How much should you pay for a photography session?

If you are looking for a photographer, you have probably noticed the difference in prices from one photographer to another and wondered what will give you good value for your money. There are photographers who charge £200 for one single image, so it might be tempting to go for a £200 session where you receive all the images. But will the end result be photographs your friends could have taken, or lots of near identical images?

One of the main difference might be that one is a professional portrait photographer who spends time on each image, both when capturing it and when editing, and the other might just have a good camera. As with everything there is of course a sliding scale from one to the other.

My name is Linda and I have a photography studio in Pound Hill, Crawley.

I have taken photographs since I was about 10 but it wasn't until 8 years ago that I followed my dreams and became a professional photographer.

I have also studied art which I am sure has given me an advantage when it comes to the relationship between light/shadow, colours and composition.

Photographers are not regulated

This means that anyone can pick up a camera and call themselves a photographer, whatever their background, skills, training etc. There is not even a requirement to have insurance or have a DBS check done. Of course, a professional photographer would never photograph children without their parents/carers being present, but even so...

Think about that for a second; you could hand your baby to someone who has no experience or training in how to handle such a delicate little body.

Running a Photography Business

It would be lovely to say that every day is creative and bathed in sunlight, but there is of course a practical side to this.

First of all there is CODB to think of (Cost Of Doing Business), this includes all running costs (website, insurance, accounts, social media, electricity, digital storage, editing tools, communication software, marketing software, cloud storage and hopefully....some money left at the end of the day for the photographer) and investments (cameras, laptops, lights, batteries, hard drives, memory cards, training, props, outfits, backdrops, backdrop stands, marketing material, sample products etc).

Secondly, for any professional photographer the actual capturing of a photograph is a tiny part of the whole process, in my case I would say it's about 10-15% of my invested time in that one client. The other 85-90% goes on planning, editing, setting up galleries and communication. Then there's of course other things to do such as training (this is ongoing - every day is a school day) sourcing props and outfits, marketing (social media etc).

These are the practical things, and you can quickly see that there is more to running a professional photography business than pressing a button.

How much is my Time and Creative Skills worth?

Photography is essentially about capturing an image, it's the balance between light and shadow. You must be able to control that balance with your camera settings, and then decide how to you use flashes and lights within a studio setting or where to take the photo outside, baring the sun in mind as a natural light source. You can then enhance that image through editing to bring out your personal style and vision.

However, art isn't much without emotion. Whether it's a black and white photo of an empty street or a Mum and dad holding their newborn little baby - the image should always evoke emotion. This is where experience, technique, training, natural talent and the ability to adapt comes in to it.

A Bad Workman Blames his Tools

It is true that if you are a good photographer you can take a good photograph under pretty much any condition. However, it is important to invest in good lenses and the right camera for the images you are planning to take, to make sure the result is a high resolution, beautiful photo.

My main camera has two memory slots. This means that should a memory card become corrupt whilst I am shooting a wedding, I have a second one to rely on. (In addition I always back everything up as soon as I finish a session so all my images are in three places whilst I am working on them).

To achieve that beautiful blurry background (BOKEH) you need the right lens and know how to use it. Some people add blur in editing, but it can look really odd. AI is often used for this and it rarely gats it right, you may end up with a blurry hand or a strange halo around someone's head.

These are just a few example why investing in a photographer who has the right equipment is important.

Working with People

My background and my career in photography has given me great opportunities to meet and work with people from all walks of life. I have worked with neurodiverse children and adults, and learnt how to get the best out of any given situation.

"My eldest has additional needs and this can impact our experiences at things like this . Linda’s beautiful , calm and gentle way has meant we can get some stunning photos of our babies ! Linda is talented in so many ways and she captures the child’s character and true personality". "Linda was so good with our daughter who has Autism and struggles with anything like this but Linda was really patient and took the time to make sure we had brilliant photos."

It's not about getting a smile out of everyone, but about making them feel comfortable and safe. With that I am able to capture them content and happy, whether that comes with a smile or not.

Safety

Attention to detail is so important, especially with newborn babies. Just because they are more flexible, doesn't mean you can pose them however you wish. I was myself born with Hip Dysplasia (where the hip joint hasn't formed properly). As a photographer this is just one thing I must consider when posing little ones.

Babies' heads are not proportionate to the rest of their body and their neck muscles are not developed enough to hold up their heads on their own. I know many babies seem to have super powers and can hold their head up for a short time, but this is on their terms and how they train their muscles. All images with babies apparently holding their heads up must be made from composites, i.e. two images merged together where someone is holding their head in position at all times.

Newborns and animals photographed at the same time is a definite no from me. It doesn't matter how wonderful your dog is, this baby has just arrived and is receiving a lot of attention There is no way of predicting how that dog will react, especially in a studio environment (new place) with a photographer (another new person) and lights. I only take photos of animals outdoors or in your home. If you wish to have photos with your newborn baby and the dog alone (it's different if a family member is holding the baby) then this will also be a composite, i e two images merged together. One of the baby and one of the dog.

There are also some things which are common sense, but maybe not everyone without experience would think of them, such as; keep checking baby's temperature and breathing, making sure their chin isn't pushing against their chest/windpipe, making sure any deep bowls they are placed in have a weight inside so it doesn't topple over, making sure all props are secure.

