Most people don’t hire photographers regularly. Maybe a few times in a lifetime, usually just for weddings and milestone birthdays and anniversaries. Some businesses will hire photographers for their websites and promotional materials. But hiring a professional photographer is not a common practice for most of us. So it’s no wonder our eyes bulge out when we see photographers’ rates.
When you’re not familiar with the process and value of photography, paying hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars for it can seem outrageous. Besides, we all have smartphones with cameras, right? So couldn’t you just handle the photography yourself, and save all that money?
Well, you could…but you would be missing out on the many things a photographer handles that you may not even know about. And, worst of all, you won’t achieve the high-quality images you were hoping for.
Keep this in mind: Just because we don’t understand something, doesn’t mean it’s not valuable. This applies to more than just photography. But it’s especially true for photography because, as clients, all we see is the finished product. We don’t see–and can’t appreciate–all the behind-the-scenes work.
Let’s change that! We’re going to look at
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Why photographers charge what they do
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The services photographers provide
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And why hiring a photographer can be well worth the cost
Hopefully, this will help you understand what a professional photographer does and what to look for when hiring one.
The Cost of Doing Business
Like almost every business, photographers have a long list of costs just so they can do the job. It’s the cost of doing business.
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Purchasing and maintaining equipment such as cameras, lenses, filters, external flashes, film or memory cards, and protective cases
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Paying rent or a mortgage for their studio, as well as taxes and insurance
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Purchasing subscriptions for digital editing programs
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Paying for a website and site maintenance and annual fees
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Investing in print and digital marketing
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Paying employees
The Process
Just like any business, photographers have overhead they need to account for. But that’s not all you’re paying for when you hire a professional photographer. You’re paying for their time and expertise.
Before the actual shoot, the photographer has to plan ahead for the desired shots and prepare all of their equipment. Then there is travel time and set up time.
The actual shoot and the final product are all we as clients normally get to see. If you’ve hired a photographer, you know a lot goes into directing people, keeping everyone’s attention and the mood positive, and finding the right lighting and angles. After the shoot, there is a teardown and more drive time.
After the shoot, all the photography magic happens. This is where the professional photographer shines. They take the time to comb through the hundreds, even thousands, of shoots, setting aside the ones they think their client will like. Often, they will send proofs of those shoots to the client to make sure they like them. Once they get an ok from the client, the photographer can start painstakingly enhancing each individual photo, which takes time and expertise.
The Value
Like any art or skill, photography takes time and experience to learn and master. When you work with a professional photographer, you get their years of experience at your disposal, making expert micro-decisions that an amateur would not even recognize.
If you’re looking for an expert photographer look around your area, checking out each artist’s website and portfolio to see if you like their work. Once you find a couple, reach out to them and discuss your specific needs. It will become clear which artist you click with.
Best of luck finding the right professional photographer for your needs!