Dear anyone-who-cares,
Last time I changed my prices, I'd convinced myself there was no need to explain it or announce it. I thought maybe it wasn't professional to do so. But then I was always a little nervous that people who knew me and knew my original prices wouldn't check out the new ones, and I'd be faced with an awkward situation. So maybe it's not totally professional, but um.... A: have you met me? Maybe I should lose that dream. And B: what the hey-- it's a blog. A medium through which you share more than anyone would EVER really want to hear, right? .... So here I am to explain another little rate change.
I LOVE photography. When I first started, my goal was to charge a little bit of money and get some good experience and some good images to build my portfolio. I was having so much fun. When I found myself having a little less fun and feeling a little more aware of the time my new hobby was taking me away from my family, I thought maybe it was time to raise my prices a bit, you know, so I'd still feel that excitement before a shoot. I had decided it was OK if that meant less business. I just needed to feel like the shoot, and all the hours spent editing photos were worth my time. It's so precious as a mommy, right? Also, I'd made some significant upgrades to my equipment. I debated between a simple sitting-fee raise, and charging for digital negatives. It seemed like a nice stepping stone to my goal of eventually charging for the prints. But after getting some feedback from some honest friends-slash-clients (I guess I could just use the slash but then I'm not sure you'll actually say it right in your head), I decided to switch it up. So check out my new session fees already will ya? Just so we're all on the same page. :) (They include a CD... hooray!)
Thank you to all of you that have supported me in this new venture! And if you're considering a shoot in time for Christmas cards, contact me soon-- it's a busy time!
10 comments:
I support you, Lillie. I think you're fantastic and I think you deserve every penny! I'm with you on making it worth your time to be away from your babies. I never think I'm paid enough to be away from my favorite little stinker! :)
I've always said I'd much rather pay more for the "sitting fee" and have it come with a CD than have to pay for prints! So I'm all for your new change. :)
And yes, I was actually going to email you this week to see when we could come visit and get some photos taken. Maybe in the middle of the week in early November?
thank you. love you. :)
I would pay, but only if you promised to use Polaroids only. I am too impatient for the other stuff.
Also, do you do underwater photography? Like in a kiddie pool? I have invented a contraption that allows infants to breathe underwater. Together we can corner the market on creepy baby photos. No more pea pods!
It has to be worth your time so that you can still love it...the minute you stop feeling a love for it you will stop caring as much...the more you charge the better you will challenge yourself, and make your pictures better.
You are worth every dollar! And then some... if I had it!
I am just so sad I didn't know you did photography when I freakin lived there. so bummed.
But I wanted to comment on the post you did for Sophia. So sweet. She is going to love that when she gets older. Also letting you know I kinda copied your concept for Blake's bday post. SMILE
I'm always shocked when I meet photographers that charge just pennies for their sittings. For two reasons. One, it's not worth their time. Clients have no idea how much time is spent proofing. You have to make it worth your while. Second, if you are cheap, you attract cheapo's. Sounds bad, but it's true.
It's your time and talent that people are paying for. You might as well appreciate yourself and let the world know you are worth a little something. You'll have a clientele that values your work more, (and even more clients- you'll see!) and you'll find you try even harder to make yourself worth the extra money. Good luck and next time I visit family in HB I am hiring you to take the photos!
I TOTALLY support you Lillie!! You're still like 1/2 the price of comparable child photographers and they don't include the CD. Plus, you can't really put a price on pictures of your family. It's something you never get rid of, you keep forever, you look at over and over...okay I guess I'm getting cheesy...but it's true. = )
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