Why Boudoir Photography Isn’t Cheap, But Worth It
In a perfect world, photographers would be able to do photography for the love of it. Nobody would have bills and everyone would get to be creative and have fun without worrying about a thing! But that isn’t the case for you, and it isn’t the case for us either. Let’s talk about it.
First off, the session fee.
The session fee includes:
• pre-session consultation
• pre-session prep guides & access to our private online support group
• professional styling & wardrobe advice
• professional hair & makeup with lash application
• 2-3 wardrobe outfit options
• access to the client closet (xs-4xl)
• 90+ minute photo session
• head-to-toe posing & facial coaching
• custom flow posing based exclusively on you
• access to exclusive bonus sets and props
• professional retouching of all images
• same-day image reveal
for $500 (regular priced).
But it does not include digital images & printed products, like albums and wall art.
Why?
Here’s a cost breakdown of what your session fee covers:
• Hair & makeup: $160
• 2 hour studio rental: $150 (sessions typically last 6+ from start to finish)
• Income tax: 30% ($57 after HAMU & studio)
• Client closet outfits: $10-$20 each outfit
This leaves around $113 in “profit” or salary for 8+ hours of my time and expertise in which I give you all the best experience I possibly can… which would work out to less than $15 an hour for an 8 hour day.
I’d have to photograph 265 clients a year to make $30k and 442 clients a year to make $50k… which is impossible to do without sacrificing the quality of the experience I give to my clients.
Next, I want to discuss the things my clients don’t see. The crawlspace of the business, if you will! As a small business owner, it’s true that I wear many hats. A few of them are: marketing manager, social media content creator, advertising specialist, office manager, payment collector, photographer (of course), professional photo retoucher, website creator and designer, customer service representative, and more!
Sounds like a lot, am I right? Truthfully, it is. But each of these jobs pays anywhere from $30k-$70k per job. That means, if I charged for each job that is required of me to run this business, I’d be making hundreds of thousands of dollars. Heck, I could be making over a million! But that isn’t practical or feasible, so photographers don’t do it. But I do think we can all agree that no CEO we’ve ever met was making $15 an hour and they’re often far less involved in their own business than a small business owner is.
So while I would absolutely love to offer photography that “doesn’t cost an arm and a leg”, I would literally be bringing in $0 income to help support my family and my husband would never stop working again. I think it’s fair to say he deserves a partner who can contribute at least as equally as he does to the family, right?
I really hope you guys can understand that I am NEVER trying to scam you or over-inflate my pricing to be greedy. I only aim to be paid enough for all the time and expertise I pour into each client experience (the same way you aim to be paid enough for your time and expertise in your line of work).
I love this group and I appreciate every single one of you. Thank you for listening and understanding
As always, I love and appreciate all my clients (and supporters!) for understanding why I charge what I do and supporting my small business and my family. You are wonderful human beings and I truly wish I could work with all of you!
Xoxo, Kristen
