The question of the week! I am sooo nervous to blog about this topic. I have been asked this question a few times in the last couple of weeks, so I want to break it down for you in simple terms. Some people think it’s absolutely crazy that I charge $350 for an hour session (This is the cost of a mini session for many other photographers). What they don’t understand is all of the cost and time (which also costs me) to run a successful photography business. After every session I drive back home and I spend hours making sure that your gallery is absolutely perfect! This means that after I have taken care of all of my motherly duties or skipped them, I stay up until 4:30 AM to edit. I will start of by giving a breakdown of the basics of costs and pricing. Numbers are pretty black and white, and don’t lie, so that’s where I will begin.

First off, lets start with how much on average I typically charge (many times I give discounts). I average around $350/hour depending on the type of session. Usually its less not more, if there is a variation.

Next, lets talk expenses. I am going to list my yearly expenses for the year, and then my monthly expenses.

Camera and lens costs from this year: $7,034.33, $2,600, $50.00, $200.00

Computer equipment: $1,599.00, $3,377.04

Insurance: $320

Website: $400

Scheduling: $240

CRM (Client Database): $300

Gallery Cloud (where all of your images are stored and delivered): $420

Studio Rentals $200-300/month

Email marketing: $20/month

Internet: $80-120/month plus the $600 set up fee if I use the faster internet

Phone: $400 plus the monthly $100

Editing software and presets: $600

Costs for just one session:

Gas: $20-$150+ depending on location

Babysitter: $8-10/hour (sessions are never just an hour)

2 hours of my time at the shoot (usually longer because of set up and take down, or location prep)

2-4 hours of editing per hour shooting

2-3 hours of location scouting

2-3 hours of booking, sending invoices emails, blogs, creating reels and social media posts ect.

Ok so lets break it down: I am averaging about 12 hours of work, for every session (not including weddings or events).

I am getting paid $29/hour. ($350/12=$29)

Just to cover my yearly costs (not monthly) and break even, I need to book 50 sessions a year, about 1 session/week.

Side note, as a an LPN working at a university (my other job) I get paid $24/hour and my only cost is gas to get there. I also have more years experience as a photographer, than I do as an LPN, so if I were being paid simply off my years of experience… I will let you think about that.

So lets say all of my equipment gets stolen and I dont have insurance, and I have to buy new gear to be able to shoot the future clients who have already scheduled sessions with me. Truth, this happened to me last year so this isnt a far fetched scenario.

If I have only booked 50 sessions for the year, I cannot afford new gear, let alone my monthly costs of just running the business.

SOOOO, guys, this is why I charge what I charge.

Do you want to know why its worth it?? I will tell you why!

As a professional photographer I can offer several years of experience, but also, you know I am not going to give you iphone images or images from the camera I borrowed from the high school yearbook class. So why does this matter? The person running a full-fledged photography business is probably going to take their job more seriously, than the person who is a hobbyist. They won’t flake out on you. They won’t take months to deliver your photos. They will make sure you’re happy and will probably fix any issues that come up. This is their livelihood after all. The images I capture and deliver are quality images, shot and edited with the highest quality equipment, experience, delivery and backup. I also offer insight to how to get images to look great (if you trust me enough to listen). And lastly and most importantly, I offer you an experience of the moment. Many of which you will never get back. I’m going to take my time. After we get the “Say Cheese” photos, I want to capture connection…brother and sister to tell jokes to each other, running fingers through your kids hair, I want your husband to hold you for just a second while you take in the moment. I want to capture the connection and relationships, the fleeting childhood moments and precious life that ended too soon. To me, that is priceless, and deserves to be captured in the best way possible.

I’m not the photographer for you if you’re just looking for “a couple” good pictures to print. I don’t run my sessions to get you in and out. I’m efficient, but I want you to feel something when you get them back. I want you to see connection, love, and pure joy. I want you to feel proud and happy, and confident.

There are plenty of photographers out there that don’t charge “an arm and a leg” and will gladly get you the 3-5 simple images that you asked for.

This isn’t just a hobby for me, its my creative passion, which I have been blessed to turn into a business that truly provides for my family. Thank you to those of you that have never questioned what I charge, you’ve just completely trusted me, I cannot say thank you enough!

You’ve created a beautiful life and you’re not promised tomorrow, so let’s capture it in the best way possible.