What you’re paying for when you hire a professional photographer.

When you start shopping around for a professional photographer, the prices can sometimes seem daunting. What very few consumers realize, though, is that there is a lot more to photographing your event than just clicking a button at the right time. 

So what are you paying for when hiring a professional photographer?

1. Time is money. Like any other professional, a photographer needs to put in the hours to get the job done. This includes consultation, traveling to and from the location, shooting the photos, and editing and processing the orders. You’d be surprised at how long it takes to get the end result that is finally delivered to you. Once they shoot the photos, it’s not as simple as downloading them and giving them to you. They have to process the files, convert them to the correct file type, and make sizing and color adjustments to make each image pop. If your photographer is also creating a book or album for you, they need to spend time designing it.

2. Equipment is expensive. Even though this is a tiny part of why photographers charge the prices they do, it’s important to remember that quality equipment plays an essential role in being able to produce the photos that they do. Professional equipment allows for the production of high-quality images. It also allows photographers to work in areas with less than favorable lighting conditions or at venues where using a flash is prohibited.

3. They have spent years acquiring a particular skill. Like any other profession, photography requires experience and specific skills, from knowing what lighting and camera settings to use to how to pose people and help them feel comfortable in front of the camera. Great photographers don’t rush the editing process either; it takes time to produce the desired result and turn your photo into a work of art that you’ll proudly want to display in your home.

4. It’s still a business. A professional photographer is still running a business, which means they will likely have overhead costs such as rental fees for their studio and the upkeep of equipment. Photographers also need to budget for professional association fees, equipment and liability insurance, and fees for courses that will allow them to stay ahead by continuously honing their craft.

A professional photographer dedicated to their art and willing to go the extra mile for their clients is always well worth the price.