With many inexperienced amateurs purchasing digital cameras and charging less and less for a session, we want to share the true value of a portrait. As a consumer, it is important to be educated in what you are paying for and what you are getting.

While many of us would not feel comfortable trusting our hair to a cosmetology student, our portraits will last much longer than any hair change we make. Most of what we do, our clients never see. The actual session is such a small part of the time involved in a portrait.

We do this every day. Our clients may only do this once every year or even 5 years. It is important to hire a professional who will find out what you want and help you to achieve that.  It is important to find a photographer whose style is consistent with what you want.  When viewing a photographer's work, we will find that some images move us.  They are not only technically correct but they make us feel. Do not assume anyone with a camera and a website can do that.  It is the heart and talent behind those images that you want.

The ACTUAL time that a professional photographer puts into a session:

So, at this point, we are looking at approximately 17 actual hours that go into a session, not to mention the time that a photographer spends additionally each week just to conduct business (advertising, website maintenance, education, ordering supplies, maintaining books and records, correspondence, telephone calls, exploring new industry information, etc.). While it appears that a photographer just shows up and works for an hour or two, there is so much more to what a professional photographer does.

Add to that the actual expenses that a photographer has, most of which you may not actually see because they are behind the scenes, and you will see why you will not find a professional photographer offering their services for next to nothing. They simply cannot afford to stay in business.

So, what makes a photographer worth the money? These are your portraits. Life is fragile and fleeting. One day these images will hold your memories. These images will become your memories. Most of what we remember, was captured in a picture. It's not something best left to an amateur. It is not likely that you will find professional portraits at chain department store pricing. A professional photographer just cannot stay in business at those prices. And at a chain department store, you will probably not find the artistic images that you are looking for in a 15 minute session from someone making minimum wage working there for the summer or for extra money over the holidays. Sometimes, we just have to make a choice.

You get what you pay for when it comes to professional portraits. They are an investment and will be one of the very few purchases that you will still have in 15, 20 years, or even a lifetime.

by Tammy Cobb | Wonderfully Made Photography
Source | 411marketsource for Photographers
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