Why Family Portraits and weddings cost what they do.

So what is the real value of professional family photography?

Canberra Family Portrait Photographer

It can be hard to express the value of professional family photography to people. Not may people see it up front. How do you express the value of something that is quite intangible and different for everyone? Often it is only when we experience some kind of loss that we truly see the value of our family images.

Professional family photography is an investment in you and your family. It is not like a wide screen television or the latest gadget where you can shop around to get the exact same product cheaper. Professional family portraits are a service provided by a real human being. They are not a commodity that you can barter to get the cheapest price. Every photographer is different, all with different styles, expertise and temperament and you will get very different images from every single photographer. So that is why it is important when you commission a professional photographer you shop on experience, expertise, style, philosophy, personality, professionalism and quality of the final images and products, and not on price.

I do understand it can be hard to pay up front for a service like professional photography when you are not sure of what you will get as a result. You want to see what you are buying before you buy it. However here is something to think about. Do you know how much work your photographer has already done before you choose to buy any print? On average photographers will spend 20-40 hours preparing your family portraits or up to 50 hours for your wedding images. Much of this time is spent before you have even viewed your images.

Generally portrait photographers will initially charge a smaller fee to do the session (I call this a booking fee). Wedding photography is priced differently. Most people are happy to pay a larger fee up front which might include a range of things from prints, albums and files. The portrait booking fee is not the whole cost of your family portrait. You purchase your prints and albums afterwards. I understand this purchasing method can appear deceptive and that is why I am writing this article.

I have learned over the years it is in the tangible prints and albums purchased after the portrait session that people start to see the value. After all this is what hangs on your wall and rests on your bookshelves to be enjoyed for years to come.

So how much does a family portrait really cost I hear you say. Every photographer values themselves differently and it can be hard to differentiate between them. I hesitate in saying this but you generally get what you pay for. If it is cheap I can almost guarantee that the photographer is inexperienced and will skimp on the quality of what they give you.  I recommend you put aside at least $1000-$2000 for your family portraits and $3000-$6000 for your wedding photography. This will be enough to give you a lovely collection of prints, an album or a book and possibly some files. Of course you may choose to spend more (or less), the choice is yours. However remember this is an investment.

I am blessed to be paid to photograph and document amazingly intimate and important moments in people’s lives. I take my job very seriously and I invest significant time in creating and preparing your images. I also understand the value of what I do. I know I make a difference in people’s lives. I know that my images are treasured and bring joy to peoples hearts. I am a skilled and experienced professional photographer and I am here to make a living. I want to support myself and my family. Just like you.

I am not interested in competing to provide more for less. I know I am not the cheapest photographer. However I am not here to rip you off. I take pride in what I do. I create beautiful, lasting images and documents that will (hopefully) be treasured by you, your children, your grandchildren and beyond. Your family photography is not like fashion to be discarded at the end of the season.  Your images will form part of your family’s history and heritage and I know the value to you will continually grow as your family grows and changes.

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