Very often customers email me pictures they want me to take for them. They find them on the internet or copy from other photographers. There is nothing wrong with it but they are very surprised when my response is “No, sorry, I cannot create those images for you.”

WHAT? You are a photographer-do you?

As an artist I have my own style. My photography represents how I see things. As my favourite photographer says-“I am not an artist for you. I am an artist for me. If someone chooses for me to be an artist for them, I will provide them with art that comes from my vision”.

 
So please do not feel offended hearing NO from me. Photography is not just clicking the shutter. It’s much more than this. It’s a very personal thing for me. I just cannot create something I don’t have in my heart .Because I always put all my heart into creating my visions, I cannot create someone else’s because they don’t come from my soul. So before you book a session  please check my portfolio to familiarize with my shooting style.

OK .The other thing is my new pricelist.

As you may know I recently raised my prices and the most popular response from my current customers is:

“The prices are not I  expected to be”.

There are many cheap, shoot and burn photographers in my area who charge £50 per entire session on the cd and people expected me to be one of them. I’m not and don’t wanna be. I wanna offer only the highest quality images and products and this is not possible with prices you expect. This is why:

The cost of running a legal studio is VERY expensive. The cost of my equipment, lights, cameras, lenses, computers, memory cards, backgrounds, softwares, workshops, makeup artist, hair stylist etc -all cost a lot of money. I put endless hours every week into my studio and clients, time away from my family. As I am a prop photographer I spend lots of money on props, gowns,session sets. For example one set (headband and knitted jumper) for newborn session costs £30-£40 (yes,that much). Plus I have to carry multiple insurance policies. I have a print bill to print all of your images, flash drives and packaging…Neverending story.

 
I’ve also been specializing maternity, kids and portraits photography for few years. I have quite a bit of experience in my field, there are many of new photographers out there…. Yes they charge a lot less. But you are relaying on my “eye”, my vision, my education, my studio, my props. This is my job. This is not a hobby. This is my career. Photography is a real profession and we deserved to paid for our work just like any other professional does.

My current pricelist is not pulled out of the blue. My prices are set depending on many factors . I have math and economic backgrounds so I created an excel spreadsheet with special formula helping to determine how to set up prices for photography. If you are still reading this (LOL) and you are photographer interested how to price your photography email me at gabriellaphotography@gmail.com with any questions. Photographers- run your numbers!! You will be shocked by the final amount you should charge to cover all your expenses. I was shocked as well. I run my numbers twice because I thought I made a mistake at first time.

 
I know from the experience that you cannot run high quality professional photography business charging £50 per session. And those who thinks it is possible have other income or will be out of this business soon.
“But I know someone who will shoot a portrait session and give me a disc of images for X amount. Why don’t you do that?”
The real question is: Why don’t you use that person for your portraits? I think we both know the answer.
You can buy a Kia or a Ford or a Lexus or a Mercedes. Only you can decide which is right for you but don’t expect the Mercedes to cost the same as the Kia.

 
Well, I hope that I have shed a little light on why I have raised my prices.

I found great articles about prices and I couldn’t have said it better.

(Article from http://www.lauraflemingphotographyblog.com/why-i-dont-aim-to-be-reasonably-priced/)

“I’ve blogged before about my pricing and why it is what it is. Click here if you’d like to go back and

read it. I didn’t list everything that I pay daily, monthly, yearly to be in business or try to make people

understand why I’m ok with not being the cheapest, or as many people are calling it these days…a

“reasonably priced” photographer.

It’s not only photography where this is happening. It’s almost gross how many posts I come

across daily on Facebook or email looking for someone in the service industry who is …and I

quote…”reasonably priced”.

My question is this: Reasonably priced for what? Because what’s reasonably priced for me may not

be reasonably priced for you.

I’ve gotten emails like this:

“Hi there Laura! I have gone through a million Facebook pages and websites looking for someone

who does amazing work, and I am so glad I found you! Your work is fantastic and exactly what I’m

looking for! Everyone looks so relaxed and I love that you capture candid moments rather than

just posing everyone. My friends have raved about you and your work and I am hoping to get more

information from you! I have a family of 4 and we’ve never had family photos taken. We are looking

for someone reasonably priced who can squeeze us in this weekend. Please email me or call me!”

Ok. Deep breath.

