I’ve been asked this question many times. 

“You just take pictures” one lady said, so why does it cost so much money? 

It’s true!  I just take pictures. Well thats a bit of an oversimplification, but as goes with any job, hobby, or industry - the simple, efficient, and beautiful results the consumer receives is often just the tip of the iceberg.  Let me break down some of the prices and costs to the photographer to help you gain an understanding of how much things cost the person you are hiring as well as discussing a few bits of detail in what goes into the final product:

Camera Body: ($2500-5000) This is just the device that captures the image. This does not include any accessories.

Camera Lens: ($1100-3500 per lens) Usually, a photographer will need a minimum of 3 lens to get started, but many professionals will have a dozen or more.

Computer:  ($1500-4000) To get a computer with the correct processing and memory speeds to handle all the editing software will cost you, and don’t forget to throw in there the computer screens, not just any, but ones that will properly calibrate color for when the photos go to print.

Editing Software:  ($40-70 per month) This changes and continues to rise. Most photographers will need basic editing software and more in depth to remove those wrinkles and blemishes.

Photo Delivery Services: ($30-50 per month) This is how the photos come to you, not just via Google drive, but a professional online gallery for each client. This price continues to go up if you have to back up your clients photos for a period of time as well.

Memory Banks: ($120-350) Professional SD/CF/RAPID cards now can cost upwards of $300 a piece, and getting external hard drives to handle and store so many photos for the long term can cost easily $180 per drive.  And these are regular purchases! The more you work the more you have!

Insurance: ($50-200 per month) This could be for gear coverage and or liability.

Business Expenses: Costs to incorporate, run a website, paying your own taxes, continued education, keeping the car running and looking professional, and so on. Any person running their own business will tell you there are a lot of ‘incidentals’ that you as the owner have to pay for.

Now these are some of the basic cost break downs.  Each niche can add on more equipment and overhead costs.  For example, things like studio equipment and lighting, costumes and props, rent for a studio, and drones. These are all high priced additions, and we haven’t even touched on what the cost of years of experience would be. Regardless, hopefully this breakdown helps provide some perspective as to why professional photographers charge what they do.

I also wanted to touch briefly on the statement that was made earlier. As photographers we don’t simply just “take photos” we run our own businesses, we sell, we market, we edit for oh so many hours. We call people, we follow up, we hire subcontractors, we purchase our gear, we spend hours doing our own taxes, and even longer making sure each photo looks the best it can to make you, the customer, happy and coming back for more!