Why does Custom Photography Cost so Much?

[HeatherLou]

I found this article from another photographers blog. I think it has some interesting points to make customers realize its not just the two hours they pay for :)

Why Does Custom Photography Cost so Much?

[toverman]

Thanks for the link. Lots of good information, some of which can be used for a gentle education. Hitting a potential client with all of it at once would probably bruise the fruit.

The thing that scares me is that there are people who still can't tell the difference between quality and the corner drug store/mall studio. But then I don't want those clients anyway!

[Tom]

I've got clients that can't really tell the difference, but trust me.

That said, I am not spending anywhere near 20 hours on a 90 minute session. 30-45min loading pics into the computer and another 30-45 minutes backing them up?

An hour prep time getting ready for ordering?

If the photographer is spending almost 20 hours on a 90 minute shoot, they are getting paid $7/hr. Yeah, sorry. There's no way.

I'm all about educating customers, but I am not going to lie to them. There is a lot more than that 90 minute shoot, but I am not spending 20 hours on each shoot.

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

30-45min loading pics into the computer and another 30-45 minutes backing them up?

Sounds like they need to upgrade their computer systems.

[kenw]

The actual reality is that it costs that much because people are willing to pay it. It really has little to do with actual costs, otherwise a bottle of water would cost a nickel and a Lexus wouldn’t cost much more than a Toyota.

The Law of Supply-Demand applies to photographers just like everyone else. Except lawyers.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

I've got clients that can't really tell the difference, but trust me.

That said, I am not spending anywhere near 20 hours on a 90 minute session. 30-45min loading pics into the computer and another 30-45 minutes backing them up?

An hour prep time getting ready for ordering?

If the photographer is spending almost 20 hours on a 90 minute shoot, they are getting paid $7/hr. Yeah, sorry. There's no way.

I'm all about educating customers, but I am not going to lie to them. There is a lot more than that 90 minute shoot, but I am not spending 20 hours on each shoot.

I agree that this was full of holes. I would never put this on my website--it sounds like a bunch of excuses.

Q: Why does Custom Photography Cost so Much?
A: Because it's worth it.

If you don't agree, then God bless you, and head on down to Sears Portrait Studios. 'm not going to waste my time and yours trying to convince you. The lady standing behind you gets it, and is waiting to sign up for her session.

boxofrocks added 0 Minutes and 40 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by kenw

The actual reality is that it costs that much because people are willing to pay it. It really has little to do with actual costs, otherwise a bottle of water would cost a nickel and a Lexus wouldn’t cost much more than a Toyota.

The Law of Supply-Demand applies to photographers just like everyone else. Except lawyers.

Beat me to it by 3 minutes!

[HeatherLou]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

I'm all about educating customers, but I am not going to lie to them. There is a lot more than that 90 minute shoot, but I am not spending 20 hours on each shoot.

Mine is prolly closer to 10 hours per session.
Lets see:
Phone and email time .5
Getting studio ready before the session .5
Session time 1.5
Cleaning up after session .5
Downloading .5
Edit Time, including slide show 1.5
Getting Studio ready for portrait screening .5
Portrait screening 1.0
Clean up Time .5
Uploading order .5
Upload to website, blog and TPF LOL 1.0
Proofing and Delivery of Prints 1.0
Total 9.5

[Tom]

I will explain some of the things in my "Get to know you" (Sales) sessions, because people often wonder. I tell them a little about my road to photography, places I have been for photography (Sudan, India, Uganda, etc), why I do what I do, and how those experiences help me be a better wedding photographer.

[HeatherLou]

The reason I thought it was an interesting blog was the time aspect. I have honestly never been asked the *why do you cost so much* question. I know that the clients I have understand that I spend time on their session, but I doubt they realize its that much time.

[kenw]

I don't do photography for a living, but I have done other stuff (other than my day job) for fee. I find it much simpler and honest to not get into detailing my "costs", especially "time" costs. If they think I charge too much for re-wiring their sprinkler system or replacing a sink faucet, they'll go elsewhere. To discuss costs and how it affects pricing is a dead-end trap you don't really want to go down. For me it's a flat fee + the actual cost of the parts.

Again, I'm not doing this to support the family, but I also don't really charge that much less than a regular handyman. They're buying trust, they know where I live......

[Norma_S]

I had a potential client call me back in January inquiring about a Valentines Day photo session. When I quoted her my prices she said there was another boudoir photographer across town that would give her the session AND 10 retouched pictures on CD for $300 (less than 1/2 my price). I told her she should do what was important to her -- price or quality. LOL, I couldn't help myself.

I know I could sell more sessions if I priced them like my competitor across town and included a CD of retouched images. But, personally I would rather kick back and take a day off than to work my butt off to produce a product that meets my level of quality just to make minimum wage. And besides, I'm so busy right now, even with my higher prices, that I couldn't take on much more work unless I quit my day job and decided to go full time.

Chuckie Lewis once said that if you don't have some clients complaining about your prices, you aren't charging enough.

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by Norma_S

I had a potential client call me back in January inquiring about a Valentines Day photo session. When I quoted her my prices she said there was another boudoir photographer across town that would give her the session AND 10 retouched pictures on CD for $300 (less than 1/2 my price). I told her she should do what was important to her -- price or quality. LOL, I couldn't help myself.

So what was her response? I want to say that all the time.

My line is usually something like "I understand there are price differences out there. Quite frankly, if cost is your number one concern, you may want to be looking elsewhere."

I've never had anyone agree that price was their top priority.

[Norma_S]

I don't recall exactly what she said after I told her that. Since I'd already talked a bit about my services and she knew what I offered and how I worked, I probably didn't give her much chance to respond and just went on with something like: "if you change your mind, we would love to work with you" and got off the call.

I had a good laugh with my husband later about the fact that we started to get people complaining so I guess my prices were not too low!

I'll never be able to compete on price. There's always someone else that's cheaper. I don't really want to deal with the clients who are looking to negotiate a deal. I have made a couple of deals before and always regretted it. Now I don't. Like someone earlier in this thread said, tell 'em to step aside so I can take the money of the lady waiting behind you.

[S-Man]

People, mainly friends who inquire about what I charge for a session, always, and I mean ALWAYS get that look on their face that says "You want HOW MUCH?!"... Not once have I had a person be like, "Oh, that's not bad at all!"...
Unless its another photographer, people really have no idea what gos into a photo session.
One of my friends was talking to me about their wedding several years ago, and was like "I don't see why people spend so much money on a wedding photographer. As long as someone has a decent camera they can take some pictures that turn out just as good..."
I had to bite my tongue so hard it almost bled. I then did my best to calmly explain things to him. And he still said "I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers..."

I had that blog bookmarked before Heather posted it here, I think someone else posted it in another thread a few months ago.
Even if I don't agree with the time factors, the wording and the process is good to have down on paper (or web-site) to explain to people what is involved.
SOrry for the long post!

[Norma_S]

Originally Posted by S-Man

People, mainly friends who inquire about what I charge for a session, always, and I mean ALWAYS get that look on their face that says "You want HOW MUCH

That reminds me of something that happened to me back before Christmas. My sister-in-law wanted some family portraits made and wanted to know when would be a good time because she "didn't want to take time away from a paying client". I straight-faced told her "what makes you think you won't be paying" and then laughed that little laugh that people use when they're serious but say something in a joking manner. I never did that family photo shoot, LOL.

Norma