It's scary at times to look back and see what I thought were great pictures at the time are now somewhat of an embarrassment, yet a sure sign of great improvement. And of course, I owe a HUGE Thank you to those that allowed me to practice this love for photography. Without such people I wouldn't be where I am today.
My goal when I started out was to keep photography a hobby, but as time went on I got busier and busier and went from $80.00 per session to $100.00 per session. Ha ha, I am sure in time I will look back at that and shake my head (What was I thinking!!??). Though, it is a passion, I must keep in mind that with all this time spent on sessions along with my full time job, 2 kids and a house, I need compensation. And that was clarified 100% when I attended the Jaiden Photography workshop in Ohio at the beginning of July. Her many words of advice was to explain WHY you are worth what you charge. Arrrghh! That is easier said than done. Especially considering that I hate to disappoint and upset people.
So I came accross this message from another photographer and she couldn't have said it better, so here it is:
This is merely an example and just some rough numbers, but more put together as an example!!!
Say you do a session for $100 with a cd of all the images. AWESOME right??? You just made $100 bucks right??!! Score!!!!
Lets break down that $100. Say you shoot 4 of these sessions in one month.
$100 received for session
$30 off the top put aside for taxes
leaves $70.
The cost for your website is $16 a month (Through portfoliositez). If you shot 4 sessions that month that is on average $4 a session to pay for it.
You are down to $66.
If you get insurance (to protect yourself and your clients) at an average of $40 a month over 4 sessions That is $10 a session.
You are down to $56
The cost for the CD and case $1.00
You are down to $55
10% towards new gear savings and replacements like batteries and such $10.00
You are down to $45
$4 for gas to and from your session
You are down to $41.00
Ok so there are more expenses, (say if you have to hire a babysitter to watch your kids or if your spouse has to leave work so you can shoot, and other things.. the cost to get a business license, Photoshop.. those kind of goodies.) but let us leave it here for simplicity. You have now made $41.00 from that session. Great!!
Lets break this down by the time you invested into the session
1.5 hours in emails and session prep. Contract signing and emailing back and forth with the client in regards to pricing and location and answering questions. Prepping your gear and getting everything ready.
1 hour in travel round trip. (30 minutes each way) (my sessions are on an average 25 to 30 minutes from my house)
2 hours shooting your session.
.5 hours downloading your images and organizing them and putting your gear away.
3 hours editing your session.
.5 hours prepping your cd and packaging it and mailing it.
1 hour sharing and posting your session on facebook and marketing the session in hopes to get new clients.
You have now spent at least 9.5 hours into your session.
If you take $41 and divide it by 9.5 hours you are making $4.31 an hour for the session. If you count the cost for a babysitter for your kids or if your session is farther or if you take longer to edit or if you shoot longer, or if your insurance costs more (mine is nearly $75 a month), or if you only shoot 1 or 2 sessions that month, you are making even less money.
Is that $4.31 worth being away from your kids? Worth the time and trouble?!! Now.... I am not saying you can start a business and charge hundreds and thousands of dollars. Everyone has to "pay their dues". That is why the government allows you to claim a loss for the first 3 years! But please be a business woman/man. Know that it is a real business, and that you are not actually making $100 from that shoot.
Please understand that photography is a real job.... and not a quick way to make a quick buck. Please please please value your time, and your families time!!! :) If you don’t, who will?!!!
So, I have sat down and made up a whole new pricing package for Lindsay Foster Photography.
Check it out.
