People ask a lot of questions about photography. How did you get started? When did you feel like a real photographer? How do you know how to price yourself? Why don’t you give away a disc of images? The last question is one I would like to address.

We all start somewhere. Some of us are self taught and some have a formal educational background in photography. My background is in education. I have my BA in Liberal Studies and a Master’s Degree in School Administration.  I am 100% self taught. So naturally I didn’t have the confidence to start up a photography business and charge what I do today. The beginning process of learning and building a portfolio took a while. I was snapping friends and family and any one who would let me so that I could practice. During this time I gave the images to them as a thank you. Once I felt confident enough to be able to guarantee a product is when I began to charge for my prints and stopped giving away my images. This is also when I felt like I could call myself a “photographer.”

Photography is my art and my images are my product. Much like a an architect’s blueprints are his product. He wouldn’t draw them up and just give them to you. You wouldn’t walk into Ralph Lauren and say can I have that shirt…for free?  There is a difference between someone who is a photographer by trade and one by hobby. Here’s something to consider. How much was your camera, lens, computer, gas to location, childcare, etc… How about the 3+ hours spent away from family, chores, friends, to process the shoot. What is all that worth to you?  When someone hires you as a photographer I believe you need to be able to guarantee them a product. That’s why they hired you as  their photographer. Price yourself taking all these things into consideration. Why would you give away the one thing that you created for nothing? So they paid you $50. Is that $50 really compensating you for all that you did to take those pictures. Do want them to sell you to others as a cheap photographer who gives away the images? Things to think about.

If you are looking to hire a Photographer you are obviously going to take price into consideration. There are many different photographers from one range of talent to another. Style would be the first thing that I look for. Are you looking for a photographer to just snap a head shot, or capture a milestone. Maybe you want a family shoot to capture your interaction and personality’s. Whatever the purpose is I would be cautious to hire a shoot and disc photographer unless you aren’t concerned about what you get. In my experience you get what you pay for. With professional photographers who have a business (not a side hobby) you should be getting call backs, great customer service, amazing products and professionalism. You should know that you will get what you are paying for. If the event you want photographed is important then be cautious who you pick. It’s hard enough to get your family styled, scheduled, and happy to a photo shoot. You don’t want to have to redo all that stress cause they didn’t turn out.

All this to say I understand there is a time to build and practice your photography skills but be careful that you don’t give away your art, your product, your time for hardly anything in return.