courtney jade’s blog

it always comes down to one thing- the price.

I hear so often how “expensive” I am as a photographer. How “expensive” my prints are to order, how “expensive” my session fee is, and how “expensive” it is to hire me as your wedding photographer. I am not offended by these remarks, however it does seem to make things a little uncomfortable.

So I thought it would be a good idea to give everyone a little bit of enlightenment as to why professional photography is so “expensive”. I’m not writing this in response to any one person or their comments, please know, I just feel it only right to inform my clients, and others who are interested in investing in some professional photography, of what really goes into their little works of art.

Anyone who’s ever run their own business can testify to the major amount of time and cost that it requires. Every little thing costs money, from the stickers and ribbon on the boxes, to the updated high tech equipment that is used to shoot, process, and utilize your photos. There are so many things- little and big, that add up quickly. But these are essential. You can’t be a photographer without a good camera. You can’t edit the images (if you shoot digital) without a good, fast (those files are HUGE) computer. You can’t present your work without pretty boxes, ribbons, stickers, info cards, etc. And you can’t share your work online in a professional manner without a website, blog and online store.

And this is all AFTER you book a client.
But you must have these things.

In order to book a client, you need to have a good solid portfolio, and branding to boot. People want to see something pretty, and they want it professionally handed to them. I could go on forever about branding, design and marketing, but I’ll save that for another day. My main point is- in order to book clients, you need to have something professional to present to them, a professional contract to sign, and information to hand them regarding you and your work. Again, all of this takes lots of time to design and prepare, and money to create.

Ok, so let’s say I’ve invested all of this money into my business. I have the equipment I need, my company is branded to a T, and I’m booking clients… it’s all profit from here, right? Wrong. Let’s start with a basic portrait session.

I shoot mainly on-location, so first we must account for time and gas to get to wherever we’re shooting. My portrait sessions usually last about an hour to two hours- that’s time I’m physically working. Setting up shots, reading lighting, creating moments, etc. It may not seem like a lot from the other side of the lens, but it’s mentally draining… actually it’s almost like a mini high I guess… when I shoot, I’m generally pretty energetic, always looking to capture the best moments and set up great shots, etc. But after wards, I’m POOPED! It’s almost a weird feeling… Anyways, back to my story…

Before I knew much of anything about professional photography, I didn’t really understand the value in just paying the “session fee”, I was a little perturbed by it in fact… I pay all of that money, and I don’t even physically GET anything??  But after being behind the lens for so long, I realize all of the work, cost, and time that goes into those photos… it doesn’t end when the lens cap goes back on. This is the reason you hire that photographer whose work you absolutely love… this is why there is a price.

Generally, each batch of photos I take go through at least 3 edits. Each photo is reviewed, either kept or rejected, and then from there each one is finessed. This process takes anywhere from 3-6 hours usually, to get the final, finished product. From there, the photos have to be duplicated and re-sized, then uploaded to my online store, where the password protected gallery is created. The images get uploaded and I set up the gallery according to your session. This takes around another hour usually. I also try to do a blogpost for each session, so that you can send your friends and family to see your best shots easily. This usually takes about an hour as well.

So, we’re up to -plus or minus- 10 hours of work, including time spent planning, traveling, shooting, post-processing, and presenting.
THIS is what your session fee covers. My time and talents in creating your photographic memories. (Remember, this doesn’t even include any of the costs we first listed.)

So then my clients and their friends and family can go onto my store site, and view and order their photos. This is where the cost of prints and digital images come in… While in the market, my pricing is still below average for comparable work, I can understand how people can feel that my prices are crazy. You can go to any local drugstore and get your photos printed for well under a dollar per-print. But what you must understand is that those machines processing your photos are not nearly as sophisticated as a professional color lab. There are nicer labs you can go to, which are more expensive, and the end product is better, but still generally not up to the same standard that I have for my work. After all, this is what you wanted in the first place, right? Quality, professional images that capture those magical moments so that you can keep them forever? Who would fly all the way to France and not go shopping?

The way that I process the photos, along with the way that my lab prints is synced so that you get the true colors & quality of the image. Not to mention, your photos are not just snapshots, they are little (and sometimes big) pieces of art. There is also cost involved on my end for not just ordering the art, but shipping fees, packaging, ribbon, tissue, stickers, etc. all must be factored in.

