“But I can buy a 4×6 at Costco for $0.13″ | Evie Curley, Greensboro, NC Children and Family Photographer
Yes, you certainly can. And at Snapfish, Shutterfly, Target, Walgreens, etc, too. This is a comment that comes up a lot when people begin discussing custom photography because people see prices like $30 for a 5×7 and can’t understand why it would be that price when it’s so much less expensive at the drugstore. I’m going to try and help you understand the reasoning.
A custom photography session is a lot different than having your Aunt take a couple of snapshots for you at the family reunion. The custom photographer puts a lot of thought into your session, taking into consideration the goals you have and the plans you have in mind for your finished artwork. The whole reason to choose custom photography is because you want someone who can take your ideas, and your needs, and translate that into images of your family that you would not be able to attain on your own. Or maybe you have seen their work and you want to go with whatever ideas they have for a shoot. Regardless, you want to see how THEY see your family and, hopefully after researching the work of several local photographers, you settle on one who you feel the most comfortable with. I cannot stress this part to you enough. It is SO important for you to interview the person you’re going to work with, just to get a feel for their personality. You need to know if you will gel together and feel comfortable on the day of the shoot. Maybe you’re a shy, reserved person. You might be overwhelmed by someone with an ebullient personality and need to find someone who can appreciate that. Maybe you have kids who don’t like hand puppets and trickery that some photographers use to get the shots. You need to know that ahead of time, too.
Custom Photography is about more than finding the cheapest person and showing up for a couple of pictures. It’s a process that deserves a lot of thought and planning, from where to hold it to what to wear. I’m not saying that your Aunt won’t take some nice photos and indeed, if you’re in a pinch I’m sure they will work out great! But when you want to do something really special to memorialize your family, custom photography is the way to go.
Back to the $0.13 print at Costco. That is the cost of the paper and the ink they use. It doesn’t take into consideration the time and effort put into making an image worthy of printing. Custom photographers adjust color and digitally clean up images until they look perfect. These are things that take skill and time to get right and that is what you are paying for when you pay $30 for a 5×7. Your custom photographer has invested a lot of time in honing their skills and learning their craft. They see what they do as creating a custom piece of art for your family. You wouldn’t expect a painter to only charge you for the canvas and the paints they use to create a portrait for you and photography is the same.
I’m not writing this post to be preachy at all. Before I got into photography, I didn’t understand the reasons it was more expensive than going to Sears or Wal-Mart. It was simply because no one had ever explained it to me. I hope that in 2010, you will choose to have a custom photography session. It’s a lot of fun and you will be so glad you did it! If you’d like to interview me and see if I’m the photographer for you then please call me at 336-285-8341. I’d love to talk to you about my style and the manner in which I work. If you think we’re a good fit, it would be my great pleasure to work with you!
Here is one of my favorite photos of the year. I’d love to create something like this for you, too.
SO many ppl have no clue the amt of work put into a portrait session.. and WHY its different than photos taken at a larger chain place like The Picture People. My portrait sessions tell a story… where as the picture people gives you 1 or two poses… and the light is flat… the lack personality.
I think ppl will pay for what they want… after all ppl will pay 100′s for cable tv and a cell phone.. yet cant pay for memories captured that will last far longer than a cable tv show?
also walmart prints.. SOOO DARK!!! i hate printing anything at walmart.. even snapshot photos.. because they are just poorly printed.
Can I just say: AMEN!! I think I will follow your lead and do the same for the new year! Thanks Evie, you always write the best posts!
Thank you Evie…for educating everyone!!!
Such a great way to educate your clients Evie. Here’s to a wonderful 2010!
this is awesome! i love it!
Wonderfully written. I may even borrow with due credit of course ;)
I agree with Becky…you need to write a book LOL I’d buy it :D
Tweeted this as soon as I saw it … so very handy right now!
Great read Evie! Really well put. You did such a fabulous job of getting the point across.
Well put Evie! Great job!
Amen!!!!!
Thanks for sharing that Evie!! Well written!!
I LOVE this and the shot!! I need to post this on my blog too!
Great post Evie! Definitely need to do something like this as well.
A-Men, sistah!
Thanks so much for posting this, I got to post something like this too, as I think its so important to inform our clients about why they pay what they do for our services. I think in time people will come to realize the value of having beautiful family pictures hanging on their walls that they can cherish for a lifetime. Our images evoke emotion and bring up memories of that day, its not only pictures but its time spent well with the family having fun and having that immortalized by a good photographer on print. That to me is priceless.
wonderful explanation, I should tranlaste this into Spanish and put it in my blog too
lol
Very well put!
This is perfectly written! May we borrow it for our own blogs as long as we give you credit? Love it
Great post :) You explained everything so well!!
Evie – I heart you! This is a beautiful picture, and I wish you were here to take my pictures. Hugs, PB
Perfectly written! Love the photo too!
Oh my gosh! You should trademark and sell this whole post to other photographers! I would buy it! lol Very well put!
Gorgeous photo and well worded post. Paper is cheap, artistic talent is priceless.
Awesome, awesome post!! I need to write something similar for clients to see.
Evie, I really do like this post. I sometimes feel like I need to have something like this on my blog! Well said!
Very nice post Evie. Well said and explained perfectly!
so true Evie!