“You get what you pay for” Shouldn’t be how you describe your portrait experience.
As of late I have had an absurd amount of people in conversation mention to me “you get what you pay for though”. My answer to that is why the heck are you paying for a low blow experience instead of making an investment in yourself.
Finding the right photographer takes a lot of time and research.
In the digital age, as access to professional quality cameras becomes increasingly easier, consumers should remain wary when selecting a professional photographer.
Many new photographers are emerging every day, setting up websites and charging for services which are not professional in quality and for which they have little to no training.
The right photographer for you will meet many criteria which may include: photography style, price, reputation, available products and quality of work.
While I can't deny the financial side of any decision, it is also beneficial to understand pricing in order to make the most informed decision possible.
Does your photographer use top of the line equipment? If so, they have likely invested tens of thousands of dollars into quality gear in order to provide you with the very best images possible.
Does your photographer have a good reputation in the community? If so, they likely provide a good product, and pricing is justified by that talent.
Does your photographer have an extensive product line?
If so, they have likely built solid relationships with many vendors in the photographic industry and have invested a great deal of time and research into finding a wide array of products their clients will love and be proud to display.
Does your photographer offer all digital files with a low session fee?
If so, they are likely new to the business and are attempting to undercut established professionals by offering a deal.
You get what you pay for.
When you hire a professional photographer with a good reputation, great products, keen eye, professional process and appropriate pricing, you lift the burden of worry. And since quality, custom portraiture does require an investment, it is important to consider:
1. Am I prepared to make a higher investment to ensure the quality of the work?
2. Will a re-shoot be possible?
For many occasions like weddings, re-shoots are not typically possible - however with the covid-19 pandemic this is becoming more common. And since we don't often have the gift of a re-shoot, capturing memories with care and confidence is worth the investment - every time.
3. Is the event I am capturing time sensitive, emotionally important, or unique?
If so, you can't afford mistakes -- it needs to be done right the first time.
Many prospective clients ask, "Why am I paying you $120 for an 8x10 when I can produce my own for $4.50 at the one-hour photo or a $29.95 photo package at my local chain studio? Photographs obviously don't cost that much to produce.”
Truthfully, while it doesn't cost much to print an 8x10 at your local one-hour photo, it does cost a professional photographer much more.
Factored into every photographer's price is the cost of doing business professionally.
The $495 session fee for an unlimited session does not mean your photographer earns $114.75 per hour;
in fact
hours of editing, retouching, cropping, presentation or online gallery preparation, printing, packaging, employees, labs and delivery to produce quality photography are required. Selling an 8x10 for $3.50 would quickly put a professional photographer out of business. In the professional photography industry those photographers are known as “shoot & burn”, or non-professional photographers.
So while it may be tempting to consider lower pricing, a professional photographer shouldn’t be compared to a chain studio.
Since many professional studios provide a custom experience and aren't merely putting you on an assembly line.
You are paying for time, skill, and customer service for the very best experience possible.
Another troubling trend among photographers is to offer all images in high resolution on a disk included with the session fee.
Those digital file packages are likely to cost a fair bit to obtain, however, and handing digital files to a client is a disservice when we strive to provide clients with professional quality prints and products. For the effort and investment you have made, we want your images to be ones you will continue to treasure for a lifetime.
The local photo mart simply can't create that.
If you have any questions regarding specific products, my process, work, or if you would like to set up a consultation or a session, I would be more than happy to assist you.
I wish you all the best in your search, and thank you again for taking the time to consider me as your photographer.
xo,
M.Torres
