It Costs how much for photos?
The very first photograph to ever have been recorded was around 1830. Can you imagine the kind of equipment they had back then and how much effort it took to capture just one image? I imagine that it was challenging to be able to take a photo at all considering the challenges during that time. Not many people had the opportunity to own a self-portrait or even a family picture for that matter.
Fast forward 190 years and we now have the ability to take photos in an instant with a device with incredibly advanced technology. Not only that, but we get to immediately see what we look like in the photo. And if we don’t like how we look, then we take another and another until we’re happy with the shot.
Let’s go back 20 to 25 years before digital cameras were in existence. It was a time when we actually had to use film and wait days or sometimes weeks until we could have them developed by a professional. Out of a maximum of 24 to 36 images that could be shot on a roll and then printed on paper, perhaps only 10 of them turned out nice enough to show anyone.
Family Portraits? We would call a local studio (think department store studios), set an appointment to block off 15 minutes and whatever was captured within that time frame is what you had to choose from. Prints on paper or canvas was the only way to physically obtain photos. This actually placed a value on these memories unlike the value we give digital images that eventually get lost, forgotten or destroyed when technology fails. With our new gadgets, social media and apps that can manipulate our photos we can instantly post images for hundreds of people to see and comment on. It sounds great, right? What could possibly make people charge a lot of money for pictures with all this new technology?
What does any of this have to do with how much it costs for a portrait?
Even though technology has evolved tremendously and has made it much easier for us to take a snapshot, it still requires knowledge, skill, equipment, time, preparation and proper lighting to capture professional images. There are rules in creating and forming a technically sound image. It’s not as simple as pointing and pressing a button. There’s a big difference in the quality between a snapshot taken on your latest cell phone device versus a portrait taken on the latest $2K-$5k camera.
You know all those buttons, sliders and menu options on those fancy cameras? Well, professional photographers have taken and sat through dozens of classes and spent hundreds of hours practicing and learning how to use them. They’ve learned how to read, use and manipulate light, learned how to pose their subjects, studied their subjects to learn what they like and dislike about themselves. They’ve listened to a clients wishes and vision for their photos, and searched for amazing locations. How about that big, long lens? Yep, they’ve had to learn when and how to use them. Oh, and that flash that sits on top of the camera? Had to learn how to use one of those too and they’ve spent a lot of money to acquire them.
We also have the convenience of Photoshop and Lightroom now compared to using chemicals to develop film. Have you ever tried to use any of those programs? Wheeeeew, whoever wrote the code to develop those two software programs must be a genius because after being a user for 10 years now…there is still so much more to learn.
On the business side, there are costs involved with things such as marketing, websites, networking, taxes, insurance, travel (gas and tolls), training classes, equipment, software, props, backdrops, lighting, for some studio space rental fees, legal fees (photography contracts), accounting fees and the list goes on and on.
Somewhere in the mix of it all, photographers need to pay themselves. It wouldn’t be fair for them to not earn a wage because it is a job and not just a fun hobby.
So to wrap this up, even though we have all of these modern conveniences when it comes to photography, take a few minutes to think about all of the details it takes to capture amazing images. Think about why we take photos (that is another blog post I have in mind to write about) and what it does for us in our everyday lives and for the lives of those who will come after we are long gone. How important is it to you to have photos and how important is it for you to have it done correctly?
Photographs have value because our lives have value and recording moments that we never get to re-live again is priceless. When inquiring with a professional about a session or when your children have their pictures taken at school by a company, keep in mind not only the value these photographic memories hold for you but what it takes for that person to provide this service for you. The time they spend and the skill they use should be honored and respected. This (and so much more that I did not cover in this post) is what goes into how much a portrait costs. I hope this helps answer some questions for both clients and photographers just starting out in the business. Photography is truly a blessing that encompasses so much worth and I’m grateful that we have the means to record all of this history in the making everyday.
~Janet
Janet Ramos Photography is known for specializing in High School Seniors, Women’s and Family Portraits in the Tampa, FL area. She primarily handles individualized, on-location photo sessions and has experience capturing high-quality posed as well as candid images. Past clients commend Janet for her dedication, craft and talent. For a consultation click here and to get an idea of the investment costs click here.