Why is Photography so expensive?
I had this question too! That was until I got into it and quickly learned the answer. First lets start break this down into sections: Marketing, Equipment, Time, and Software.
Marketing
To start off, as a photographer I have to be able to market my business. If people can’t find me then I don’t get clients. I have to put my name out there so that I can get new clients and grow my business. So how do I do that? I primarily use my website, and social media marketing. This consists of a website (the one that you are on right now). I pay monthly for this, as well as the domain (which is the name of my site.) That is roughly $30 per month. I also pay for apps that help me better utilize social media apps like Instagram and Facebook. My hope is to reach more clientele through those apps. I pay about $20 per month for those. Other photographers also pay for ads through the radio, billboards, etc. and these can all add additional costs. This area is probably the least expensive area for me as a photographer at the moment. However, this can change, and differs for other photographers. So how much do I pay monthly for this? I am paying around $50 per month on just marketing. And the thing to keep in mind with this is that I am a one person band. I do all of my marketing. So every post on Facebook, every blog on this page and even my Instagram is done by me. At this point, I am still a very small business but as my business grows so will this area of spending. For larger photography businesses, you sometimes pay for assistance with marketing. This can be costly and can range from hundreds of dollars to thousands.
Equipment
Next and probably one of the most expensive areas as a new photographer is the equipment. Photography cameras and lenses are expensive! Some photographers can invest thousands of dollars in equipment. I myself have spent over a thousand dollars in my equipment, and I just have the basics. I have one camera and 2 lenses. Depending on your field of photography, you sometimes may need more than camera. For example, many wedding photographers have more than 1 camera. This is in case one has issues, you can easily pick up the other camera and not miss those important moments. You may also need multiple lenses. Different lenses can help capture different types of photography. For example, the lens you would use for landscape can differ than that you would use for detail shots in a wedding.
In my experience, the camera is definitely one of my more costly expenditures. Professional camera’s usually start off at about $500 dollars. However, if you are interested in photography, I always recommend starting with what you have and working your way up. Having an expensive camera does not mean you are going to have professional level pictures, so practice.
I also have a professional camera bag to carry my equipment around. I have multiple batteries and battery chargers. I have multiple SD cards. These help me store my pictures during a shoot. Depending on the shoot, I can sometimes take anywhere from 500-800 pictures in just one session. And when I am doing multiple shoots per month, I end up needing several SD cards. Once I get home, I upload the images from my SD card to my laptop. My old laptop had little to no storage and was very slow so it would take me several hours to upload even just one session. So I have purchased a new laptop which helps me upload over 800 pictures in minutes. I also have an external hard drive which helps store all these images so that my computer is not overloaded. All of this equipment is very expensive. I have spent 3,000 dollars in just equipment. And keep in mind that I am a natural light photographer who mostly shoots outdoors. For other photographers especially those who shoot indoors, you have the added expense of lights, backdrops, props, and so much more. These can easily cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Time
One of the biggest misconceptions I had about photographers was the amount of time spent behind the scenes. I thought the photographer shows up, takes the picture, and then just sends them to you. This is completely false, and there is a lot more that goes into it!
First, let’s talk about the time that involves a client. So before my shoot, I spend time confirming details with my client. We talk about their vision, and what we are hoping to achieve. We talk about the date/time/location. I also like to send confirmation information the day before. This can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours. Sometimes a client may need help with picking a location or an outfit. If my client chooses a location that I am not familiar with, I show up early. I look for the best areas to shoot within that location before my client arrives. I usually arrive about 30 minutes early to a new location. After the shoot, it can take me about 1-2 hours to upload all my pictures to my laptop. From there, I have to choose the pictures that will make the cut, and those that are being removed from the final album, and then I start the editing process. This can take 1-5 hours depending on the size of the shoot. This can take even longer with a larger size gallery. Editing is so important. It can make or break a shoot. After editing, I reach out to the client and I deliver the images. Following the shoot, I also try to talk with the client and get their feedback. So in total, I can spend about 2-7 hours on one session alone.
Then there is the time spent that does not always involve a client. Those are the hours spent on Facebook, Instagram and of course on my website. I spend a few hours every single week planning, posting, and commenting back online. I spend a minimum of 10 hours per week on my business. Then there is time spent scouting new locations, thinking of new ideas, learning how to improve my photography, and making sure that I have all the legal documentation/contracts/etc. I also spend time analyzing the work that I have done so far. I look to see what my audience is reacting to. I see if there is a difference in the level of engagement based on the time that I am posting. I analyze, and reanalyze and use that information to improve. I spend a lot of time learning and mastering my craft. I spend hours making sure that I know how to capture the perfect shot, and where I can place you to get the perfect glow. So when you pay $200 dollars for a 1 hour session, please know that there are several hours behind the scenes that are included in this fee.
Software
The very last section we are talking about today is software. I pay monthly for these different programs and apps. I use Lightroom and Photoshop for editing, which I pay about $20/month for. I also use Shootproof to send the final images to my clients, for which I pay about $30/month. Lastly, I also use Canva, as it helps me create thank you cards, holiday cards, etc. for my clients.
I hope this helps you better understand why photography is so expensive, and I hope it opens your eyes to some of the costs associated with it. Please remember these numbers are based on my experience and can differ from photographer to photographer. As always, thank you for reading!
xo,
Esther Kabwe Photography
