When I got married I did not take photos at my own wedding and I didn't ask a cousin to do it for me. I hired a Wedding Photographer with decades of experience. Why? Well for one... I'm not a wedding photographer. Two, I wanted to enjoy my own wedding! Three, what seems to be very simple is often not so simple. Things like the proper framing, albums, proper paper with great archival quality, and the peace of mind that the shots I wanted were the shots I received. At the end of the day, it's a service that's part science, art and hard work. And it really does pay off!
Today, more than ever, there's a perception that because so much photography is digital, that it should be a lot less expensive. This is perhaps the biggest myth facing every Pro today. There are plenty of new costs and some benefits as well. When real film was in, did anyone really think that their Uncle could do the same job as a Pro? Why would that be different today? So let's take a reality check:
MYTHS, FACTS AND INFO THAT YOU MUST KNOW
1.) A good old fashioned professional film camera body can be purchased for a few hundred dollars and up. Today, a professional digital camera body starts at about $2000-$3000 and goes up and up and up. Digital is not necessarily less expensive! Most Pro's carry around a backup camera as well.
2.) Lenses, tripods, flashes, and peripherals are still costing about same as in the 'old' days. However, the professional has to now add computers, printers and high speed Internet to their bag of tricks. Not to mention some very expensive software.
3.) Lab work is generally cheaper even if the Digital photographer chooses to process in their own shop. The reward to the Photographer is that there are less trips to the lab. The reward to the consumer is that you can generally get your pictures faster. There's a small savings to the pro in this area but not necessarily to you. Read on.
4.) 'Film' is definitely less expensive with Digital. Digital film is memory cards purchased up front and used over and over again. However, the images still have to be stored somewhere and that's on a computer first for touchups and then to some other reliable archival material which can be many, many disk drives, CD's, DVD's, Digital Tape, etc. The photographer today has one worry no one ever saw coming. If I stick a photograph on a CD today, can I retrieve that photograph 10 years from now? On what computer? Using what equipment? How do I know the technology will last 10 years? Some of the technology is not yet that old. Will the old digital pictures have to be transferred to some newer technology? Does that mean the photographer's entire archives? Wow!
5.) When archived properly, digital photographs will not alter over time. This is a boon to both the Photographer and the consumer alike. No one can argue that this may be the single biggest advantage to digital photography over film. Except for number 6. Can't argue with number 6.
6.) Non-destructive editing. The other major benefit of digital. Make a dozen different versions of a picture and pick the one you like. Don't like any of them? The original is still there. Pristine and in perfect condition every time.
7.) There are now on the market, some very questionable 'professional' photographers and they are selling their services cheap! They might have great equipment and great enthusiasm. They do not have a reputable business in most cases and they will freelance their way into your lives. They will take your money and hand you whatever product you purchased. If you are lucky, you got some nice shots. If you are not, the photographer is no where to be found. Need some reprints 5 years from now? Forget it! You are better off in these cases to have your cousin do it for you. At least they will never live-it-down if they mess up. A word to the wise...
8.) Insurance. One darn powerful word huh? I know that for my business I have a million-dollar liability insurance which will also cover up to two million dollars for property and person total. First of all, as a professional, you often can't shoot at certain locations without it. It's a must for any pro. But what about you the customer? Are you protected? Better find out and never be afraid to ask! By the way, insurance has gone up not down regardless of whether it's digital or film. Digital has nothing to do with it.
9.) So let's take a wedding photographer (which I'm not) and they are shooting 50 weddings per year at $3000 each. Nice chunk of change right? Rolling in the dough. You know where I'm going with this already. Ok, so Joe Pro has to pay for his medical, retirement, work area, equipment, insurance, transportation and so on. Joe Pro probably pays for an assistant on many shoots and also has a lot of other things to cover.
The average job today where you work for a nice company adds about 30% above and beyond your salary to pay for your benefits. If you make $50,000 add 30% or just consider yourself to be making $65,000 a year. Most photographers and videographers and editors and the lot are not working with this kind of compensation. They are usually self employed or work for a firm that might not have all the bells and whistles. I'm not trying to make you feel sorry, I just don't want you to think that the $3000 is in Joe Pro's pocket and off he goes!
Why is your wedding photo package $3000, $2000, $5000? Joe Pro has to make a living, stay healthy, keep going day-to-day just like everyone else. In other words, this is the cost of doing business. If you think for one minute that a digital camera has made a serious dent in the factors of the real-world... think again. Take away the 30% for benefits (more actually since it costs more for an individual than it does for a large business.) Take away the travel expenses, the business costs like rent and advertising and a separate business phone etc. etc. etc.
That $150,000 money pot is cut in half quicker than you can say 'overhead'. And at $75,000 dollars a year, no one is really going to feel sorry for Joe Pro. However, this is based on 50 weddings a year. year after year. This is one of the successful guys busting his butt year round to carve out a living. Just like everything else, there's more here than meets the eye. At $3000 for a wedding shoot... pay the guy and be happy. You have a pro working for you and it doesn't get any better than this. If you can't afford $3000 - negotiate. Joe Pro can be flexible because he is a pro. Expect to get less for less. It is after all, a business! Never forget that your are also getting professional experience and quality!
10.) There's a lot more... but take a tour around the site! Enjoy! Hire a pro when the time comes. I don't know too many people who ever had regrets.