Why are Photographers so expensive?

Over the past year or so I have been asked Why are Photographers so expensive?. So here is something I have looked into many times and have now decided to post an article I have found that puts it all together better than I could have said.

Why are Photographers so expensive?

In this digital age where everyone has digital cameras, scanners and home “photo printers”, when people upload their photos to a local drug store website and pick them up a few hours later, we hear this all the time – How in the world do Professional Photographers charge $55 for an 8×10 when they cost just $1.50 at the drug store?

Here’s why.

Simply put, you’re not just paying for the actual photograph, you’re paying for time and expertise in creating the image itself. First, let’s look at the actual time involved. If you don’t read this entire page, at least read this first part.

For a two hour portrait session:

• one hour of travel to and from the session
• two hours of shooting
• 30 minutes of setup, preparation, talking to the client etc.
• 30 minutes to load the photos onto a computer (2 – 4 Gb of data)
• 30 minutes to back up the files on multiple external drives plus DVD’s
• 3 – 4 hours of Photoshop time including cropping, contrast, color, sharpening, saving a copy for print and a copy for the internet and backing up the edited photographs
• 2 – 3 hours to talk to the client, answer questions, receive their order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify prints, package prints, schedule shipment and drop package off at Fed Ex.
• For local customers, we meet them at our studio to review the photos and place their order. Meeting and travel time averages 2 hours. You can see how one two hour session easily turns into more than ten hours of work from start to finish. So when you see a Photographer charging a $300 session fee for a two hour photo shoot, you are not paying them $100 / hour. For an eight hour wedding:
• I won’t bore you with the details, but an eight hour wedding typically amounts to at least one full 40 hour work weeks worth of time. Again, if they are charging you $4,000 for an eight hour wedding, you are not paying them $500 / hour. In addition, all of the little “things” you want in the package, the album, the proofing, the prints, the parent albums, are not only expensive for the photographer to buy, but also require a lot of time by the studio to handle and produce.

Now for the expertise.

Shooting professional photography is a skill, acquired through years of experience. Even though our camera’s average $4,000-$5,000 for just the body, and most of our lens are in the $2,000 category, taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.

Most Professional Photographers take years to go from buying their first decent camera to making money with their photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera itself, there is a mountain of other equipment involved, as well as numerous software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website etc.

And let’s not forget that you actually have to have people skills, be able to communicate, make people comfortable in front of the camera – and posing people to make them look their best in a photograph is a skill all by itself.

Think of it this way – the next time you pay $100 to get your hair done, a pair of scissors only costs $1.50. But you gladly pay a lot more to hire a Professional to actually do the job.

What about the cheap studios at the mall?

Please don’t compare us to the chain store studios. But if you must, consider all of the time and work that we put into our photographs, compared to what they do. Good luck getting a two hour photo shoot at a chain store. Not to mention they won’t come to the beach! And of course, look at our work compared to theirs. You get what you pay for.

The truth is, most of the mall and chain store studios lose money. In fact, in 2007 Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios because of the financial drain they were putting on the company. What the chain stores bet on is that you’ll come in for some quick and cheap photos, and while you’re there, you’ll also spend $200 on other things. They don’t have to make money, they are just there to get you in the door.

Conclusion

We hope that those who have taken the time to read this page will have a better understanding of why professional photographs cost so much more than the ones that you get from your local drug store.

How to Build a Modeling Portfolio

Tips for Aspiring Models (and Real People, How to Build a Modeling Portfolio

Building a modeling portfolio is the first step on your path to being a model, and it immensely helps in acquiring agency representation as well. There are many ways to build your portfolio, but however you choose to go about it, you must bear in mind that your modeling portfolio is an extremely vital accessory- it can make or break modeling opportunities. Your portfolio is your first impression, and your best chance to book modeling work.



How to Build a Modeling Portfolio
It’s all about first impressions–especially in the modeling world. Your photos, comp card or modeling portfolio will always be seen before you get a chance to dazzle them with your personality in person, so it’s really important to grab the attention of agencies or clients with strong images. Set your standards very high. Use a very critical eye–whether it’s your own, or even better, someone who has experience helping models get signed to prominent agencies or chosen for lucrative gigs–when selecting any images to put in your modeling portfolio. Make sure that the pictures that you select when you build a modeling portfolio have the ability to WOW agencies and potential clients. Remember, you are only as good as your worst image. Photographers, agencies, and clients will remember your worst image.



