The cost of doing business
—> my face when reality hits that running a photography business is more than just going and taking pretty photos —>
I know I drone on and on about how personal and emotional my business is to me. In the same breath I cannot overlook the fact that it is indeed a business, and nothing is cheap or free. I have to say, it took a long ass time for me to feel worth accepting money for what I do. Every session feels like a privilege, and it is, but it’s still worth something, if that makes sense. And I have to sit in those feelings and eventually be okay with that, or I’ll be outta business and no longer able to do what I love to do!
I’m going to give some insight on how I go about my pricing and the financial end of running my business. This sounds boring, and why in the world would it be beneficial for me to spend time on a topic like that? If you’re a client/potential client, maybe it’s just informative and gives you a better idea of what all goes on. If you’re another photographer, maybe it’ll help you as you navigate the money side too.
I hate seeing on Instagram (and I’ve seen it a LOT), other photographers trying to justify their CODB/pricing, but I think it comes off abrasive and like they’re shoving down your throat WHY IT COSTS SO MUCH AND WHY IM WORTH IT and then they continue to explain the nitty gritty’s. While I understand the frustration with people feeling like you’re overpriced (hi there’s a difference in overpriced and out of someone’s budget), and it definitely is helpful for people to understand more, but I think it can be done a bit more gracefully. At least that’s my intention here.
That’s why I’m taking a minute to be a bit more thorough and open about this side of what I do, without going in to too many details. If you disagree that’s totally fine, if I’m out of your budget no harm done.
I’m gonna start by keeping and real and raw with you for a minute. I have a terrible, terrible time separating my emotions from business. I can get uncomfortable talking about payment and I never, ever want someone to feel like they were charged too much for their experience. I also feel like I empathize with the consumer. As a mom with 4 kids- shits expensive! Everything is fucking expensive! 300+ for photos?! That’s a lot of money in my house! You can think something is expensive and still appreciate and value you it, something can be expensive and not overpriced. All of these things can be equally true. I also value the photos and the photographer, and thankfully there were times we were able to budget and make photos a priority. Other times we couldn’t, but that wasn’t because the photographer was “charging too much.”
There really is a lot that goes in to a photographers cost of doing business (CODB). I won’t go into specifics but generally speaking heres an idea of different costs that go in to running a photography business:
-Equipment (one camera costs upward of $2000)
This also includes any lighting, backup cameras, SD cards, external hard drives, tripods, backdrop stands and that’s just the tip of the iceberg
-Studio costs
Rent, electric, furnishings, backdrop paper, floorings, props, wraps, etc.
-Software subscriptions
Lightroom, Photoshop, any extra overlays, brushes, presets, anything that goes in to making your photos look pretty
-Education, mentorships, courses
-Marketing
Website, gallery site, SEO training or outsourcing, advertisements, photo books, fliers, business cards, vendor fairs
-Childcare
-Time
YES ITS WORTH SOMETHING, driving to your location, shoot time, editing time, time spent updating your website or keeping social medias up to date, consulting, writing up and sending contracts, emails
-Fuel
This is all just off the top of my head rattling off to give a general idea. There’s a lot right? One needs to be able to cover these costs and still actually make a profit and a livable salary. I really try and do my best to give options, like offering full and half session pricing, offering different package rates for maternity, birth and newborn. I don’t typically do mini sessions but I do try and run some specials throughout the year. Like I said, I so empathize with the consumer. I also recognize being too emotionally invested is typically a terrible business practice, so it’s something I have to remind myself of-the numbers. Facts about what it costs to run my business, not my opinion. I also think it’s important for consumers to know that if my pricing is out of your budget and we aren’t able to make something work, I’m not offended by you choosing a different photographer within your budget. I am offended though, when someone assumes I’m overpriced or sees no value in what I do. I like to think in general, by having knowledge we are able to make more informed decisions, a lot of times it helps us pass less judgment and approach situations with more compassion and sensitivity, which is why I felt so compelled to share some of this info with y’all. It’s hard work learning how to navigate all these caveats of running a business!
