Tuesday, January 1, 2019

How often should we have professional family portraits taken?

At the very least, once in your lifetime! However, we recommend every year when your children are very young, and then every 2-5 years after the age of 6.

Why does a photographer charge what they do for an 8x10 when I can just print it locally for $2?

Would you expect to pay for just the canvas and paint for a Picasso?  You are investing in finished art the photographer’s skill, vision, creativity, and expertise.  You are also paying for superior paper and print quality.  Photography is their business so selling you prints for $2 does not take into account all the business costs that go into it (overhead, computer, car, studio, education, insurance and so on). They need to make a profit to have a successful business.

What is the benefit of investing in a professional photographer?

You typically get what you pay for. You will receive premium service, quality photo products, and the photographers's range of experience and skills.  True professionals keep up with their skills and education, invest thousands of dollars into the best professional photographic lighting and camera equipment, as well as fast computers.

What can I expect to pay for a portrait session?

They average family portrait session fees usually range between $100 and $300** not including products (albums/ prints/ files).

What's the difference between a Professional Photo-lab and Consumer Photo lab?

The main differences between a Professional Photo lab and Consumer photo lab are:

Pro labs do not ‘enhance’ your files adding unwanted saturation and contrast to the final print. All the beautiful editing the photographer did just as they intended.
Pro labs use heavier, archival paper. If you hold a print from Professional lab and a Consumer lab next to each other you will feel the difference. Thicker prints tend not to warp over time.
Pro labs have strict quality control so that your images are true to the original files displaying the ultimate colours, density, and contrast.
Pro lab prints are archival and will last for generations.
Pro labs are often only available to professional photographers.

What can I expect to pay for Professional Wedding services?

From our latest Benchmark survey, a sampling of industry trends from all Canadian photography markets, wedding photography typically costs between **$1000 and $5000 .  Of course, there are some who charge less, and others may charge more.  Typically, you will obtain a much more experienced and skilled photographer at the higher end.

How much should I expect to spend on portraits?

Our survey results show anywhere from $200 to over $3000 (not including the portrait session fee).  The average falls into the $700 to $1000 range.

When should we have newborn photos taken?

Between 1 and 10 days old is recommended.