The Question Heard Around The World
What is a session fee and why do you charge it?
Well as many people already know or are finding out.. places like Wal-mart, Sears, and Olan Mills are no more when it comes to photography. Why? Because... they had little to no session fee and were charging way less than what it cost to sustain a business of the sorts. They just weren't doing it right.
Custom personal photographers offer a range of different styles, specialties, and ranges of talents. What is the same about all of them? Session fee's! A photographer has many expenses the public is unaware of. Many photographers get upset when people ask, why can't you shoot for free , or why do You charge X amount etc. It just is not worth getting mad about. They do not know. But to educate yourself as a consumer or to educate clients if you are a photographer is the easiest way to stop the issue from being a problem. It is a simple breakdown of numbers.
A photographer has to buy cameras ( yes plural, back up camera .. yup ), lens, software, computer upgrades, websites, storage, and more. This involves thousands of dollars a year, especially if you want custom sets for sessions and new props . It is not just an hour session. The photographer consults the client, preps for session, does the session which may involve gas ( ouch ) the photographer stores the images, edits the images, disinfects and does session laundry and puts the images in an online gallery. A real professional photographer pays for them to be in an online professional gallery as safe keeping and later ordering if a problem ever arises. Every session goes on there for my customers. It is not a safe way to store images on a computer or cheap disk.
This leads into another issue. Why , do we SELL prints. I really have to say there are many reasons. First the quality is Superior! You wouldn't put a 20 dollar stereo in a 40 thousand dollar car right... Second, a photographer must make money off of prints to stay in business. The session fee alone doesn't usually leave much of a wage compensation for the time of the photographer. It's like a waitress that makes 3 dollars an hour till you give them a tip bumping them to 6 to 14 dollars an hour. I hope that makes sense. I know you have all seen or known someone that has fallen prey to a inferior photographer that will do everything but wash your car for you for under 75 dollars.. they literally do everything right down to CD right... WRONG! They don't usually have full res backed up images on a professional gallery for the client. They don't always even have a copy backed on an external hard drive. CD's can be ruined , just like that and are being used less and less.. you can't hang a CD on a wall.. heck you can't even get good archival quality images with them unless you have access to a pro lab. They don't usually have as much experience, talent, knowledge, etc.
When clients pay a session fee to an experienced photographer they are paying for their knowledge. Professionals know when the best time of day is to shoot sessions.. Hint hint it's not high noon.. if a photog suggests it run or squint.. I guess it is the clients choice..This means they may be working rather early or late for a clients benefits. This goes for outdoors with the lighting or even indoors depending on age group.
I as a photographer will consult my clients before a session on the best times, clothing options, prop options and more. During the session I make it fun. I edit an awesome selection of images. Give sneak peeks on Face Book... a professional online gallery and try helping size and image selection etc. when client wants.
Photography is fun but fun isn't going to pay the rent, a photographer must be compensated like anyone else. They don't get sick days, they don't get paid vacation time, they don't get health insurance. They pay their own social security and taxes. They generally don't get tips, or bonus. They just get what they charge - all the expenses..
With this being said, I love my job, my clients, and my family and friends who have helped me along the way.
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