She told me that I am exactly what she’s looking for. She’s gone through my Facebook page and my

website, gotten recommendations about me, and is looking for exactly my style of photography. But

“reasonably priced”.

You see, the way I look at it, when it comes to the service industry…whether it’s a hair stylist, a

plumber, a photographer…you are looking for one of two things:

1. Someone professional, with a business license who pays taxes, who knows what they are doing

and will do it right, who puts customer service first, who studies and hones their craft, who has a

portfolio and is reputable.

OR

2. Someone “reasonably priced” cheap.

Now, you may get lucky with #2. I was cheap once upon a time, too! You may find someone who

is starting out and is amazingly talented. Their overhead costs are still low because they aren’t

established yet but their talent and skill speaks for itself. You MIGHT get lucky. And if you do, know

that person’s prices will, eventually, rise.

But the way I see it, you want one or the other, generally speaking.

So no, I don’t aim to be #2. I don’t aim to price myself out of business or overcharge either.

But someone’s skill, talent, professionalism, top notch gear, quick turnaround time, solid

communication…that’s worth a higher investment.

“But Laura, we all start somewhere”

We do. I started out as a $150 photographer who would provide a CD of photos with a release for

printing. But as my business grew, I evolved. My business evolved. My expenses went up. Things

changed, and my prices changed as well.

“Well I only do this as a hobby”

Awesome! High five! Good for you! Then stop charging people. Because they get confused. If they

are paying you, they take you as someone in business, they consider you a professional. So either

stop charging and enjoy your hobby or take a serious look at what it’s costing you to run a business,

start running it like a business, start paying taxes on the money people give you, and stop calling it a

hobby.

“Not everyone can afford thousands of dollars for photos”

I get that. And I could write an entire blog responding to this one question. Bottom line is that

people save for what is worth it to them. They spend their hard-earned dollars on what matters to

them. And if family portraits are important to them, they’ll invest the money.

Here’s my humble advice, if anyone is even still reading this.;)

Ask for what you really want. Do you want to spend less than $50 on a photographer? Then ask for

that. Because the truth is that if you saw the back end of my business including the hours and money

that goes in to keep it running, you’d realize that I am the one who is reasonably priced.

(Article from http://twobloomsphotography.com/2014/01/13/the-value-in-photography/)

“I can’t tell you how many times…

I have gotten a phone call, email, or Facebook message from someone saying how much they love

my work and want to book a session with me. I then proceed to give them all of the information and

pricing, and there’s a moment of silence.

HOW MUCH???

I have experienced a lot of sticker shock over the past year from many people and I completely

understand why. At first glance, my pricing might seem a little alarming. I mean, you have a nice

DSLR, right? Or know someone who has one that could do the same work for you for free? Yes, and

a BIG. FAT. NO.

When you hire a professional photographer, you aren’t just getting pretty pictures.

You are receiving a customized session with professional (and dare I say EXPENSIVE) equipment and

props. Professionals also have to invest in computers and editing software to make the photos look,

well, professional. But my point today is NOT about how much the photographer has to invest in

their business, but as the client who chooses to invest in custom photography.

Custom photography is not a necessity, it’s a LUXURY.

Just like that $5 latte you get before work every morning. Or that $900 flat screen TV you just got

for Christmas. Or those $100 skinny jeans that you can’t imagine living without. I could go on all day

about the luxuries we indulge ourselves in everyday.

But when it comes to a $350 photography session…GASP….you suddenly cannot breathe.

I don’t blame you; I honestly don’t. When everyone has an uncle Bob to take their picture for free (or

right next to it) or a Walmart/Picture People/Portrait Innovations, then the $350 might seem a little

steep.

But, if you truly admire good photography, then treat it as a luxury.

Luxuries are not an everyday occurrence. Luxuries may only come but once a year (or every 5 years,

and that’s okay!). But if you treat it as a luxury, you will value it MORE.

If you are one that really values photography and wants so badly to have precious memories of your

loved ones created, then I challenge you to make a fund.

Instead of that $5 latte, why not put that into a jar to invest towards your photography session?

Maybe you can afford to skip that pedicure you had scheduled for this month and put that into the

jar too. Just like saving and planning for any luxury, photography isn’t any different.

I know that custom photography isn’t for everyone and I respect that. But if you can see good

photography for what it’s worth, then uncle Bob’s photos might not be enough for you.

I mean, the proof is in the pudding…

What can you sacrifice a little to put towards a photo session?”