I am taking today to explain to you the reasons behind some burning questions I have been given here lately like “Why do you charge so much?”   I’ve given so much thought about how I wanted to present this without coming off as  “BOOK ME BECAUSE I AM WORTH IT!”  Frankly, this isn’t about me.  It’s not about why you should come to me and get pictures taken; heck, for all I know, our styles don’t mesh.  That’s cool with me.  As long as you take the information from this article, and others, as I hope you DO read more on this topic, use it and go find your perfect photographer. 

Firstly, when planning for a wedding, consider what you want for your style.  Secondly, determine your budget needs and find what matches realistically to what you can afford.  Thirdly, determine which vendors are the most important.  For me, it was the venue, and the photographer. 

Photo capture courtesy of Jackie Lamouroux of Focus In Photography.  Many thanks and love Jackie!!! <3

The venue obviously, because the location tied everything I was looking for together.  And, the photographer, because I knew that after my wedding day, I couldn’t get a do over.  It was a one and done type of day and I was not going to spend all the effort to recreate it, and not to mention,  a recreation doesn’t portray the emotions.  So, to get it right on that day, was imperative.

Now, looking at the costs of photographers, you are probably wondering why in the world some photographers are charging you enough to make you want to take a loan out to afford them.  I see it all the time, the Facebook posts about a photographer who doesn’t cost a limb, or makes you want to throw a doozy when presenting pricing sheets for “only” 8 hours of coverage.  So, let me take it from here. 

That $2400, $3500, $6500 minimum price that different photographers are charging are not just magical numbers pulled out the air that sound good to their ears.  Those numbers are calculations based on what they need to make to be able to afford to cover that event.  This is their job and specialty, it’s not a hobby and the amount of work it takes to get it right at the only chance they have is a TON of pressure, along with how hectic, no matter how planned everything is going to be. 

A photographer isn’t just charging you for 4-8 hours of coverage and bringing a camera to your event to simply snap photos is NOT all they do.  That’s literally only about 10%.  What you see them do in public does not account for the costs they are charging.  They are charging you for 4-8 weeks, however long is stated in your contract, to give enough time for them to cull, edit, and retouch your images so they look perfect, and memorable for you to look back on.  Editing and retouching images is an extremely lengthy, and sometimes difficult process.  The amount of work that goes into making your images perfect takes a lot of time, and if that photographer does their job whether it’s full or part time, that has to be compensated for.  It’s not a free service.  Think of it like this — If your job asks you to work, and only offer enough to hire you, but not to compensate for the time to complete the required tasks, you’d probably be a little peeved. This is a perfect example because you have to pay for the time it takes to make your images of your day look as magical as they do.

They are also charging you for the preparation.  Photographers don’t just show up to your wedding and begin.  It’s hours and hours of research, prepping their equipment, renting items that they potentially need to be able to capture your portraits before your wedding day even arrives.  It’s also time that they talk details with you to make everything perfect on a daily basis, because I can assure you, after the conversations are through, the work is not.  It’s developing a plan to nail your requirements.  They are also probably developing a time line consistent with yours so they don’t miss a must-have shot, and that’s not just sitting and jotting random times.  Speaking of must-have shots, google how many different lists there are!  It’s a complete process.  They are also probably gathering a second shooter to help them and working out those details, too- which, is also not a free service.    

I saw recently where a woman didn’t understand why she had to pay for the prints that her photographer would be taking for her.  You are purchasing a finished and perfected product.  You are purchasing the work that artist made to display for you, your spouse, and anyone who comes to visit you enjoy.  You would not ask for a car dealership to just hand you the parts to build your car yourself just to save some money.  They won’t do it – and it’s disrespectful to their trade.  Same concept here – Taking pictures to “local lab” doesn’t give the photographer the credit due for many reasons, which is another blog post to come, but again, the photographer has taken the time to calibrate color processes with the lab they have chosen to work with.  Everything is a detail specific process that takes time and energy to sync and perfect.  Asking a photographer for digital images so you can print them on your own is asking them for thousands of dollars worth of time in finished products to be destroyed by printers that are not designed for professional images -hence, copyright violations, and pixelated, grainy, and too contrasted prints.  Those images are all you will have left once everything is packed up, you’re out of that dress, and all the food is gone.  Do it right, and you will have years and years of printed memories on your walls that don’t fade, warp, or discolor over time. 

As I sit here and write this, I really hope and pray that money is not the driving force behind your decisions on your big day.   Hopefully, you have a photographer in mind that you want to hire because you love their work and you will work well with them, because after the wedding, you will only have images to look back on.  Do you want to sit down and order images you are only “okay” with?   Regret after a wedding day will only hurt you.  Don’t regret choosing a “budget” photographer over one who has years of experience, practice, and know-how on making your day and memories magical.  

Photography can be a hobby, but a wedding photographer is not one of those.  They are so much more than that.  They are a planner, a guide, a support system, a go-to, and an artist all in one person.  That photographer that you think is too expensive, isn’t.  They are not charging you too much.  They are accounting for everything that capturing your wedding professionally entails to make their living wage because this is their job.  My only advice — do not discredit yourself and your photographer by asking for less.  You know how much planning your wedding has taken you, now imagine that photographer doing that many times over.  Find your perfect photographer for all right reasons.  You won’t regret that.

Want to work with me? hello@khalifestylephotography.com