09/15/2026
TOPIC TUESDAY | “Looking for a photographer who doesn’t cost an arm and a leg…”
Let’s talk about it. 👀
I see this phrase ALL the time in local groups: “Looking for a photographer who doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.” And I’ll admit it, every time I read it, it irks me a little.
Not because I think everyone should be able,or willing, to spend a certain amount on photography. Especially in today’s world, I KNOW budgets are tight. Groceries are expensive. Bills are expensive. Raising a family is expensive. Life in general is expensive. We all have budgets, and we all prioritize our money differently. There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying, “My budget is $___, who do you recommend?”
In fact, I will always do what I can to work with different budgets. I intentionally offer smaller, shorter sessions at lower price points because I truly believe everyone deserves to have their story documented. If you love my work but aren’t sure you can afford a full session, reach out to me. Tell me what you’re looking for and what your budget is. If I have an option that works, I will gladly point you toward it. I would much rather have that conversation than have someone assume I’m automatically out of their price range.
But the phrase “doesn’t cost an arm and a leg” hits differently because it can imply that the people charging more are somehow charging too much. And that’s the part I think is worth talking about.
Because when you hire a professional photographer, you aren’t just paying someone to show up with a camera for 30 minutes. You’re paying for cameras, lenses, flashes, batteries, memory cards, computers, hard drives, editing software, gallery delivery systems, backup storage, insurance, website hosting, domain fees, booking software, contracts, payment-processing fees, advertising, marketing, props, client closets and wardrobe pieces, equipment maintenance and replacement, education, workshops, accounting, bookkeeping, mileage, vehicle expenses, location fees when applicable, state and federal taxes…and about a million miscellaneous expenses that come with operating a legitimate business.
And if you’ve ever owned a small business, you already know that list never really ends. 😂
But even all of that isn’t really what I believe you’re paying me for. You’re paying for experience.
I’ve spent years and years learning how to see light, learning my equipment until using it becomes second nature, learning how to photograph a toddler who has absolutely no intention of participating 😂, how to make someone who hates having their picture taken feel comfortable, and how to work with harsh light, cloudy skies, tiny houses, nervous seniors, tired babies, wind, Texas heat and families who swear they’re “awkward in pictures.”
You’re paying for all the sessions that came before yours. The years of learning, practicing, messing up, trying again, growing and honing my craft. You’re paying for the ability to recognize the little moments happening between the “pictures.” You’re paying for me to take your story and turn it into something you can hold onto long after that season of your life has passed.
And then there’s one of the biggest expenses of all: time. There’s the time answering messages before your session, helping you plan, styling, preparing equipment, traveling to your location, actually photographing your session, driving home, backing everything up, culling through hundreds of images and then…the editing. Ohhhh, the editing. 😂 Hours upon hours behind a computer carefully turning those images into a finished gallery.
That 20-minute session isn’t just 20 minutes. That 30-minute session isn’t just 30 minutes. And that hour-long session definitely isn’t just an hour.
But beyond the equipment, expenses, experience and time, for me personally you’re also paying for something I can’t really put on an invoice: my heart.
I care about the stories I photograph. I care about the mom who is usually behind the camera finally being IN the pictures. I care about documenting those little hands before they aren’t so little anymore. I care about the senior standing on the edge of an entirely new chapter. I care about the grandparents surrounded by the family they built. I care about the couple who has chosen each other for 5 years, 25 years or 50 years.
I don’t just want to take a pretty picture of you. I want to tell your story well. And that takes time, experience, investment and a whole lot of heart.
Photography is just my profession, though, and I KNOW this happens everywhere. Hairstylists hear, “Why does a cut and color cost that much?” Bakers hear, “It’s just a cake.” Florists hear, “They’re just flowers.” Graphic designers hear, “It’s just a logo.” House cleaners hear, “It shouldn’t take that long.” Mechanics hear, “But the part only costs $___.” Contractors hear, “I could probably do that myself.” Nail techs, estheticians, tattoo artists, boutique owners, landscapers, caterers, DJs, videographers, artists, makers…the list goes on and on.
Behind almost every small-business price is something the customer never sees: years of experience, overhead, taxes, tools, education, time and risk.
So this is where I want to turn Topic Tuesday over to y’all because I really want this to be a discussion. Small-business owners and professionals: How often do you hear something like this about YOUR profession? What’s the comment about your pricing or industry that makes you want to say, “If you only knew what actually goes into this…”?
And customers, I want your perspective too. Has owning a business, or knowing and supporting someone who does, changed the way you look at pricing?
Different budgets are real. Different price points are necessary. And there’s absolutely room for businesses at all of them. Maybe we can just stop measuring someone’s price by the minutes we physically see them working and start recognizing the years it took them to be able to do that work in those minutes.
And if we’re talking specifically about photography with me: please never be afraid to reach out because of your budget. I offer everything from smaller sessions to full storytelling sessions for that exact reason, and if there’s an option that fits what you need, I’ll help you find it.
No arms or legs required. 😂😂
If you’re a small-business owner who has ever felt this one in your soul, SHARE THIS. I have a feeling this conversation goes way beyond photography.
TOPIC TUESDAY — because sometimes I have thoughts, and I want to hear yours too. 🖤 So let’s talk about it.
