In my personal experience I’ve learned that people often ask for photographers to work for next to nothing because they compare the profession to snapping pictures with their phone’s. Yes, taking a picture with your iPhone is very simple and easy but this should not be the basis to which a professional photographer is devalued.
Here are some things you should consider before putting your preconceived thoughts against the value of what a professional photographer does.
Experience
Taking half a million selfies and loads of other pictures with your smartphone cannot be compared with the time and effort that we as photographers have put into mastering the art of photography. You might see photography as a mere pressing a button on a fancy camera, but if you (as a person who has no knowledge in professional grade cameras, lens or equipment) were to wield that my Canon 5D mark iii and 60D with a 24-70mm prime lens on both shoulders with flash guns for more than 5 hours you’d realize that it is not an easy feat.
Additionally, all the variables that photographers need to work with are overwhelming, but not everybody is aware of that.
Take, for example, a professional sculptor – it is not the fancy rasps and rifflers or even clay that makes that sculpture what it is, but it is the experience and knowledge of the sculptor which results in the clay masterpiece.
Each image and movement are like working through a maze of problems but we solve them, ALWAYS. For example, your groom’s men have buttonholes on the wrong side to each other making the image a bit untidy or your bridesmaids are of different heights and body shapes thinking they know what will flatter them but don’t, which could cause variations in the images that aren’t flattering all round and in reflection leaving you unhappy with the image. Do I inconvenience them to get your images looking as close to perfect by asking them to change the button holes or change positions? You damn right I will! Especially if it meant getting you the best out of that moment for your USB or photo album.
Surroundings
Professional photographers like myself are far more aware of their surroundings than those who don’t practice photography as a career. We have spidey senses believe it or not. This doesn’t mean that we’re able to stop a cake from falling as if we move at the speed of light (sadly we don’t have such types of super powers) but, chances are that we will notice a greater number of things happening and moments worth capturing than a non-photographer would. Add to this the experience we will certainly be ready to capture the right moment and surely will have a greater success rate in turning out pictures that are usable and professional.
Gear
After hearing my example of the skilled sculptor, you’d probably say that the gear doesn’t make the photographer, and you would be right. But more often than not gear is crucial to what we photographers do. For example, a smartphone flash will illuminate a photo just enough for the face of the person to be visible in low light situations, but that small light source will make the light so harsh that you won’t probably like any of the photos you take.
However, with our professional-grade camera and flash will be able to simulate more natural-looking light and capture enough ambiance in order to capture the best of that situation.
The advances in lens and camera technology allow photographers to utilize multiple techniques to create unique images – techniques which smartphones are not equipped to do, such as selective focus and light control.
Quality
Imagine what would happen if you had your wedding photographed with a smartphone wielded by a person who knows nothing about photography except what the camera icon looks like. Imagine how the resulting wedding album with its weirdly cropped and grainy images would look. Now imagine what a professionally-crafted wedding album looks like, being created by a photographer who loves their job of looking through the camera and making sure that your images are the best that they can be. This is what we photographers do. We deliver quality because this is art (and for some of us is also our life).
Extra’s (Insurance)
We spend hundreds if not thousands at times making sure we are covered with insurances especially by having public liability. I care as much about the image as I do anything that is important to you. I am not sure of many photographers that can say they damaged a £4.5m car and lived to tell the tale and not sell their house and close business (alas here I am). We do this to not only protect ourselves but you, your guests and any vendors or suppliers you use. You also want peace of mind that you wouldn’t need to fork out thousands of pounds as being the client and contracting that person liability could lay with you should an incident occur.
Summary
Professional photographers, much like professionals in any other field, invest a great amount of time, money, and effort in what we do. Devaluing our work is just well, quite frankly rude and ignorant. Just as you wouldn’t want anybody to devalue or voice a lack of appreciation for what you do, professional photographers who take pride in their work feel the same way.
So if you’ve stuck with me until this point in this blog, thank you but I will leave you with one simple question: How would you feel if your work and passion were devalued and discredited?
Drop a comment below, what are your thoughts on being devalued? Have you been devalued? What did you do? What are the challenges you find face this art or your line of work? Have you regretted devaluing yourself trying to please a client/business?
If my work was devalued and discredited based on a skill that I know I have , I will take the critics with a pinch of salt and also see why they feel that way but will not accept their views ? as it’s something that I understand and have passion for .
Hi Yomi,
Thanks for your comment.
What my write up was trying to convey was worth v value and make people more conscious about devaluing a service you need and product you like. What you think I am worth is far from the value and so the break down was to help people look at the when the want to book someone who is self employed holistically and not simply from a limited budget or comparison to kit that costs nowhere near as much as we invest in to get those top quality images or the mental and physically energy required. There will always be a market to fit peoples pockets but you do get what you pay for ultimately so if you want great shots it may more than likely have a price tag higher than what you can afford but rather then saying things like “How much? Just for taking pictures?? or You are too expensive”(as if it were a task they could do themselves) I (and I am sure my peers) would appreciate either being asked what we can do within the constraints or set a payment plan to spread the cost which I am sure Gucci, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis don’t and won’t do for someone who is on a limited budget (unless there is a sale of course).
I guess what I am saying is find people who’s value match up to what you think the job is worth (what you can afford or consider affordable), that way all parties are happy and those of us with “higher” price tags can focus on clients that value what we provide.
i buy your response to yomi and i totally agree with you although most Professional photographers are the ones who devalue their worth and give a chance to allow people say “ahaan ahaan is it not just to snaaap pictures”. Breaking down what your services entails as a professional photographer not just a photographer gives your client the idea of the value of your services and his thirst to see what he is paying really will go a long way.
still don’t always forget “Not everyone will be your client but those who knows the worth will chase it”.
Hi Olamileplenty
Thanks for your comment. Why do you think they devalue themselves or do you think perhaps they are just starting out and can afford to charge a lot less than those of us who have been taking picture for years? IF the latter is to be the case a client can’t compare the services or quality as what you are getting is experience, investment, top grade gear and at times (in most cases) far superior quality and delivery.
We all started somewhere and I totally get that but what I charged many years ago is different to what I currently charge for the reasons set out above in my post.
Looking at your comment do you feel a photographer needs to be more explicit in why the charge what they do in comparison to others?
Thanks I totally agree not everyone is or will be my client who knows the worth of the art of photography
I totally agree with you but us being humans would never equate worth to value as we always wanna get a deal no matter how fat our bank accounts are ………so yes I know the photographer should be paid more for the skill and effort but the societal human in me wants a deal or hope it could be free .
I read your blog and it makes a lot of sense and I feel your pain even as you try as much as possible to be polite , but the message should be clear enough that iphonographers should keep their phones at home or in their pocket and just enjoy a wedding ceremony or events to allow the pros do their jobs
That’s why I never tell most people about my hobbies. When people say “you just lazy press buttons all day”, I only tell about it to other creative people.