As a professional, at some point, no matter what career you are in, I imagine you are going to have somebody complain about your pricing. Somebody will think you are unreasonable or overpriced and not worth what you are charging. I get that. I also get that some people put more value on some things and other people find no value in the same thing. I get that. Some people cherish photographs and some people cherish something completely different. I get that. I am writing this not to try to convince every single person to pay what I charge, but rather to shed some light on a profession that most consumers have very little knowledge on where the business side is concerned. Prior to becoming a photographer, I honestly thought there was nothing much to it. You need a decent camera and a computer, and voila, you are a photographer. Kind of like saying all you need is a good oven and a pan to be a master chef. If only, oh if only.
All legitimate businesses have costs that the average consumer most likely never thinks about. Business insurance, professional organization fees, software programs, equipment upgrades, and rent are just a few backend business requirements that factor into the cost of running a successful business. Taxes, legal fees, and accounting costs are another one of those necessities that a legal business has to cover. Sure, I could run my business without paying taxes, without carrying business insurance and without being a member of a professional organization, but that is not how I choose to operate. I choose to run my business legally, and I hope most, if not all, photographers choose to do the same.
But now . . . the fun stuff. Newborn photography is my specialty and let me tell you, it’s not cheap to run a successful newborn studio. Props, equipment, cleaning supplies, blankets, headbands, wraps, and all the other cutesy stuff that make each photo sweet and unique, those things aren’t free. Take this one photo for instance . . .
Yes, I do realize these items can be used more than once, but do you know how many different baskets, wraps, hats and other props I have? Not to mention the lighting equipment, the professional camera and the editing software needed to make this shot happen.
I hate to use this phrase but it is so true . . . you get what you pay for. The next time you are shopping for a photographer, hopefully you can keep in mind that running a business and producing professional results do come at a price. Happy hunting!
AlyAMEN.