautiful portraits you will receive will be cherished for a lifetime. Promise.