And as for digital files… with the internet as it is, social media all the hype, and easy access for sharing with friends and family via email, the desire for digital images has become very strong. This is a HUGE controversy in the photo-world. A lot of photographers don’t even offer the digital files for sale. They believe it’s like giving away your work, your negatives, your masterpieces. Being a younger photographer, I’m pretty “hip” to the newer standards, and I want my clients to be able to share their images however they’d like… and if they are going the digital route, I’d rather them not scan things in and possibly alter the quality. Therefore I see it to be in my best interest, and the interest of my clients to offer digital negatives. However, I have to also think about my business. How am I to make it in this business with ending up in the green? For this reason, digital negatives are much more expensive than prints. Why would I sell them for the same price when someone could just purchase the digital negatives, and go get hundreds of prints made (of quality that is questionable, to be honest) at a local drugstore? My digital negatives are limited though, and only printable for pieces up to an 8 x 10 in size. This enables my clients to print photos at their leisure, however it leaves the larger pieces of art to me.

As difficult as it is for me, I must be a strong business woman. If I ever want to make it as a full time professional in this world, I’ve got to make some sort of profit at some point- that’s just the bottom line
I haven’t even factored in living expenses, healthcare, etc. that I would need to pay for… but we won’t get into all of that math this time.

Now what about weddings? In the beginning, those tend to seem like the most expensive… but at the end, it’s really what profits the least for me. On top of everything above, factor in an extra 10 hours of shooting (plus or minus), and an extra 14 (plus or minus) hours of editing. Instead of around 25-35 photos, my wedding clients usually end up with around 600-800 photos from their day. Talk about a HUGE difference in post-process work. And I am reasonably well below industry standard as far as my pricing-to-talent ratio goes. Yet, since it has the largest “up-front” sticker price, it seems to shock some. It’s understandable to me, since I have a hard time spending more than $40 on a nice pair of jeans, but just think about this…

You invest SO MUCH time, money, sweat, tears, and brainpower planning this wedding. One of the most important days of your entire life. You spend MONTHS getting everything ready, planning, deciding, choosing, coordinating…. and your day goes by in what always seems like an instant. Gone too soon. When the make-up has been put on, the hair curled… when the seats have been filled with loving friends and family, and the vowes have been spoken…. when you’ve had your first kiss as ‘husband and wife’, and the crowd is cheering… when the cake has been cut, the bouquet tossed, and the garter retrieved, and the dances are over… when you get into that getaway car and finally have a moment to reflect on the day (maybe)… what will you remember? What about in five years? ten? twenty?

THIS is why your photography is so important. Too often it’s an afterthought for couples. And I’ve heard more times than not “I wish we would have hired a better photographer”, or “I was really unhappy with our photos”, or “I never thought about it that much”. And every time it breaks my heart. This is why I do what I do.

When everything is said and done, the day has passed, and all you have are memories, that will mostly eventually fade, what will you have left to remember your day? To remember those little moments? To remember your first kiss? Your cake? Your table settings? Everything. What will you show your children? Your grandchildren?

My point is, this day is full of priceless moments. Don’t throw everything away to the land of forgotten after that day. Think ahead before, and really understand how truly invaluable those photos are. This also goes with newborn photos, maternity photos, and child and family photos for that matter. Moments last just that; but photos last forever.

THIS is why I do what I do. And I love being able to do something that makes me so completely fulfilled. However, just because I love doing it, doesn’t mean I don’t have bills to pay. I would love to work for free, or discounted all of the time, but realistically, I just can’t. And I haven’t even mentioned that this business is a part-time gig for me right now, I also work a full time job during the week! So all of this time that I’m taking to make this dream business a reality, is time away from my loving boyfriend, my dog-son, and friends and family. It can be difficult at times, and it’s a sacrifice I make, but it also comes with a price tag.

All I’ve mentioned thus far cost-wise on my end doesn’t even include workshops, seminars, events, clubs/groups, conferences, organization memberships etc. that photographers attend and are a part of to keep up to date and ahead of the curve to ensure you’re always receiving the best product. Those all cost money as well.

I didn’t write this to toot my own horn, or to vent, or to give you the sense that I’m bitter for some reason. I’m not, and I hope I didn’t come off that way at all. I just hope to bring a little bit of clarity to my business for you all, and to the photography business in general, so that you can decide for yourself what professional photography is worth- be it mine or someone else’s.

After all, the magic is in the moments, and the moments are too quickly gone and forgotten.
It’s all for love.

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