What is the cost of a family photography session?

So you’ve been thinking about hiring a photographer to take photos of you and your family! You most likely have a lot of questions about the process, and that’s great! Some of these questions might be around location, photography style, posing, best time of day for a photos, etc. I’m sure you are also wondering about the cost of a family photography session? I get this one a lot. You can find my starting family pricing packages here. But, although there is a dollar sign that any photographer can provide you with, let’s talk about why it’s there!

Why should I consider a family photoshoot an investment over a cost?

I want to challenge you to think about your most cherished photographs. Are they the images where only the people you love are in them? Or are they they images where you are ALSO with the ones you love? Possibly images that are documenting an emotional moment or interaction as it’s unfolding? Images that have the ability to give you the exact feelings from that photographed moment. That’s powerful. These types of images are often priceless and they are worth making an investment in. Our kids seem to be growing up faster and time remains a thief to precious fleeting moments. It’s time to think beyond the financial cost of your family photography session. Instead see it as an investment in the documentation of this time in your life and allow yourself this gift.

Now, as long as we’ve established how important it is to restructure how we look at a family session, I will agree that it’s sometimes easier to simply see the bottom line. So let’s talk pricing structure of a photography session to better understand that final dollar sign. I guarantee you that the value of your sessions price tag goes beyond merely what you see and experience at your session. Let’s give you a full picture. Let’s take a look at the back end of what it might cost to operate a family photography business.

What does it cost to operate a family photography business?

Each and every photographer is going to vary in package structure and pricing. Each photographers prices can be reflective of style, resources, region, etc. But, here are a few things to consider when analyzing the price of your favorite photographers sessions:

• Photography Gear/Start Up Costs: $4,200 – $5,400. Let me also say that this is just for one full frame camera and one 35mm lens. This will be great to get anyone started, but best practice is that you will need one back up camera body and lens to guarantee working equipment for scheduled sessions. This doesn’t even include the cost of annual maintenance, a camera bag, strap or harness, memory cards, shutter huggers (see some of my favorites here), and even different lenses for different kinds of styles and sessions.
• Education: $800 – $1,200+ (annually). I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase, “you get what you pay for”. More often than not I hear this coming from those who chose the smaller dollar sign over the quality and value of their investment. Any professional should always be learning and growing, as well as, Improving and mastering. Investing in Education and experiences is a staple in growing as a photographer.
• Editing Software + Devices: $3,500+. This is a tough price point to really gauge because of the variety of methods each individual photographer might choose. A good computer, screen calibrator and subscription to something like Adobe Lightroom + Photoshop, is not something you want your photographer to sleep on.
• Website + Domain Name: ~$320 (annually). Different web hosts charge different prices, but to maintain a running online presence, including a blog to help drive SEO, it could be anywhere from $300 annually (and then some).
• Online Gallery Hosting: ~$300 (annually). My clients always have access to their images with an online gallery host. I use Pixiset to send proofed and/or final galleries to clients.
• Client Experience + Management Software – $400 (annually). To provide my clients with a seamless experience, I use Honeybook to manage inquiries, send proposals + contracts, schedule, process payments, etc. This has proven to be a staple in keeping everything streamlined and organized for my clients. Side note: If you’re a photographer interested in trying Honeybook, click here to retrieve a special discounted offer when you use this link to sign up.
• Business + Legal Fees: $100 – $400 (annually). Each cost will vary from state to state, but keeping things legal and legit when running a business is incredibly important.
• Outsourcing $1,800 – $3,600 (annually). When you run your own small business you are not only the photographer, but the CEO, Secretary, Financial Advisor, Web Developer, Blogger, Online Strategist, Marketing Department and then some… It can be a bit overwhelming and take away from the quality of products and experiences that you are providing for your clients. If you are smart, investing in different forms of outsourcing and trusting the professional in that area is a huge key to success.

Although this seems like plenty, we haven’t even scratched the surface. As a photographer, our investments and costs are an investment in you and your families experience.

In summation, there are a crazy amount of reasons behind the cost of a family photography session. But there is really only one way to truly discover what your favorite photographer charges. All you need to do is inquire!

How do I take the first steps to inquire about my family session?

Completing a contact or session inquiry form through a photographers website is the first step. This will be the best way to gather more information and have your questions answered. Most photographers are going to be able to give you many supporting details and most important, a vibe check! You’ll be able to discover if they are the right photographer for your investment, just by saying hello!

Inquire HERE so we can get all your questions answered and start planning your perfect Bend, Oregon family photoshoot today!