'A Baby Whisperer'

I have on many occasions been called a 'Baby Whisperer'. The truth is that my sessions are very calm and relaxed, and I take time to make sure little bubba is comfortable. My newborn sessions don't have an 'end time', so there is no time pressure. The baby will tell us when they have had enough.

Over the years I have learnt several techniques to soothe little ones. Although every baby is different, I can usually pick one that will work for them. Very often little ones just have a bit of gas and by gently moving them in particular way, they will feel more comfortable.

Even which side you lay your baby on makes a difference. Lying a baby on their left side can actually help with gas and reflux. However, you should still not put a baby down to nap on their side, it is only fine for short periods when they are being watched.

Editing

When it comes to editing, I volunteer as a digital retoucher for a national charity, one of only 15 retouchers who have passed the assessment for advanced editing. For me, editing isn't using filters or 'one edit fits all', but each image is looked at individually to remove anything that is temporary and distracting. Therefore flakes on a baby's arm can be removed, flake by flake as to not make them look as a doll, but I will keep scars as those are part of who we are. (Although if you prefer the flakes to be left as they are, then that is of course fine too.)

This means that editing takes time and I would rather that my clients walk away with 10 images which have been edited individually to the highest standard, than 'all the images'.

It is well known that many photographers outsource their editing, this could be to someone local but many editors are based abroad. It can be surprisingly cheap to outsource editing, compared to the time it takes to carry out the work yourself.

However, I would never outsource editing for two main reasons; editing is such a big part of creating the final product and I love this part of my work; how I edit make my images unique to me.

Secondly, by doing it myself, I have full control of where my images end up.

Real Props and Backdrops

I decided early on that I wanted children to be

able to touch the set for more natural images. This is why all my props are real. I don't use printed backdrops as, for starters, everyone's photos look the same and I want my clients to be able to mix and match what is in the images to suit the personality of their child.

Not only do I feel images with printed backdrops lack emotion as the child isn't interacting with what is there, but I often find that the direction of the light source in the backdrop is different from the one the photographer has used, which makes it look unnatural. This is even more the case where newborn babies are placed on digital backdrops. It's of course much cheaper to use digital and printed backdrops which is why I guess it is so popular.

I always believe in Quality over Quantity

How many images will you realistically do something with? Print, send to friends, turn into a photo book? I can't see any point in having 100 images on a memory stick, buried in the 'things that don't have a home' draw (we all have one). I know myself that when I have taken photos of my sons, there are only a few that I will keep, use and cherish. A few beautiful ones, some funny ones and some of them together. Realistically there will only be around 10 or so, which are my favourites.

Event Photography vs Controlled photography

Up to this point I have spoke mainly about photography under a specific condition. This is when a photo is to some degree composed. It doesn't mean that the images can't have a lifestyle feel to them. People walking, parents tickling their children and so on, but the photo is taken under a controlled condition, whether it's inside or outside, where the photographer takes the lead and prompts their client.

Event photography is when the subjects are being observed and captured as an event unfolds. The photographer might at times makes suggestion or guide their clients, but essentially the photographer's job is to create a visual story of what happened. As per documentary photography, there is often very little editing with these images, as they are meant to be a true capture. This is a time when including 'all the images' is very common. However, a professional photographer would still carry out a light touch edit and remove any images which are near identical duplicates, people are pulling strange faces (for example when eating), the images are blurry or otherwise not of a high standard. Remember - Quality over Quantity.

Be aware of Hidden Costs

Some photographers charge a session fee which doesn't include any images. You then need to pay an additional fee depending on how many images you would like to purchase. There is nothing wrong with doing it this way, just make sure you have checked what is included before you commit.

Look at your Chosen Photographer's Work

Always look up websites. Is this the right photographer for you? Do you like how they have captured people's personalities? Have they made the photographs 'pop'? Have they got a good balance between shadows and light? Do the colours look right, or do children sitting in the bluebells look green from light reflecting on the grass? Are people posed in a way which is pleasing on the eyes but also one that looks comfortable? Are there sharp dark shadows on a backdrop, which look out of place, or are the colours too saturated? Some of this will be down to that photographer's skills, experience and style. It's down to your taste as to who you should book with.

So, how much should you pay for a Photography Session?

Thank you for reading this far! By now you have probably realised that question is very similar to 'how long is a piece of string?' However, I hope this has given you some areas to think about when deciding to book a photographer. There is nothing wrong with asking a friend to take some photos of you with your children if you are not in a financial position to visit a professional photographer. Or you could help out a new photographer who is building up their portfolio.

At the end of the day, professional photography is a luxury, and if you are going to spend your hard earned money on a luxury item - make sure it is. Quality over Quantity, investing in those beautiful images you will have printed, hung on your wall and treasure for years to come.

Find the photographer who is right for you.

I have set my fees on the basis of what I need to earn for this to work as a business. I have also taken into account my experience, training, skills, knowledge and based on the feedback I receive - what a session with me is worth in my clients' eyes.

If you want to find out more; my fees, and what is included, is all on my website www.woodard-photography.co.uk