As a parent of a school senior you may be starting to plan for a senior portrait session. you might have had discussions with friends or read in facebook groups regarding the sometimes considerable cost behind senior portrait photography and you may have noticed that the prices can vary drastically between one photographer and another.
Have you ever wondered what is actually behind this investment? This article offers you an exclusive perspective from a senior portrait photographer’s point of view. This should help bring to light, the artistry involved and what goes into making those amazing portraits!
1. The Artist Behind the Lens
You’re not just paying for someone to point and click a button. You’re investing in the expertise of a seasoned professional who’s spent years learning their craft. A skilled photographer will know how to properly use a camera, but more importantly they know how to work with LIGHT. Whether it is natural light of day or artificial lighting. They also have the skills needed to capture the perfect angle, a natural smile, and put the subject in their best light!
They’ve also got the gear needed for a professional photo session – and trust me, those camera bodies, lenses, and lighting equipment do not come cheap. Your photographer may have 10’s of thousands of dollars invested in the equipment necessary to conduct a professional photo session. But gear isn’t everything, you still need to put that expensive camera gear in the right hands of a photographer who has the skills to use it, the end result are images that make you say “wow”.
2. The Pre-Game Action
Before your child even steps foot in front of that camera, there’s a whole lot of prep going on behind the scenes. Your photographer is likely to spend hours brainstorming, planning, and discussing ideas to make your session unique. They might scout locations, prepare props, and envision how to best capture your seniors personality. They are also taking the time to research permits needed for a location, the best time of day, and working around any events that may be happening in the area.
3. The Photoshoot!
Now comes the exciting part – the actual photoshoot! You, your senior, and your photographer are working as a team, allowing us to guide your teen through poses, expressions, and moments that make them shine. But remember, behind those seemingly effortless shutter clicks are years of experience, intuition, and a keen eye for detail.
The role of your photographer is also to think on the fly. Adapting to the changes in weather, environment, and lighting. This is something you just can’t get from an amateur photographer or a friend with a cell phone taking your portraits.
4. The Editing Process
You thought the photoshoot was the end? NO! After the session your photographer retreats into their digital cave armed with software like Photoshop, Lightroom and many other software tools then proceeds to spends Hours of time fine-tuning every image – adjusting colors, enhancing details, and erasing that pesky pimple that decided to crash the party.
It’s an art form in itself, and every edit is like a brushstroke on a canvas. So, when you see those stunning images, you’re witnessing the result of hours and hours of meticulous editing.
5. Delivering the Goods
When your images are ready, it’s time for the big reveal – and trust us, that moment is priceless. Your photos deserve more than just becoming digital files sitting on a hard drive or stuck on a USB drive and shoved into a kitchen drawer, or even worse, LOST because you never backed up your photo gallery on your phone and your phone ended up on the bottom of lake or stolen! When you hire a professional photography you are getting more than a few low quality drug store prints. Your photographer has access to some of the finest print labs and bookbinders in the world. And to make the process of getting these amazing prints and artwork, you photographer is spending hours of time designing the albums, the wall art, and spending more time with the client to make sure the photo designs are just right!
6. Archiving your memories
Any photographer that is running a business should be backing up your photos in several different locations. We spend hours converting files for customer delivery and for print, but we are also ensuring that your photos are safeguarded. Cloud based and on premises backup of your files is an important expense that your photographer takes on in order to make sure that your photos are safe. Imagine doing a photo shoot, and your photographers hard drive crash wiped out all of your photos! I personally cannot even imagine this!
Photographers are also spending more time preparing your photos for digital delivery whether it is setting up an online gallery for you to view your photos or saving them to a USB drive for your own archival purposes. This all takes time and a large investment on the photographers side.
7. The cost of running a business
If you hired a photographer that is running an actual – legitimate business, they have the same over head as other small businesses. While your photographer may not have a physical store front or fancy studio, there are still many expenses that contribute to a photographers monthly expenses. Website fees, advertising fees, insurance costs, business taxes, and the list goes on! The operating costs of a legitimate business can be overwhelming!
8. The Value of Memories
Now, let’s talk about something truly invaluable – memories. Senior portraits aren’t just pictures; they’re a piece of art that freezes a major transitional moment in your life. They capture who you are right now – your personality, your style, your dreams. And that, my friend, is something you can’t put a price on.
When you look back years from now, flipping through your album or looking through the box of prints from your session; you’re reliving emotions, experiences, and a slice of the amazing journey your senior travelled. Senior portraits become an heirloom for the whole family to enjoy and that you pass down to the next generations, and this is an investment that will yield the biggest return! In fact, if you were to take your session fees and break it down by ten years, the monthly cost would be less than a Netflix subscription!
7. The Passion of your photographer
In the photography industry, senior portrait photographers aren’t in it to be rich, in fact out of all my photogra-friends, I don’t know any of us that have become rich by taking Photos for a living. The truth is, we’re in it for the love of our craft and the joy of helping families create memories. Many photographers invest not just financially, but emotionally too. They build relationships with their clients and their families, celebrate their milestones, and genuinely care about creating images that their clients will love. I have families that I have photographed over 10 years ago and have watched their children grow through out the years! It’s truly amazing!
Photographers have to balance their artistic passion with running a business, and as I already mentioned that comes with a cost in itself. So, when you’re investing in your senior portraits, know that you’re supporting a passionate artist who’s dedicated to making your memories unforgettable.
I hope this post helped you get a glimpse of what’s behind the cost of Senior Portrait photography. It’s not just about pretty pictures – it’s about skilled artistry, dedication, and creating memories for you and your family. So, when you see the prices your photographer is charging, remember that you’re investing in an experience, a family heirloom, and a piece of art that’s uniquely you. You can learn more about why you need a senior portrait session on my blog!
Preparing for a senior portrait session can be overwhelming! Please visit our page on the Top Tips for your senior portraits for some great info and ideas for your session! If you would like more info on reserving a spot with 434 Photography for your senior portraits, contact us and we can see if we are a good fit!
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