Whenever we make a purchase, we consider the “value” we receive. It’s no different when hiring a professional photographer. Unfortunately, not many people readily understand the value of hiring a professional photographer. As the number of digital photographers continues to increase, it seems there are a lot of misunderstandings as to what a photographer does for you.
Ultimately for many, the choice of whether or not to hire a photographer comes to down price. If they do choose to hire one, they must evaluate the great photos in the photographers online portfolios and decide who they can afford. Since this is the type of thing that is rarely stated, I feel it is time to set the record straight.
A popular reason for many calls and emails received by photographers is to inquire about basic head shots, event photographers, model portfolio photo shoots, weddings, and their respective prices. The truth is that the range of photography prices is highly variable and depends on many factors such as location (in studio versus traveling to a location) and length of time needed for a particular session.
Pricing can be as low as $50 up to $600 or more for a portrait session alone. In my opinion, any photographer selling their sessions for $50 probably isn’t much of a professional, although that’s not to say that they are not a good photographer. Still, many people are absolutely amazed at the fees associated with photography so let me explain what is involved in the process.
A professional photographer is not your friend grabbing a point-and-click camera on the fly. They are an experienced professional who knows how to capture impressive images by choosing the correct settings on their camera - not just pushing a button. In addition, the difference between a professional image and an image from a friend is in the details. For example, the whites of the eyes should be white.
A professional photographer will spend time getting to know their subject(s). Their preferences, needs and special requests. The professional photographer brings the knowledge, experience and capability to capture and craft images in the manner and style you prefer. Whether traditional or photojournalistic, a professional photographer works with your desires in mind. A professional photographer helps you establish his or her “assignment” so you can focus on making the memories.
Professional photographers are artists. A professional photographer brings an artistic eye to the equation. One focused not only on the subject but also the background, the lighting, the composition, the depth of field and a host of other elements that not every one can “see” when crafting an image. Artistic vision and the ability to “see” the image helps a photographer craft memorable images versus snapshots.
A professional photographer will utilize high end post processing software that allows him or her to effectively correct color, adjust exposure, manipulate hue, saturation, lens distortion and edit images for a professional look.
In addition, I assure you that professional photography equipment costs a lot more than your best friend’s camera. A high quality camera, specialized lenses, memory cards, digital software, tripods, umbrellas and lighting are professional-grade and are quite expensive. A professional photographer uses the latest digital SLR equipment and most importantly, knows how to use it. Today’s professional equipment has multiple and complex functions that allow a photographer to manipulate focal length, shutter speed, aperture, and depth of field to compliment almost any subject. It also allows the capture of crisp and sharp photographs in low light, with little to no image degradation.
Also consider that a photographer’s time and experience are valuable. You’re not simply going to someone’s place of business and asking him/her to “just take a few pictures.” It does not work that way. Even if you only need one shot, it will take time to find the best angle, prepare the lighting, and possibly choose the correct outfit for that one memorable photo. A photographer will give you advice on what to wear, make-up, and so on. They have done this before and guide you as needed. That’s why professional photos look professional.
Few realize the time it takes to produce your one headshot is more than the actual sitting session. It involves setting up the equipment in advance, blocking off time for the photo shoot itself, uploading the photos and going through them after the shoot, digital touch-ups and editing the photos chosen for printing, burning the photos onto CDs, getting them to the photo lab, retrieving them from the photo lab and then waiting for you to pick up your prints or mailing / delivering them to you. You may have lots of time on your hands but you should always be aware that photographers are busy running a business.
I think most would agree that that is a lot of work for a small fee, hence the great value you get from working with professional photographers. Moreover, I assure you that one of the biggest pet peeves of all photographers is people who do not show up for the photos and are too inconsiderate to call and let the photographer know that they cannot make it. Photographers don’t get paid in those circumstances (unless a small booking deposit was requested) but still took time to set up the shoot and possibly turned someone else down during that period of time because it was pre-booked.
A professional photographer focuses on capturing high quality images and the objective thereafter is to preserve these images high quality printing. Professional photographers will bypass the low cost volume “snapshot” printing providers and work with a custom lab that will help assure the delivery of only the finest images.
Finally, a professional photographer does this for a living. If it were that simple, many photographers would not count on photo shoots to be their livelihood. Again, this is not your friend lending you his camera to take a few photos. Photographers take pictures for a living.
You wouldn't expect a plumber, carpenter, hairdresser, doctor, dentist, optician, electrician, chef, mechanic, dressmaker, or shop owner to work for free would you?
Professional photographers bring value in other ways too. These are just a few examples. While it does cost more to hire a professional photographer versus a friend or relative with a digital camera, professional photographers bring far greater value and quality to the end product. As the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for” and paying for a professional photographer will bring you custom crafted images you’ll be proud to display and share for years to come.
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