Why Hire A Pro? [Shauna Style]

I'm behind. Well, not really...only by my own standards. I'd intended to have more blogged at this point, but I've been focusing on myself, my husband, my house, ...a few really important things that I often tend to overlook as a photographer. I'm gearing up for the 4th and have a ton to do before my guests arrive tomorrow morning so I can't post much.

I've been thinking a lot about what people say though [there's more than one of you, so please do't get your feelings hurt] and decided that the idea of pricing warranted a post. Here's the deal -- some people think that I'm over priced. They think that they don't "get much" when they hire me to take their picture. Not to be ugly, but of course, I disagree. When you hire a photographer to take your picture, you're making an investment in yourself or your family. You're not just hiring me to 'click' a button on a camera. If you want that kind of photo, you'll probably be better off going somewhere else! You're asking me to be creative, to pour all of myself into providing you with images that you'll cherish for a lifetime. That's what I do.

Read on. Not all of the following is true of me, but....
Shauna Maness [my Queen of EVERYTHING PHOTO related] says it best --
this post is for everyone... photographer, artist, client, potential client... friends, family... everyone!

i can honestly say that i have never had to answer this question in person- know one has ever asked me to defend my prices... but i know lots of people who have been asked to. that isn't to say that people haven't wondered what "else" they "get" with their session fee, but who wouldn't want to make sure they weren't missing out on something they paid good money for?

EVERY single CRASHintotheBIZ i teach, the first issue right out of the box is pricing- Most photographers starting out don't realize what they will need to survive, likewise most clients have no idea what kind of investment photographers make, or the difference between their cousin with a "fancy" camera and a photographer with a "fancy" camera... so, i thought i would shed a little light on the subject!

When you hire a professional photographer, you receive a HUGE return on your investment- a LIFETIME of treasures... photography, that if you have done your homework, and really found a photographer whose style suits you, will capture your family perfectly.

What professionals bring to the table... This is what comes into play when pricing a session:

Vision: Each photographer has his or her own style, based on personal preference & creative expression- this is why it is important to make sure that the photographer that you hire shoots in a style that you like. You won't get Olan Mills if you come to me... so make sure that you "know what you are getting" a lot of stress will be saved by a little research.

Time: When you purchase a session, (mine start at $300 for 1 hour of shooting) you are are not paying your photographer for that hour alone. (wouldn't it be nice to make that much an hour) check out the time that goes into your session alone (remember how many of these are done)
scheduling your session, discussing what to wear (2 or 3 emails or phone calls) 30 min
prep time for your session (gathering gear) 15 min
driving to the location (round trip, local session) 45 min ($15 gas)
your session (not including driving to other locations) 1 hour
uploading your images, 30 min
proofing (getting rid of what i wouldn't hang on my walls) 1 hour
picking top 10 and editing them (posting them on my blog for you to see) 45 min
setting up your gallery & backing up your images, 30 min
answering ordering questions (via email or phone... where to hang what, what you need printed, etc) 45 min
processing order (order review and file retrieval) 30 min
editing each image for your order (depending on order size) 30 min- 1 hour
double checking and sending your order, 30 min
receiving, checking, packaging, mailing off your order 30 min
8 hours of work go into your session

Gear: Tools of this trade are costly. I have over $30,000 invested in my gear. I have the best software, the best camera(s), lenses, memory cards, flashes, reflectors, crazy gadgets, bags, tripods, and other stuff that would just bore you. It is up to me to make sure that my gear is in pristine condition and that i have backups when (heaven forbid) something happens. When you hire a pro you are sharing in this investment- not many people (even your cousin with a "fancy" camera) are going to have the kind of gear that professionals use... we use the best, to give you the best. I factor in a "gear replacement" charge into every session so that i can continue to give my clients the best.

Technical Expertise: I have studied many long hours to get here. There are so many aspects of photography that require a life-long pursuit to perfect... and that is what i am doing. As a professional I take a lot of the guessing out- I have shot in almost every setting and i know how to make the light do what i want it to. I have been influenced by so many incredible photographers and continue to study their innovations and better myself- Here is a secret: it isn't all about the fancy gear- (i started with a Canon AE-1 and a Hasselblad... both fully manual, no bells or whistles cameras) you HAVE to know the technical... without it, you can have all the fancy camera's you want and still not create great photographs.

location, Location, LOCATION! I can only think of a few sessions i have done that my clients actually had a location in mind. For the most part, people want me to come up with the place... so i ask some questions about their style and i go out exploring! In every town that i shoot i have some favorite spots... but every single time i am in my car i am ALWAYS looking for new places. My clients normally pull up and say, "How in the world did you find this place?" that is part of hiring a professional... we are always looking out for our clients!!

Model Direction: Here is the deal, not everyone is Heidi Klum, or Tyra Banks- You can watch America's Next top Model for 5 minutes and see that even the most beautiful have "not so beautiful" moments. All in all, it is up to the photographer to direct you in a way that captures your most beautiful features. (after all, you aren't being paid millions to show up) So through the years i have come up with some tried and true techniques that i use as i shoot- so short, tall, round, rail thin, awkward, or confident... i can direct you in a way that will fully capture all the beauty within. I am always blown away when people see their final images... most people are surprised by the beauty they see. Not many people have ONE picture of themselves they love. It is my mission to change that!

Printing... TOP OF THE LINE... printing. In a day an age where you can get a 4x6 print for .11 cents at walmart- people want to know whey in the world photographers charge so much for something that cost so little... let me say this- first, when you order prints from me (or any other pro) YOU GET THE HIGHEST QUALITY there is. Photographers have special relationships with their printers. (by printer, i mean printing COMPANY) There are all kinds of things that go into your print- Color collaboration is a great example of one of the things people forget about (and another investment that photographers make) we make sure that your "print" the best it can my syncing our computers with our printer and double checking the color balance of each print- When you hold these prints in your hands you see the value- without question. You can't get that quality without a professional.

Customer Service: it is the job of a professional to serve you. The local drug store isn't going to make sure that you are completely happy with your order, and if you aren't- they sure aren't going to make it right! You get personal service from a pro- each image is cared for individually and your happiness is always the goal!

Innovative, Heirloom quality, Keepsakes: It is my job to stay on top of cutting edge movements and trends in this field... not yours! Professionals make available to you the finest quality products on the market. I am always looking for new products that my clients will enjoy- I invest in the samples... and sometimes send this products and thank you's and gifts- This is a luxury in itself... it is like having a personal shopper- I get to know you, go through my favorites and decide which you will enjoy the most- and them make them available to you.

Relationships that can last a lifetime: 7 out of 10 of my clients are repeat clients. I have documented from engagement, to wedding, the birth of a child, another child... more family portraits... and am still going! When you hire a photographer you are beginning a relationship (if you have a good fit) I can't tell you how i look forward to following the lives of my clients. How neat for them to have a lifetime captured by the same person- by the third session, it is old hat- and we skip the formalities (by this time i have normally seen their house) and we just talk about what prints need to go where! When I begin a relationship with a client, they become a part of my family. Professional photographers are going to invest in you, because they want you to come back, they want to watch your family grow!

That was a mouthful! I am sure there are other things that i will add later- I just wanted you (the photographer & client) to see the big picture. There is so much more than the hour we show up that goes into each session. Remember that as you are shooting, or hiring a photographer. The value of your work and the photography that you receive will increase beyond what it has always been when you take into account all that is invested.