I have considered typing this blog for a while, but wasn’t sure how to approach. Then the other day I found a photographer’s blog about wedding pricing and an explanation of why she charges what some consider so much. She discussed the amount of time and money she has wrapped up in her wedding photography business. So I felt inspired and therefore I was ready to type away!
 First, I want everyone to understand that I am a person who doesn’t like conflict. In fact, I am a people pleaser, which is good and bad as an entrepreneur. I work very hard to keep everyone around me happy, even if I neglect myself a little. This is so very true when it comes to my business. I work hard to make all my clients happy, because they are a top priority and I want them to be repeat clients. I will go more into details later.
 
Secondly, THIS IS my livelihood; my photography business is NOT a hobby. I am very passionate about my work and I am constantly looking for ways to improve. I stay home with my 7 year old son and 3 year old twins, so to help offset some of our expenses I have an ever blooming photography business. Most of my weekend’s are dedicated to photographing individuals, newborns, toddlers, children, HS seniors, couples, maternity, and family sessions. While most families use their weekends to do something fun like go to a college or professional sports game, or quality time at home playing in the yard, or hanging out with friends; I am working. This usually means leaving my children at home with my husband or a babysitter.  In most cases we have a sitter, because Eric is my faithful assistant. This is an expense we will discuss in just a little bit!
 
The first expense I will discuss is what my business startup costs. To begin my photography business I needed a new digital camera, memory cards, rechargeable batteries, battery charger, laptop, background system, backgrounds, light kits for the studio & in home sessions, and lights (for the kit). I also ended up investing in a new office desk and chair. The startup cost was approximately $5,000! This isn’t including all the frames for displaying prints, or the prints for display!
 
Next I have a studio downtown, which means I have rent and utilities to pay monthly. Although my bills are inexpensive, it is still an expensive I have to pay every month! Typically my monthly rent/utilities bills are around $100.
 
Now back to the expenses that come along with the session. Since we don’t have family in KS, we have to pay someone to watch our little ones. If Eric and I have to travel out of town, we have to pay the sitter for the extra time it takes us to travel. So here’s the breakdown. My typical sessions are 1-3 hours, including a short amount of travel time 1 hr. each direction I spend approximately $36 in childcare and another $60 to fill up my Dodge Durango’s gas tank. This isn’t including snacks/meals and drinks (about another $20). So I am already at $116 just for the session! I only charge $45 for a regular session that is 1 hr. and $65 for a session that is 2-3 hrs. I also don’t charge travel fees, except for weddings outside the 60 mile radius from my home.
 
My job is just beginning when I finish up the photography session. You see, creating the shot is just a portion of the business. Once I return home I begin downloading all the images onto my laptop into a folder specifically created for the client. Once the downloading process begins, I start the editing process. This includes working on the individual images and choosing some to upload to social networking sites as a sneak peek. I usually spend 25+ hours editing images per session. Since I do not work 8 hours a day at the studio, I have to work around my children’s schedules. This means I have to mentally check out of the home mode and into the office mode. Once all the editing is completed I begin preparing the images for the web. To do this must do a batch re-name of all the files and change the size of the images to be web-friendly. Once these tasks are completed I create a private gallery on my website. Then I begin uploading the files to the private gallery. I might also add here that I don’t have a maximum number of portraits in a private gallery (clients may have 25-225 images in their gallery). These tasks usually take a couple of hours. So I am up to about 30 hours of work on one session. If I was paid hourly, based on my session prices, I would receive about $32/hr. That would come out to $960 per session! However, I don’t charge for the creative post-production services.
 
Here’s why I am blogging about this. I have heard/seen a large quantity of people compare professional photographers who own a photography business to chain photography studio pricing. There is no comparison.  Now that you have seen some of my costs and the time I spend on each session let me remind you about what is involved with some chain studios. You are shuffled in, are photographed, and then shuffled off to a computer. They show you the images, not really much editing involved. Yes, you get $9.99 per sheet pricing, but chain studios don’t put in the amount of time and money per session that we do. They also won’t travel to your favorite location for a personalized touch to your photographs.
 
I also want to point out that I don't spend this much time on a session, just so someone can have a facebook profile picture. Also my images are copyrighted and can NOT be re-printed without my permission.This is not okay and anyone who doesn't comply with the copyright law can face up to a $320,000.00 fine. This also includes manipulating any images I post on facebook.
 
So now that you have seen the blog you have a better understanding of why I can’t charge the prices that mall studios do. The great customer service is just an added bonus! 
 
 
~Nicole~