Modeling portfolio tips:

• In New York and Los Angeles, 9×12 and 11×14 books are popular and often required.
• At the very least, purchase a book that holds 8.5×11 pages – if you are hoping to do print work, your tearsheets are likely to be 8.5×11, so you want them to fit.
• Your modeling portfolio should only consist of “Great” and “WOW” photos. Throw out the “Bad” and set aside the “Good” for your personal keeping.
• Your book markets your ability to portray different characters, age ranges, and personalities.
• Put your strongest photo at the front to grab the photographer, agent, or client’s attention.
• Place your “WOW” photos on the right pages of your portfolio and “Great” photos on the left.
• If you have images where you’re facing to one side, make sure you are facing inwards.
• Keep horizontal photos together, or print one image in two parts so it fits right side up spread across both sides of the book.
• Don’t have many photos yet? Place them all on the right sides of your book and keep the left side blank so it seems like there are more to look through.
• Don’t be afraid to include a few great black and white photos in your portfolio.
• Less is better! You will not impress with quantity – make a lasting impression with quality.
• As a new model, 6 – 12 photos is enough to present yourself to a new agency. 20 is the max – but only if they are “WOW” photos.
• Add a photo on the very last page of your book with your comp cards to give the agent/client something to look at while they grab your card.

Shots to include in your portfolio:

1. Beauty shot.
2. Smiling shot.
3. Natural light shot.
4. Editorial shots.
5. Swimsuit shot at the beach or a pool.
6. Full length fashion shot in front of seamless paper.
7. Tear sheets from print publications (not webzines). If no one has heard of it, don’t use it.
8. Very light makeup shot or no makeup shot wearing jeans and a tank top.
9. Sexy but tasteful lingerie shots (think La Perla, not Frederick’s of Hollywood).
10. Polaroids (full-length and frontal / side with hair up headshots)

“Can I bring someone with me to my photo shoot?” (Part 2)

From the first time I heard this question, "“Can I bring someone with me to my photo shoot?” my answer to everyone is "Yes". I have always felt that is is very important to make your models comfortable for every shoot and if that means bringing a guest or someone to the shoot then that is okay.

However there is exception to every rule. Many time I have been asked this question before the model comes to here shoot. "Can my Boyfriend, Husband, Friend come to the shoot." I will not deal with interruptions from Husbands, Boyfriends and alike during my shoots and I feel that most photographers feel the same way. So I have come up with this final solution to the question.

I have a Guest Policy that every model must read print out and give to their Guest and bring a copy of this policy to the shoot. So here is what it says.

Pagemaker Studios
G U E S T P O L I C Y and C O N D U C T
The following is for TF clients.

I am 'guest' friendly up to ONE other person.

Since I'm not asking to be paid at all for dealing with someone who is always a non essential part of one of my photo session, someone who may or may not present a problem, my policy is non negotiable or I'll be happy to provide a minimum 3 hour rate, then you're welcome to bring the entire family.... whichever is more convenient for you works for me.

The conduct of your 'guest' solely depends on you, the model. Distractions of any kind from anyone who accompanies you, I will without hesitation delete
every image taken or I will edit the images if or when I decide to. So a small bit of friendly advice is... Please Choose Your Guest Wisely

Your 'guest' is defined by any of the following definitions: Make-Up Artist, Hair or Wardrobe Stylist, Manager, Agent, Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Cousin, Aunt, Uncle, Neighbor, Chauffeur, Baggage Carrier, Body Guard, Groupie, Secretary, Errand Runner, Babysitter.... pretty much anyone that accompanies you for whatever reason will be considered a 'guest'.

If someone is accompanying you, please do print out this form, bring it with you and show it to me so we are all aware there wont be any misunderstandings. Upon arrival and this form is not presented, the photo session will be cancelled or rescheduled.

Please understand that everything above is to ensure my time is not being wasted because... Its My Time That I Will Be Giving Away For Free As Well.

As of todate I have hade no problems with boyfriends, husbands, mothers or friends of the models who come for photo shoots with us.

“Can I bring someone with me to my photo shoot?”

“May I bring someone with me during my photo shoot?”

Occasionally we get this question. While my answer is a qualified “yes,” I do like to know more about the underlying reason for the question before I answer.

