Shopping for a photographer can be stressful. Scheduling conflicts, weather, attitudes, etc. You want to find a photographer that takes photos that will suit you, but also not break your bank. Then it becomes like shopping for other consumer items. Find the best deal.
But you aren't just shopping for something you are going to use and perhaps someday break, lose, stain, get tired of, replace with something more advanced (granted you may add to it!) . . .
You are preserving a memory that is irreplaceable, and thanks to this art form, unforgettable.
You are likely supporting a local business to boot! If you have ever run your own business you know just how valuable that is.
Price tag matters for sure if you simply don't have the budget for it. But if you don't have the budget for it, then it isn't that a photographer over charges. It is that you don't have the money for it. :) One more reason photo shoots make great gifts!
Let me tell you about a photographer's pricing. We are a specialized service. We aren't your iPhone with filters. We own expensive equipment, pay for marketing including websites and products, often have many years of experience getting to where we are at, and probably a beautiful eye for it. We take the stress off of you to produce something you will love. We give up at least 35% of what we make to taxes (depending on states). We spend time shooting and then even more time editing and uploading. And at the end of the day we don't want to make minimum wage when all else is paid up. That is why you will pay a chunk of change to preserve those memories in a style you connect with. Because your money is going to good things, and your money is preserving something beautifully unique to you. The majority of photographers aren't getting filthy rich off your sessions. (If they are, best believe they are working hard for it!) We are paying the bills.
I personally don't have the money to do a photo session every year. If I did I would. I also am a photographer, so I can do my own, ha! Sometimes, I also barter with friend photographers. That is a perk, for sure. I do know the worth of a photo session though. I highly value them. They are something I try to budget for, because I value them so much. If a year is tight and I can't, okay! But life goes by so quickly, and if you don't stop to capture it, it's too late. I decorate with photos too, so obviously I need to keep them up to date! :)
There are plenty of photographers out there. Beginners who may charge less as they tweak their skills, or old pros who have a good thing going. We are all different. You won't like every photographer, be it their style or their personality. That's cool. Good thing you have options! But know they are worth it. Your memories are worth it, and if you can't afford it, it's okay.
You don't have to look down on yourself for not being able to shell out $200 to get some photos done. There are plenty of great tips out there for DIY, and quite frankly those iPhones are doing a darn good job these days. Seriously . . .
Now you know what your money goes to, in a nut shell. I could have been way more detailed too! So much going on behind the session description! Enjoy . . . book a session. I also know several photographers in the area I would recommend if not myself!
