A peek through my lens


Looking for a 'cheap photographer' is a common request I see more and more, but it's important to understand that photography is not just about snapping a few pictures. It's an art, a skill, and a service that takes time, equipment, and experience to perfect. Quality photography reflects the investment a photographer makes in their craft, and while everyone has a budget, it's essential to remember that good work often comes with a price. Let’s dive into why finding the right photographer for your needs is worth more than just searching for the lowest price.

How many of you have logged onto Facebook recently and happened upon a post in one of your mom’s groups asking for a ‘cheap photographer’? Maybe you even made the post yourself. I will be honest, when I first sat down to write this blog, I was unapologetically about to shame those individuals. So if this was you, and now you’re reading this, please accept my apology, and instead, allow me to educate you on why these posts might be offensive to professional photographers.


First and foremost, professional photos are a want, not a need. You need food - You want pizza. You need water - You want Evian. Professional photos are no different. If you cannot afford to pay a professional photographer what they are worth for their talent and time, it’s perfectly acceptable to take your own photos, or to hire someone who is just starting out that is still learning and might be more within your budget. Typically, those newer to photography can afford to do sessions at a lower cost, as they are not usually carrying around thousands of dollars in equipment or spending hundreds on editing and marketing software. And believe me, you can definitely find some great beginners who are still learning, but produce very quality work.


So, what exactly does a professional photographer do? I think there is a huge misconception that all a photographer really does is show up, take photos, run them through some software, then deliver them. If this were true, I’d be rolling in money and free time! So that is what I’m here to share with you – a start to finish behind the scenes look into exactly what it takes to run a successful photography business (in my opinion). I’ll even give you a little insight into the cost. Every photographer is going to do things a little differently, so some of this stuff may differ in cost, but most of these things are pretty standard for those who do this professionally.


Before capturing memories can even happen, there are certain services and platforms that most if not all professional photographers have to maintain. These include, but are certainly not limited to – a business email, a business license, social media platforms (paid or unpaid), a website, a domain name, contract software, back-ups for the back-ups, a gallery delivery site, content creation software, professional editing software, business and equipment insurance, legal services, and office software. For me, these back-office necessities, plus the cost of insurance, is a little over $1500/year. In addition to all the software and office expenses, it gets pretty real when you start talking about equipment. Equipment includes my cameras (I carry two with me at all times), my lenses (I own several but usually carry 3), my bag, SD cards (I usually shoot two sessions per card on dual cards), a flash, studio lighting and backdrops … you get the picture. If I had to venture a guess, every time I leave the house, I do so with about $7000 worth of equipment strapped to my back. Now listen, not everyone starts out with a $3000 camera – I certainly didn’t, but this is where the quality, experience, time, and knowledge starts to effect the price. Am I saying that someone with a Canon Rebel can’t take a beautiful photo? Absolutely not! Beautiful photos are produced by talented individuals. But if a high quality outcome is important, then you can’t ignore that equipment makes a huge difference. And don’t even get me started on laptops and monitors and calibrating your screen – It’s A LOT!


Once a client has emailed me and we’ve set a date, I send out a welcome packet for their specific session. This packet includes everything from locations, make-up and clothing advice, to what to expect and checklists for getting ready. These packets are very detailed, and each one took me several hours to design and perfect. Once the location has been set, I edit and email the contract, and we are off and running.


After your shoot, when you finally get to relax and wait for your photos, my job is just getting started. When I get home, before even uploading and culling the photos for editing, I back-up the images to two different hard drives. Then I spend about an hour (give or take for an hour session) culling the images down to the best of the best. Once I’ve selected the photos I am going to edit, I hand edit one photo from each batch and get it as close to perfection as I can. I won’t go into details here, but you can find my editing process in another post created specifically around editing. This whole process, from start to finish, can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending. After all edits are complete, I send the client a proof gallery where they can choose their images or opt. to purchase the entire gallery for an additional fee.


Two questions I’m always asked: 1) Why edit the additional photos if there is a chance they will only select the amount included in the package price? And 2) If you’ve already edited those photos, why not just include them? Both of these are very good questions and I will share my own personal opinion/answers. If a gallery package only includes 20 images, I will typically edit somewhere around 50. Is this a waste of time? Maybe. But for me, it’s something I do for a few reasons. One, I like giving people options. A photo I might love, you might not, and vice versa. So options are great. Second, I spend a lot of time with people and take a lot of photos. I don’t like to trash half of them just because it takes a little bit of extra time and effort. I enjoy what I do and putting in that extra touch is who I am. And lastly, I am able to keep my prices down just a little bit by selling extra images to those clients who want to pay a little more and purchase the whole gallery. Once they’re edited, if the client choses not to purchase additional images, why not just given them away? Because I put in a lot of time and effort on those edits to give them options. If they choose not to purchase them, that is absolutely ok, but giving them away would be a terrible disservice to myself and my business.


Once a gallery is delivered, I close everything out, make sure everything is backed up, and I usually leave the gallery up on the site for them for a couple of months (that also costs money and space). And then, I start the process all over again.


When all of that isn’t happening, I am writing one of these, mastering a new editing technique, taking an online class, or updating documents.


It’s about this time every year that I return home from the ever daunting 2-hour tax appointment. An appointment that continuously reminds me of what an expensive career I’ve chosen. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love what I do, but sometimes I also fantasize what it would be like if I went back to full-time nursing - where my only out of pocket expenses were some super cute scrubs, a nice stethoscope, and some yearly continuing education. A profession where work stayed at work (for the most part), and my time was my own when my shift was over. But just when I *almost get sucked back into the 9 to 5 daydream, I remember the email that I just received, telling me they cried through the whole gallery – that their images were perfect and priceless, and thanking me from the bottom of their hearts. Or the text I received weeks after a session, giving me advice on my mom and checking on me, because my clients often become good friends. Or, how about the two seniors from completely opposite sides of town, who saw each other on a social media post I made, and contacted me to fix them up (yes – that is a real story). I’m enveloped every day in the emotions I feel watching a senior absolutely shine during our time together. I can still feel the embarrassment, when I caught myself tearing up while watching her mom out of the corner of my eye. Those moments are everything to me and make all of the time and effort so worth it.


If you’ve stuck around and are still reading – thank you – and please for the love and sanity of all that are photo worthy, stop asking for ‘cheap photographers.’ Everyone has a budget – know yours, post it, and see who responds. Stop undercutting those who are running professional businesses and trying to support their families, the same way you work hard to support yours. There are a lot of beginners out there who are willing to discount their services while they are building up their knowledge, skills, and equipment. Do your homework, know who you are hiring, understand that you get what you pay for, and above all else, be respectful of the time, talent, and endless work someone is putting into their business. And if you do get a beginner that you love, support them on their journey and don’t complain when they need to increase their prices to match their growing talent. Loyalty pays for itself in spades, and clients who didn’t leave because my prices increased can absolutely attest to that. Life isn’t measured in minutes, but in moments. Capture them - however you can, cherish them - with all that you are, and be thankful each and every single day.