Why does reputable, professional, extraordinary
wedding photography cost what it costs???
I know how tricky it can be to manage
a budget while planning a wedding. Contrary to popular belief, I (and most
colleagues in this field) don’t earn $300 + dollars per hour, nor do we seek to
‘gouge’ couples who are supposed to be excited about beginning their lives
together as husband & wife. The word ‘wedding’ seems to lend itself to
automatic price-hikes, causing sticker-shock when couples begin the process of
researching potential vendors. The photography is no exception, so I’d like to
offer some insight.
First and foremost – This isn’t a
situation where we are solely being paid for our time spent working for “one
day”, as so many inaccurately perceive. Most people don’t realize that when a
photographer is considering the number of hours that will be spent covering
your wedding, we are also calculating the multitude of hours we will be dedicating
to photo re-touching and enhancements, to be applied during the weeks following the wedding celebration.
Another consideration… Photographers
who are dedicated to the field, in that they do this as their sole means of
acquiring income, also have a varied list of inherent costs, which may include:
-
~ Studio
overhead
-
~ Assistant
pay
-
~ Annual
bookkeeping costs
- ~ Advertising
costs
- ~ Web-hosting
& updating costs
-
~ Equipment
maintenance, cleaning, upgrades, and replacements
- ~ Continuing
education/ seminars/ courses for new technologies
- ~
Software
updates
-
~ Increases
to third-party costs (i.e. albums, printing services, etc)
- ~
Increased
tax considerations, since we do not have deductions taken directly from our ‘paychecks’
This list doesn’t include a person’s
basic living expenses!
But the primary reason viable,
dependable, and creative coverage amounts to so much more than the average “sitting
fee” is because it is a worthwhile investment! These memories are priceless –
and the only service you’ll pay for on your wedding day that will provide you
with a lasting way to treasure your once-in-a-lifetime event!
Sure, “Uncle Bob” can click the shutter
for you and provide you with the resulting snapshots. But when you pay for a professional,
you are also paying for:
- Someone who has learned to view the world in a way in which you value & appreciate – and who will therefore depict you and your celebration in reflection of your personal style…
- Experience; Someone who can readily adapt to an ever-changing environment & has learned to anticipate what is likely to occur next…
- Someone who can offer you organization and guidance to achieve the best results, and help ensure a smooth-flowing, stress-free day…
- And last but not least, you acquire a treasure-trove of detail-filled art renderings that re-tell a story – YOUR story – gifting you with the ability to relive the laughter & joy of your most magical moments with your spouse, family & friends – from here forward!
It can be challenging to maintain a
budget while planning a wedding. There are some areas where cutting-costs can still
result in stunning visuals and a memorable experience, without risking future
regrets. Cake & flowers, or hand-made invitations, for example, are fitting
ways to implement a personalized touch by employing the skills of family &
friends. These things have meaning. They conjure up even greater sentimental
value when created at the hands of loved-ones. I know I’m a bit biased when I say this, but
the photography is something that will enable you to remember every detail of
those edibles and floral decorations, and all of the many moments that will
make up your day. I’m inspired by each wedding and I am honored by the
opportunity & look forward to capturing such monumental memories for my
clients to cherish for a lifetime! I'm thrilled to work with people who genuinely appreciate my unique approach to capturing such moments, and who recognize the real value in their resulting photo collections. Thank you for your business!
