Why does every photographer price differently?
Anyone who has ever booked a photo session has probably been confused as to what is actually included in their session. Or, they may understand that but wonder why the photographer they love charges double than the guy "down the road." Well, hopefully I can shed some light on this for you.
Some examples of photographers and their pricing models.
Photography has become hugely popular over the last few years and has seen lots of new photographers enter the market. Overall this looks like it is providing better value to clients, and in many ways it has. But there are some very confusing pricing models out there. It really helps to understand what you are buying and how sometimes what looks like a great deal may not provide you with what you want.
I have broken up the various price models for you in an effort to give you a better understanding of what you are purchasing. Not only that, hopefully it will you understand the difference between a professional photographer and someone who takes photos for money.
The "Shoot and Burn" photographer
Generally this photographer is someone who will advertise a session and give you one price EG $250 which includes the cost of the shoot and all images taken. The images will be provided to you in digital form, usually via a Platform where you will download your images to your computer or phone. Should you want any prints or albums you will need to organise them yourself as this photographer does not offer a service other than taking photos and providing you with digital images. The "shoot and burn" terminology refers to the tendency to just shoot and shoot with no real regard to the amount of photos included. You may end up with 100 images but upon closer look many of those images will be very similar. This model can suit those who are looking for a simple and easy experience. Due to the low cost of sessions they rarely include add ons such as Maternity wardrobes or wardrobes for children. They may include some props but this photographer is looking to keep things very simple so won't often offer set ups or props.
The digital photographer.
This photographer is similar to the "shoot and burn" photographer in that they only offer digital files however they generally offer a set amount of images for the shoot such as 10 or 20 and then will charge more for any additional images. As they are more likely to be profitable they should generally offer access to Maternity wardrobes or newborn wardrobes, props etc. Once again this is a simple business model which suits both the photographer and the client who prefers simplicity. You know what you are paying up front and what you will receive. As they are offering a more limited amount of images you will find they tend to take more time with posing or setting up the sessions to look unposed so they can capture more natural shots. Quite often they can also arrange to have professional prints or wall art made at an additional cost however it isn't something they offer up front.
Session Fee photographers
Very often you will see a Facebook ad advertising photos sessions at what seems a very good price. You look at the photographers page and see they take amazing photos so it's not that they aren't good at what they do. When you enquire you are reassured that the fee advertised is correct. However there is a different structure when it comes to providing images. Sometimes the images will be provided in digital format and you pay a one off fee. Sometimes they will only be provided by buying products and you will receive the digitals as an add on. This type of pricing gives clients more flexibility with what they receive after the shoot. It suits people who are looking for more than digital files but who may be time poor. It works for them because the photographer does all the work of sourcig products, ordering and delivering them. In many ways it provides much better value for money than simply buying digital files.
The "Free Session" or "Project Photographer"
This photographer usually advertises a special for a "free session" or for a "project' they are running such as Body Positivity or Teenage angst and ask you to apply to be part of it. Once you are signed up you find that while the session is free there may be other costs such as needing to hire wardrobe items, usually from the photographer, or that you will receive one image from the session and if you want more they are generally very expensive. Some can be as high as $1000 for 2 images. Generally digital files are never provided as the photographer is relying upon you having to go back to them for any prints or albums. Once again there is nothing inherently wrong with this but it can be viewed as deceptive if you don't ask the right questions. It is very much a buyer beware situation.
Hobby photographers
These are people who have bought themselves a half decent camera ( I could write a whole blog on what constitutes a good camera over just a decent camera) and figure they will monetise this by advertising themselves as a photographer. Usually their sessions are very cheap and work along the lines of the "shoot and burn" photographer. The inherent risk here for the client is that they will assume they are hiring a professional when in fact they are likely hiring someone who is very inexperienced. If the photos are something which can't be repeated such as a wedding or even a newborn session there is a very real risk you can end up with poor quality images you would never have paid for if you had realised prior to the shoot the level of experience of the person you were hiring. The biggest issue here is that these people rarely carry any sort of insurance such as public liability or professional indemnity which puts you, the client at risk. The other thing is that as a hobbyist they won't have registered their business so likely won't be declaring their income to the ATO. As a client you have very little recourse if the session goes badly. Very often Hobby Photographers fall into the 'here today, gone tomorrow" category. They are simply in it to make a quick buck. They aren't looking for a lengthy career in photography and aren't looking at delivering an unforgettable experience for their clients. Tempting as it may be to hire a cheap photographer it may pay to ask if they are a registered business and whether they carry insurance. Don't be afraid to do this, these are reasonable questions. You can also check the ABN lookup site to see if they have an ABN.
Put your new knowledge to good use.
So to summarise, when hiring a photographer not all pricing is created equal. What can look relatively cheap may cost you more than you anticipate or you could end up with unusable photos. Also, while you may plan to have prints done later it can actually be better value to allow your photographer to organise this. The reason for this is that the majority of professional photographers will use a lab whose profesional standards are totally different to Kmart or Harvey Norman. If the photographer organises the prints they will guarantee the quality so if there are any problems they will sort them out.
Always ask things like "what is included in the cost you have quoted?" "Are you a registered business with an ABN?" "Do you carry public liability insurance?" "Do you have a Maternity wardrobe that is included in the cost of the session?" "Do you provide the wraps for my newborn session and the props?" "How long have you been in business?" No question is stupid and a professional will have no issues with answering your questions.
Comments