Hear me out! Cheaper doesn't always mean it's a deal! I have been seeing so many inexpensive sessions and sites like Snappr in my feed lately. Don't get me wrong, I price compare and look for deals all the time. But you may think that you are getting a deal for $150 session with all the digitals... but be sure to look, double check, and consider some things before snagging that "great buy". This post isn’t about photographers making a living wage or making more money. Photographers are available in every budget, as they should be. People shouldn’t be priced out of photo sessions but please be a smart consumer!
Having a budget is key when looking for any service, however a low price doesn't always equate to value. Consider what you get for your price point. Look beyond "digitals" when comparing photographers and their rates and packages. Be sure you really look at a photographer's portfolio. Is it consistent? Ask to see a full session... all the digitals can include 15 of the same pose with not much changing between shots. Is their editing consistent? Are they giving each image in both color and black & white? This might be an unpopular opinion, but getting 100 images from a portrait session is just overkill.
Do you want prints of any kind? Yes, mpix and Walmart offer prints for pennies. But how long is your to-do list? Have someone else do the ordering! Your time is valuable too! You are a busy woman, let your photographer handle some of those little details. Those include ordering the prints, designing the photo album and announcements, and selecting wardrobe. A full-service photographer takes items off of your plate so that you have more time to tackle your own to-do list. What are you going to wear? Dropping money on new clothes is fun but just added to the price tag of that inexpensive session. Finding a photographer that offers things like a wardrobe may save you money in the long run.
Modern photography isn't just about the digitals. Taking photos has become easy and an everyday occurrence. Cell phones and entry level digital cameras have made photography easy, fun, and accessible. But professional photography is about an experience, creating those treasured family heirlooms and memories. Those experiences run a wide range. Creating keepsakes and capturing memories should be available to everyone. I encourage you to be an educated consumer… know what your photographer offers, and by extension what they don’t.
But at the end of the day, make those memories. Life is short and seems to go by quickly. I blinked and my daughter is 7, I am no longer the new employee, my parents are in their 70s - when did all of these things happen? So whether you choose to take out your phone and snap a couple of quick pics or choose to find a professional photographer and create an heirloom album - make those memories last a little bit longer in a photograph.
Sarah