The TRUTH...

I’m about to let out the secret world of running a photography business, successful or not. This is not a complaint, but rather my personal thoughts and the thoughts of other professional photographers out there. It’s the why and how of what I do and I am not alone.

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For a little background I left my full time job to devote everything to my business I am now a full time mother of 3 and full time college student, the last few months I have really put my Photography business on hold for my schooling because I am almost done with school. But as soon as I’m finished with school I will go back to devoting  my everything to my business after all  I’m going to school for Business management and Accounting, so that will come in handy.

When I left my job to go full time with photography, I was so excited! I didn't know about all the expenses and the time that went into each session or wedding. Ignorance was bliss. Once I started realizing that I was spending more than I was making for two years, I had to increase my prices. Guess what? That wasn't well received. With digital photography, everyone and their uncle is now a photographer and offering $50 sessions with a disc. I will admit that I once priced my sessions that way too, but I learned later on that there is no profit in that.

If you are skeptical and think snapping some pics & delivering a disc of images for $50 bucks is a darn great job, then I’d like you to consider what it takes to run a photography business. These are rounded numbers of my personal expenses and other professional photographers since being in business – no holding back, now you know:

This is want a professional has or should have

2 professional camera bodies (pros have to have at least one backup) | $2,600 each x 2 = $5,200- I only have one but will soon have another

2 external flashes | $500 each x 2 = $1,000

4 professional lenses (all for different looks) | $6,700

UV filters to protect said lenses | $100 each x 4 = $400

Desktop computer for editing | $1,200

Laptop computer for remote business use/editing | $1000

Protection plan for computer | $300

External hard drives to keep your images safe | at least 1 per year at $100 each

Camera strap | $125

Business license | $50 annually

Business liability insurance | $295 per year

Professional Photography Memberships | $40 per month

Studio Management Software | $40 per month

Website hosting | $6 per month

Website setup | $300

Logo design & branding | $1,000 (that is on the low end)

Rolling camera bag | $400

Lens bag | $200

Photoshop | $700

Lightroom editing software | $300

Studio lighting setup  | $1,500

Continuing education to make me a better photographer | $2,000 annually

Memory cards | $400

Miscellaneous expenses:

Gas, car care, merchant fees, professional clothing, gadgets I've bought and then sold and lost money, networking events, advertising

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Total = $35,000+ (YES, THOUSAND)

 Let me pause for a second while you digest that.

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Most professionals spend more on their business than what they took home when working a full time job. I know I am definitely  in that category.

I tread water to do this because I get joy out of it. Otherwise, no one in their right mind would spend that much money (and time!) on something they kind of liked, right? My pursuit is to make a living from this hobby-turned-profession that I love, but I can’t do that – and no freelance photographer can – if we don’t price ourselves accordingly.

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One might say, “Well, Walmart only charges $7 for a package and prints and Sears only charges me $50 for a sitting and a print package…” They can because they spend such little time with you. They photograph you for 15 minutes, don’t do any retouching (unless you pay extra), make you pick your prints right there and send you on your way. Every one of my sessions is customized. We select the time & place, we discuss it, I drive there and back, I wait patiently if a client is running late, I go back home and select the best images, I retouch the best images, present them to the client, I prepare images for ordering and ship them.

On top of that, I don’t have a big advertising budget, so I spend additional hours promoting myself on my blog and Facebook. I have to come up with promotions and read marketing books and blogs to help me figure it all out and of course my schooling helps with that.

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As for that $50 per session with a disc that everyone and their uncle is offering: When you do the math, I’d have to shoot 600 – SIX HUNDRED – sessions just to break even with my expenses to date. And guess what? If I’m running a legal business, I would have to pay Uncle Sam about 1/3 of that. So, actually, I’d need to shoot about NINE HUNDRED sessions at $50 each to break even.

Do you want to know what costs me the least? You’re right – the disc. The prints and the disc cost very little, comparatively. I don’t have to tell you that because you know that Walgreen's offers 19 cent prints (even though I use a professional service) and Wal-Mart offers 25 cds for Around $20.00. But here’s the thing…

I've told you about all of my expenses. What I didn't tell you about was all the time that goes into creating these images.

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Factor in the blood, sweat and tears. I’m not being dramatic.

At the end of a wedding, I've carried around 15+ pounds of gear for at least 8 hours. I've sweated out so much water that I’ll be dehydrated for days, and I've hardly been fed. Perhaps I got one bathroom break. My feet, legs and back are killing me. Chances are, I was wearing black and it was also 90 degrees outside. I may have to lean against a prickly thorn bush or lay on the ground in an ant pile to get the perfect shot of the bridal shoes and now I’m bleeding from the scratching. I may even cry because I’m so tired, my workload is backing up and I had to miss my favorite band in concert.

BUT

I LOVE THIS I wouldn't put myself through all this and then spend an additional 20 or so hours sitting in front of the computer late into the night, answering emails, meeting clients for coffee down town, or spending an entire Saturday away from my family.

I also spend thousands of dollars learning from the best of the best photographers so I can make my clients look amazing and learn how to adjust to harsh lighting conditions. So, when I work hard and pay a lot to become the best photographer I can be, please know it’s because I love it and I can’t afford to put all that time and effort in and shoot weddings for $200 including an album and an engagement session. I cut my self just shooting weddings for the price that I do charge.

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Aside from expenses, I spend hours each day pouring over forums, watching webinars, reading, researching and shooting to further my artistry. I have a commitment to this craft and I always want to be better. It has taken years and probably thousands of hours to arrive to the place I’m at now.

I not only want to be able to make a profit now, but be able to afford children and save for their college as well as pay off my own student loans. I have no 401k and I may have to have a second job to have health insurance.

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Digital photography isn't free.

We, as photographers, aren't being greedy. We want to make a profit like anyone else.

The next time you admire a photographer’s work, please remember that it took a lot more than a nice camera and a sunny day to produce that image.

Please give credit to the photographer when you share their image online because it helps them get more business.

We are artists. We love our craft. And we want to stay in business for a long time.

Let’s build a community of respect and appreciation for the ones that get dirty, sweaty and shoot their hearts out.

Sincerely always,

Andrea

Custom Creations Photography