Portrait photographers come in all shapes and sizes — and so do the ways they charge for their photography.
There isn't one business model that is right and another that is wrong. Different photographers choose different ways of working, different ways of pricing their time, and different ways of looking after their clients.
And that's perfectly okay.
The important thing is finding a photographer whose way of working suits you.
Because when you're booking a portrait session, it is worth knowing what you're actually getting — and, perhaps more importantly, what the final bill might look like.
The "That Sounds Like a Bargain!" Photographer
When photographers are starting out, you will sometimes see incredibly cheap packages advertised.
Perhaps $49 for the session, including all of the photographs.
At first glance, that sounds pretty hard to beat.
And it might be exactly what you are looking for.
The only catch is that photography is a little bit like buying a meal. The price on the menu doesn't tell you whether you're going to enjoy what arrives at the table!
With very low-priced photography, the photographer may be inexperienced, may be building a portfolio, or may simply have chosen a low-cost business model.
There is nothing inherently wrong with that.
But it is worth looking beyond the price and having a look at the photographer's actual work. After all, the photographs are the reason you're booking the session in the first place.
A cheap portrait that you don't love isn't really a bargain.
The "$99 Session" Photographer
Another popular model is to advertise a very inexpensive session fee — perhaps $99 — and then have a separate purchasing session afterwards.
Again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this model. Many photographers have built very successful businesses around it, and many clients are delighted with the results.
The important thing is simply understanding how it works.
You might pay your $99 session fee and have a fantastic experience. You then see your photographs and discover that you absolutely love them.
And suddenly you're faced with choosing your favourites.
One photograph might be a few hundred dollars. A collection might be considerably more. A beautiful wall portrait, album or collection could run into the thousands.
Before you know it, your $99 photography session has become a much larger investment than you originally expected.
And this is where some people can feel a little uncomfortable.
Not necessarily because the photographer has done anything wrong — but because the price they had in their head when they booked the session wasn't the price they ended up paying.
If you are happy with that model and have budgeted for it, fantastic.
But if you are someone who likes to know the total cost before you start, it may not be the model for you.
The "Limited Mini Session" Model
Then there is the wonderful world of the Mini Session.
You know the ones.
The photographer's website proudly displays beautiful, luxurious, all-inclusive portrait collections costing several thousand dollars.
Then, four or five times a year, an announcement appears:
MINI SESSIONS — ONLY 6 SPOTS AVAILABLE!
Suddenly, that luxury photography experience is available for a fraction of the normal price.
And because the spots are limited, there is a lovely little sense of urgency.
"I'd better book now!"
Again, there is nothing inherently wrong with offering Mini Sessions. They can be great fun, and they can be a fantastic option for people who want a shorter, simpler portrait experience.
But as a client, it is worth understanding that "limited" doesn't necessarily mean that you have discovered a once-in-a-lifetime bargain.
It is simply another business model.
Some photographers genuinely use Mini Sessions as an occasional special event. Others build a significant part of their business around them.
Neither is right or wrong.
But if you are comparing photographers, don't compare the $300 Mini Session with another photographer's $3,000 full portrait experience and assume you're comparing like with like.
You aren't.
So What Do We Do at All Saints Photography?
At All Saints Photography, we've chosen to keep things rather simple.
We offer an affordable, all-inclusive portrait package, so you know what your photography is going to cost before you walk through the door.
No $99 session fee followed by a surprise shopping experience.
No wondering whether you can actually afford the photographs you have just fallen in love with.
And no holding your photographs hostage until you hand over another enormous cheque!
Well... perhaps "ransom" is a little dramatic.
But you get the idea.
Your photographs are yours.
Our portrait package includes a copy of all of your images as standard-sized, A5 print-sized files. They are suitable for normal printing and sharing, so you don't have to choose between your favourite 5 photographs while wondering what happened to the other 47.
You can then select 5 images to receive as high-resolution files, giving you the option to have them printed much larger for your walls.
And if you would like us to create something beautiful for your home, you can.
We can supply things such as canvases and high-quality archival framed prints, but that is your choice.
You don't have to buy them.
You don't have to sit through a sales presentation.
And you don't have to decide how much you are prepared to spend after you've already fallen in love with your photographs.
There Is No "Right" Way
Ultimately, portrait photographers are running businesses, and there are lots of different ways to do that.
Some charge a small session fee and sell photographs individually.
Some sell large collections.
Some offer Mini Sessions.
Some offer all-inclusive packages.
Some specialise in wall art and albums.
Some give you digital files.
Some don't.
None of these approaches is automatically right or wrong.
The important thing is that you know which model you are booking into.
So before booking your next portrait session, ask a few simple questions:
What is the session fee?
Are the photographs included?
How many photographs do I receive?
What resolution are the files?
Can I print them myself?
Are there additional costs after the session?
And perhaps the most important question of all:
"If I absolutely love my photographs, how much am I likely to spend?"
A good photographer shouldn't be offended by that question.
In fact, they should be happy to answer it.
Because choosing your photographer shouldn't just be about liking their photographs. It should also be about finding someone whose style, personality and way of doing business suits you.
At All Saints Photography, we've simply chosen to make that decision a little easier by keeping our pricing straightforward and all-inclusive.
You know what you're getting.
You know what it costs.
And most importantly, your photographs aren't being held for ransom.
We think that's a pretty good way to do portrait photography.
