Notes from your Photographer

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.