Why do photographers and videographers need to know my budget? Why can’t they just give me prices!
I get it.
If you walk into a coffee shop and the coffee options have “ask for the price” next to them –
you’re probably gonna walk out.
Unless the coffee is known to be really really good. Then maybe you’ll stick around to find out the cost.
However, it’s really hard to know if you can afford that coffee if there isn’t a price or at the very least, a range shared with you.
Right?
But here’s the thing- a cup of coffee is typically made the same way, with the same high-quality ingredients and the same approach, each and every time.
This ensures that each time you order your fav cup – it always hits.
So pricing that option is pretty simple.
What does it cost to create that coffee:
ingredients + cups + machines + electricity + the fabulous and talented coffee tender + whatever else it costs to create that one cup = wholesale cost.
Now convert that wholesale into a retail price that will keep that coffee biz properly chugging along, paying their taxes and overhead while affording a comfy life.
(Because everyone deserves that. And good coffee.)
With photography and video – the ingredients that go into every photoshoot are not going to be the same every time.
A simple cup of coffee costs one thing, but an elaborate coffee mixed w infused artisanal herbal syrups and cream from a local dairy farm is going to cost much more.
Same for a photoshoot.
So let’s break down some of the items that may go into some photographers’ pricing strategies.
Business Cake aka Costs:
Every photographer has a different ROI.
and
Everyone’s business is different because everyone’s life is different.
Professionals will have insurance to pay for (for equipment and for you, to protect you during a photoshoot);
pros pay their taxes and pay for accountants.
Other fees might be utilities, licensing, workshops, proper equipment, upkeep and cleaning of equipment, proper backup and storage procedures, and possible studio rentals – it all goes into the pricing equation.
Years in business – this is big!
The time someone has invested in their craft will equal a much higher price tag to commission their expertise.
If you’re working with someone who has been in business for a couple of years, while absolutely a professional (if they’ve crossed all those business Ts and dotted those Rs) they’re not seasoned.
You know, like seasoning a pan or twice baking certain dishes – time invested equals a much richer more complex experience.
And seasoned pros know how to work on the fly. Throw challenge after challenge at them and they’ll figure it out. Usually, without you even being aware there were any challenges in the first place.
What that means is, you don’t have to think of those things or deal w those challenges when they come up.
How nice is that?
A novice will look to you for help.
A pro will look within, get it done and you’ll stay stress-free the whole time.
I’ve been in this business for 21+ years – what?! I mean I still feel like I’m in my 20s.
(Reader, she is not.)
When I first started out, asking for a high price tag would have been a bit brash. I didn’t know all the ins and outs, I didn’t know my lighting, I didn’t know how to tackle challenges as they came up.
But as time went on, I invested in myself and in my learning and my knowledge base.
After 21+ years in business, I am not going to be the cheap option. I am not going to be the low cost option.
The amount I charge isn’t only for photos and videos I create.
You’re paying for the experience and know-how that I bring to the table.
You’re investing in my creative chops and my ability to bring your creative vision to life.
You’re commissioning someone who knows how to roll with the punches, no matter what they may be, to guarantee you’ll walkaway with solid, gorgeous, professional imagery and videos that will grab the attention of your ideal audience.
Timing:
A photographer is going to want to know how much you wish to invest in your business’ visual content.
And the amount of time you have available to plan the session will affect the cost.
Are you not launching for 6 months or so??
Are you launching next month and you are realizing you need some high-hitting visuals ASAP?
What are your soft deadlines? What’s your hard deadline?
All of these scenarios are totally real and totally okay.
And they will all require different investments, both time and money.
If you’ve got more time on your hands, the turnaround time will help keep your final costs fairly even.
If you need images asap and they need to be properly retouched – you may need to shell out a lot more coin.
Timing is a big part of any photoshoot. Make sure to be open about when you’re hoping to receive your final working results.
Also note that some photographers will not take on a job that requires a super fast turn around.
The way they work requires a lot more time so they won’t be able to offer quick turnarounds.
A lot of the amazing images you’re seeing out there take time. A lot of time.
Remember that when planning to get images and videos done.
It’s always best to start planning way sooner than you may think.
Hiring on a professional photographer will help you with this panning phase!
They know things. Lean into that knowledge!
Final Thoughts:
I get laying down a lot of money for photos and videos can seem daunting.
It is.
But visual content isn’t the only thing you’re going to receive when investing with a professional photographer.
A solid pro is going to walk you through every step of the process, explaining everything along the way and make solid suggestions to create the best experience for all.
They’re going to offer a wealth of information and tips on how to approach the many different ways you can tell your business story.
Remember: Professional photographers, especially ones that have been in the business of creating visual content for yeeeeears, they’ve been here before. They will know how to handle your project and properly tell your visual story.
You can lean on them.
You can rely on them.
Knowing your budget will also help a pro determine what, if anything, they can do for you.
You may not have a lot to spend right now, but if the pro loves your story and you trust their vision, who knows what could come from it!
It’s always best to share where you’re coming from in terms of what level your business is at and what your actual working budget is.
If you want to flourish, if you want to grow, if you want to stop the scroll – you’ve got to be honest with yourself, and the vendors you wish to collaborate with, about what you’re able to invest.
It’s okay if you only have X amount of dollars to invest right now.
Sharing that info will help:
If you tell me you have 400 dollars to spend, I may only be able to offer you a very simple set-up or a very quick shoot.
Or, if what you require is more than that, I’ll at the very least be able to direct you to someone else I would trust to capture what you need at the price point you are working with.
You’ve got this.
I’m rooting for you!
xo,
Stacey
