I haven’t always been a photographer. But I have always loved stunning images.  Before becoming a photographer, I was a secretary. This helps whip you into shape on the day! (kidding).  I picked up a camera for pretty much the first time when I decided to go on my big O.E. to Europe. But both the travel bug and the photography bug never left me.

I live in East Auckland, New Zealand with my husband Phil, who also is my second shooter for weddings. 
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I see myself as a photographer who will turn up and come and shoot YOUR PRECIOUS MOMENTS. As each moment is different, I don't want the photos to be 'staged' or typical.  Every event is different because every person is unique and YOUR photos should reflect YOU, not me. All I do is frame that with a particular eye. To me photos should be  a  beautiful and heightened version of the reality of your event, but still very much about you.  I will work with you and ask you what type of shoot you want and photos that you are drawn to, however as it is about you, I will make it unique to you.

Now, for some topics of interest. 

Check my editing style before you book me!
 
My home page and my blog shows my previous work and as you will see my style is quite bold, bright, dramatic for the coloured shoots and then I love black and white, as this is timeless and classic.  
 
I select from your shoot which photos will look best in which style.  That is why you hire me, for my creative, artistic eye.

If need be, I will soften skin, brighten eyes and remove any blemishes.  But I do not Photoshop you to make you look like you aren't.   
 
You can see the poses that I do in newborn shoots from previous work. What you see on Pinterest may be an $800 shoot for your baby and you want it for $200? It won’t happen.  This is why people pay $800.  The process involved and the extra editing it requires. I’m not a fan of the ‘froggy’ pose as it doesn’t look natural to me. Plus, so many people are doing it.  It isn’t unique.  I’d rather capture how people are throughout our time together.  

Why do photographers charge so much?

My prices are pretty affordable, compared with other photographers.  For example, in the photography industry newborn shoots can be in the vicinity of $1,200 for all digital photos and weddings can be anywhere in between $2,500-$5,000. However, often I get people who will not understand the process of what is involved when taking photos.  It’s not just the time that you are with me getting the photos, then I upload them and send them to them.  A whole lot of other things happen.  It is a process.  
 
  • Preparation.  It is likely I will receive on average around 10 emails from you, making appointment time, discussing what you want for your shoot, changing appointment times.  Then there are the emails back from me, letting you know about your shoot and what to bring with you, which is all time.  This is likely to take an hour. 
 
  • Then there is the preparation time for me sorting out the area of where your shoot will be, creating Pinterest boards, getting ideas for your shoot.  This will take at least half an hour. 
 
  • If you’re booked in for my full wedding package, there may be a pre-consultation with you before your big day.
 
  • There may be travel time for getting to your location.  Or, if not, setting up my home studio with all the props, lights, backdrops, ready for your shoot, then packing it all down.  This will take at least an hour.
 
  • Then there are hours doing the shoot, two hours minimum for a newborn shoot, eight hours for a full day wedding.  
 
  • After your shoot, an hour at least culling and sorting through which photos are suitable for editing. 
 
  • About double the amount of shoot time to edit your photos and retouch them. So if your shoot is two hours, it will be four hours editing time.  
 
  • Another hour to upload your photos to Google Drive, send them to you.
 
  • Then there may be photos you want changed, made into black and white etc.
 
So as an example, let’s add it up for a newborn shoot.  All up that is 10.5 hours on average for a newborn shoot (and that’s on the lower side of an estimate of number of hours).  My current price is $200.  $200 divided by 10.5.  You do the maths.  You probably pay your house cleaner, hairdresser or therapist more than this. 
 
Then I have the running costs of my business.  Camera equipment is not cheap.  Then there’s all the accessories. Batteries, memory cards, lights, power, computer.  All the props I have to supply.  Not to forget petrol, ACC, business insurance and taxes.  
 
I have only been in the industry a couple of years.  My prices will increase as my experience grows. Quite simply, they have to in order for me to continue paying my living costs.  
 
I hope that this gives you an insight on why photographers charge the price they do.  

 
How many photos do I get?
 
This question sometimes comes up.  With newborn shoots your number of photos depends on how the baby is.  You can’t force a baby to do something it doesn’t want to do.   There’s no point in overshooting when they don’t want their photo taken.   With all my photoshoots you get all the edited photos.  That means if they are in focus, open eyes, and the baby looks fine, you will get all of these photos.  Your session time starts from when you book me, so try to be on time to maximise your time. 


Natalie Pasco