When searching for a photographer for my own wedding I found myself on MANY different photographers' websites. I searched and read through their "investment" pages (which quite frankly, the word investment usually scared me because it typically meant it was going to cost me an arm and a leg) and was often (at the time) appalled at how much some of these photographers were charging. I also helped my friends sort through photographers for their weddings and was shocked at how much some of these people paid. Then, when I decided to really take my photography full time, I started reevaluating my pricing. Those photographers, as it turned out, were not so outrageous with their pricing after all.
Before you call me insane or biased, allow me to explain.
One of my friends paid about $3,000 for her photographer (with an assistant) and videographer. I balked at the price, but then I took at look at all of what she was getting for her money.
-Engagment photo session
-Photographer and assistant for a 10 hour day
-Videographer for a 10 hour day
-CD and full rights to ALL the images
-two canvass prints
-two 'parent' albums
-a personal wedding album
-printing credits
There may have been more, but this is the basic gyst.
So, in essence people assume that each person gets $1000 for 10 hours of work. ($100 an hour). Well, this would be true if 10 hours was all the work they were putting in.
First, lets say the main photographer spends around two hours actually shooting the engagement photo session, and then has about six to eight hours of editing. (So here is around ten hours of work.)
Then there is the actual day - around thirty hours of work that day.
THEN there is the editing of all the photos and film. I cannot speak for the videographer, but I know it can take at least one to two weeks for one person to go through and edit all the pictures and make any special creations. So why don't brides and grooms see all their pictures in two weeks? They are not the only wedding or batch of pictures being edited.
So where are we with the rough estimate of hours for the photographer?
10 - engagement pictures
20 - wedding day
50 - editing and creating products
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80 hours divided by $2000 (assuming there is an even three way split) = around $25 an hour for both people combined. Not the outrageous number people assume. For trained, experienced photographers with professional equipment/software, I feel this is a fair price. They have to support a family and pay bills, too.
Now are my numbers one hundred percent accurate? No, but they can't be too far off. So before you 'pull a me' and start getting all "judge-y" about photographer prices, take a moment or two to think about the value of what they are offering. I'm not saying to break your photo budget and hire someone you can't afford, but keep experience and time in mind. What end product do you want?
I don't charge the same price, but I am still newer to the field and feel I need more experience and events 'under my belt' before I can begin to think I have a right to charge that much. With that being said, I'm also not going to give my photo services away. My time is worth something to me, and I work very hard to capture and create high quality images and products. There is a lot of love that goes into all my images. Why? Because these are someone's once in a lifetime memories and they are trusting ME to capture it. I walk into each shoot as if it were my own and invest the time and energy to make it the best it can be. Cliche? Sure, but it is true and I wouldn't do it any other way.
I hope this helps some of you who are in search of a photographer! If you have any questions, I'd be glad to help!
Until next time, keep on clickin'!
(Also, please don't forget to like Photography by Elisabeth on Facebook or visit my website: www.photographybyemg.com !)
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