You can tell quite a bit by the wording of the question. Such as, “What do you think about husbands being there for the photo shoot?” Or, “Are there pros and cons to having your husband here during the shoot?” And this one, “My husband would like to watch. Is that OK?” Another is “I’m kind of nervous. Could I bring a girlfriend with me for moral support?” Can you hear the difference behind the way someone expresses the question?

People have different reasons for asking. Some want us to say, “No.” Some want us to help them come up with good reasons for not having an audience so they can explain to a husband or boyfriend why they shouldn’t come along, just in case it’s suggested. My most detested reason; some men are control freaks and these women probably shouldn’t do a nude photo shoot until after the divorce. Of course, other women are married to voyeurs and if they happen to be exhibitionists, it can work for them. And others have friends considering shoots themselves and need someone else to do it first. Then, there are the rare few who’d like someone with them for safety concerns, though that trepidation is usually dispelled after meeting us.

In another post I’ll tell you how I answer the question, “Can I bring someone with me during my shoot?’

Diva Calendar Shoots

Each year over the past three years I have designed a full sized calendar called the Pagemaker Diva’s Pinup Calendar. I did this to help new models gain experience modelling and to help them with some print work. Each model was given a calendar for their print work.

The first year went great and models were eager to join in and take part of this calendar. Although it was hard to get models to actually show up, I discovered how many flakes are out there. Two out of three models who had confirmed that they wanted to be in the calendar never showed up for their shoots and after rebooking them a few time I learned that it was better just to find another model.

I had thought that this would be an easy task and only take a month to get all the models, do the shoots, edit the photos and get the calendar off to the printer. I soon learned that it took almost a year to get all the models photo shoots done, edited and off to the printers. So the first calendar we had done, did not get to the printers until mid January of that year.

The second calendar I started early and booked several models for the shoots but found again several models did not show up for their shoots and again had to replace almost half of them. I did however get the calendar done on time and each model that wanted one got them before Christmas. The calendars looked Awesome and went over great with all the models.

Well here we are again for another new year and another calendar. This year we have decided to make two calendars one is called the Pagemaker Diva’s 2014 Pinup Calendar and the other is the Pagemaker Diva’s 2014 Plus Calendar. The second calendar will be designed for plus sized models because after all real beauty has no size. We are just getting started with the photo shoots for the two calendars and we again hope that it will go well and that we will not have to replace too many models who do not show up for their shoots. Each model for the calendars will receive a free calendar that Pagemaker Studios pays for. I just don’t get it some times why models don’t show up for shoots. I know that paid shoots take top priority to TF shoots but come on most of the models are not pros and do not get paid shoots very often if ever unless they are truly committed to their modelling carrier. What we have found here is most models do it just for fun and the ones who are had at making a carrier out of modelling are the ones who rarely miss a shoot even a TF shoot. Go figure.

TF Photo Shoots

Basically, in TF shoots both the photographer and the model are working for free, to benefit both of their portfolios/books... Neither is paying the other, both are contributing their time for images.

The model and photographer share rights to the photos- both can freely use the images for self-promotion, in their books or online portfolios but neither may sell them unless both parties come to a separate agreement for that. So, no posting them to members-only areas of paid websites, etc.

If there are additional fees like studio rental or having a hair/makeup artist (who isn't also working on a TF basis) then the model covers those costs unless the photographer brings one in for a specific shoot. Or the Photographer and Model agree to split the cost for hair and makeup artists.

In TFP, the photographer provides a previously agreed-upon number of finished 8x10 or 9x11 prints from the shoot- usually whichever shots were the best.

In TFCD the model receives a CD of images from the shoot, usually all images taken, un-retouched. These are called the proofs. This is normally provided at the conclusion of the shoot or within a day- however long it takes for the photographer to upload the shots to his computer and make a CD. Some photographers use these images as proofs for the model to view for selecting images for Re-touching.

Since retouching/photoshop work is time-consuming, if the model prefers a smaller number of edited images instead of all the unedited ones, a reasonable amount of time is allowed for the photographer to complete a CD like that- usually a week or so.

The world is full of prospective models still waiting for prints a month after their TFP shoots. So I recommend getting your images on CD asap, and deal with retouching later.

I myself use the photos from the shoot as proofs and post them to my server where only the models can view and make their selections for Re-touching. I do this quickly after each shoot. The model then selects the ones she likes and I do the re-touches for them and put them on the CD with the Proofs and webready photos.