Most Asked Questions
So, you decided you are ready to update your family's photos! That decision is a great one. We have found that many questions arise when searching for a photographer after this decision has been made, and many people have very specific questions.
This post will help you answer some of those questions and help you find the best photographer for your family.
How Much Does a Session Cost?
This is the most frequently asked question, and for good reason! Knowing the cost of something before you buy is pretty important. But, there is so much more to choosing a photographer than choosing based on cost alone. Depending on what you are looking for, cost should not necessarily be the only variable.
With any purchase, if something is valued, important and given high priority, people will find a way to pay for it. Whether that means not going out to eat for awhile and putting that money toward a photography session, or saving for a few months to have the money upfront, or even bartering and/or trading in order to have the session you would like.
For example, when my daughters wanted to take gymnastics and horseback riding lessons , we did not have extra money for it. But, to them, it was important, so to me it was important. So, we sought out ways to come up with the money for them. Eventually, we offset the costs by cleaning the gymnasium and feeding the horses on a regular basis. It helped the gym and barn, and it helped us as well.
Basically, though, we have found that photo sessions vary in cost and those variations are dependent on many things.
Why Photo Sessions Vary
We have found that photo sessions range anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars depending on what is included, what type of business model the studio is operating, experience and talent of the photographer, years in business, and studio overhead costs. All these variables matter.
- Business model-if the studio is a high end, brick and mortar studio that offers a high touch experience, art for the home, and assistance every step of the way, they will most likely offer high end products and great quality photos. This studio most likely has been in business for a long time and has experienced, knowledgeable photographers that are trained and or have degrees or certifications, or both. You will receive a very high end experience along with assistance every step of the way for your photo session. You should not have to plan anything alone and will always have a studio employee helping you. This type of business model is also known as a boutique style studio. Think low volume, higher cost. More time is spent with one client.
- Shoot and Share-this business model usually offers digital files only, a quick turnaround, low touch experience, limited customer service and a do it yourself experience. Most photographers in this model do not have a brick and mortar studio, are hobbyists, weekend warriors, or part time photographers with a full time job in another field. They have low overhead and basically just photograph your family, do some editing and send you the digital files to do the rest. They usually do not help with wardrobe planning, location planning, or anything else. Think high volume, low cost. Much less time is spent on each client, but then in order to make money, the volume of clients has to be high.
These two business models will have different pricing!
Experience and Talent of the Photographer
Another factor to consider is the experience and talent of the photographer. Are you ok with just anyone with a camera taking your photos? Anyone that knows nothing about lighting or composition? Are you ok with having a light across your face or a photo of you all standing in a straight line?
We understand that everyone has to start somewhere. We did! And, we understand that it is relatively easy to pick up a camera, put it on automatic and start shooting images. But, there is so much more to it than just that. As far as cost goes-many photographers just starting out will charge a very small amount of money. They have not gone over their business expenses and do not know how much it actually costs them to be in business. So, they start by offering the least expensive option and a lot of people gravitate toward that.
Doing this puts a photographer in a position of just competing on price with other photographers. It is challenging to be in this position because there will always be someone less expensive. There has to be MORE to the business than just price. So, know this as you are searching for a photographer to take photos of your precious family.
A photographer that has studied and has a certification or degree in photography will most likely produce better imagery for his or her clients. They have spent money on their talent and know the best placement for posing and lighting. They are continuing their education by attending conferences and classes (which all cost money) to help make the best images for their clients. In doing so, client costs will most likely be higher. But, as the saying goes-you almost always get what you pay for.
If you value having a great image that is print worthy, most likely you will gravitate toward a photographer who has more experience and education. If you are not as interested in that, and just want to pay the least expensive amount of money, you will gravitate toward the one who is the least expensive. It all depends on what you value. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, too. You might find a very inexpensive photographer who produces great images that you love! And, you do not mind doing all the work yourself-to plan, to print, to coordinate. That is a great thing!
Overhead Costs
What are overhead costs? With any business, there will be costs of running a business. Some large companies have a lot of expenses just to keep their doors open. If they do not factor in their costs of doing business, then they might be OUT OF BUSINESS very soon! If a photographer has a brick and mortar studio with employees, their cost of doing business will be higher than a solo photographer running their business out of their home. Some of the costs can be similar, though, like taxes and insurance.
The bottom line, though, is usually different clients are attracted to different business models. Knowing what is important to you as you search for a photographer is the key to finding the right one.
If you prefer to do everything yourself, you will find yourself attracted to the one who offers digital negatives only and nothing more. If you want help and assistance, love having art in your home and want a more boutique experience, you will lean toward a brick and mortar studio.
What is Included in the Session?
Another most frequently asked question is "What is included in the session?" Again, this goes back to which type of photographer you have chosen. If you have gone with a boutique style photographer, many include digital negatives as a complimentary gift with all their art. If you have gone with the do it yourselfer photographer, then most likely, you are receiving only digital negatives, and that amount can vary based on cost.
Why Does Songs of Life say "Digital Negatives"?
Many photographers call the "photos" that are captured in a digital camera, images or files. We like to call them digital negatives because we believe that is what they are. Because we started in the film industry, we liken the raw digital file as the film negatives. An image is captured, and those negatives need to be processed. They are in a raw state and need certain ingredients in order to produce a final piece. Just like all the raw ingredients in baking bread. You have flour, eggs, some kind of liquid and depending on what type of bread you are making, yeast. All these pieces are in their raw state and eventually are processed to produce a final product.
It does not matter if your photographer is using a film or digital camera. your images are captured and the negative needs to be processed to produce a final outcome. In the film days, the final outcome was a physical print. In the digital age, the first final outcome is a finished digital negative-one that is ready to be used to print art, or one that is ready to be used to be viewed on a device.
So, we call them digital negatives!
What Happens if my Child is Uncooperative?
Lastly, one of the most frequent asked questions is this one. Parents are concerned that the session will not go as planned due to an uncooperative child, or circumstances that will contribute to not getting the best photos.
We understand! We love children and are up for any kind of behavior. We have seen it all! We understand your concerns, too-after all the planning, preparations and getting everyone ready and out the door, you want everything to go smoothly.
Depending on your child's age, we can work with most anything. Older children usually can calm down after a break, quiet time, or distraction while babies and toddlers need more time and help. If a child is very inconsolable, we do our best to reset the situation by removing ourselves from everyone else and allowing the parents to comfort the child.
Thankfully, in all our years of photographing, we have never had to cancel a session or stop short due to these concerns. Sessions have always produced enough great imagery for families despite any obstacles.
We hope these answers help you learn more about photography sessions and us! We would love to help you showcase your family's love story so give us a call at 406.580.6176 or send us an email below to get started!
The Bottom Line
What do you value? Time? Money? Experience? Talent? Referrals? What is your bottom line when it comes to finding a photographer? Knowing the answer to this question will help you choose the best photographer for you and your family.
Remember, many digital negatives still sit in computers and never get printed. It takes your time to look for what you want, find print sizes, measure, find a supplier, upload the images, crop, review your order and eventually place that order. If you went with the photographer who will give you a more boutique experience, that photographer will do all of that for you. Thus, you have more time to devote to your family, but you will pay for that photographer to do that for you. Which is more important to you?
Perhaps you do not have a way to pay for the photographer who you really want. You really want a specific one, but they are out of your budget. We say-talk to them. Many photographers will offer payment plans and/or barter services to help you get what you want. We do!
The best thing to remember, though, is to not forgo having your family's portraits updated. Discover what is important to you, what you value, and what you are willing to do to make the session happen, and then you will be able to find the best photographer for you and your family.
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