Why I can't answer the popular "How Much Do you Charge??" {San Antonio TX Photographer}

How much do you Charge?

Hey y'all I actually considered making a quick video but decided what if you speak a different language at least you can use Google Translator to your language.

WHAT DO YOU CHARGE? I get asked this question almost daily.  I can't answer it.  Sad serious truth is, I simply can't.  I need more information.   I realize you want to know how much you can expect to spend.  I get this truly I do....however YOU determine how much you spend.  I can't do that for you.  As a full-service photographer, I offer albums, framed wall portraits, canvas gallery wraps, large prints & fine-art prints, save the date cards as well as on occasion digital collections! You name it, chances are we sell it.

Think of my "studio" like you would any other retail establishment.  Would you call a furniture store and say "What are your prices?"  What would you expect the answer to be?  THIS is why I can't answer that question.  
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There are so many different options! 
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When I first started my business I was your shoot and share photographer... I did take a photography job and then just hand out a disk.  Why? Because (for me) at that time in my life I did what the majority clients ...I thought anyhow....wanted because I was in a position to be sure I got my clients in the door to be able to feed my family.  NOW I feel like I did a HUGE disservice to my clients.  I look thru my storage unit and I have boxes of little bitty pictures from when my kids were little, when all you bought was a package of pictures from box stores such as Walmart or Kmart etc.  They are sitting in a closet on a shelf because I had tons of the same picture and I just couldn't throw them away.  Even after giving grandmas, moms, friends, cousins, aunts and uncles, pictures I still had a bazillion left over!  

When my first 2 I kids I had an amazing traveling photographer that sat down with me and explained this ...  "These are your children.  These images are for you to enjoy. You don't need 5 8x10's and 50 wallets of the same picture.  You need 1 or 2 beautiful portraits to commemorate this time in their lives.  A piece that you can look back on, years down the road and be reminded of this age. It's a gift for them long after you are gone" For this very reason, I've chosen to treat my business as a retail establishment.  This means that I sell products, as well as service.  I don't want you leaving with a disk that you put in a drawer and never do anything with or worse yet...lose!!

Before you even decide to hire me as a photographer, I try to get to know you and your situation a bit better and even invite you for a complimentary consultation.  This is when we discuss together, what YOU want out of your portrait session.  We discuss the different products and what they cost individually.  It's about more than JUST having pictures taken.  It's about sitting down with me and discussing what type portraits you want and designing a wall gallery for your home.  It's about saying "I don't have much wall space, what else can we do?".  It's about YOU having something tangible in your hands.  Even if that "something" is a digital collection, you will still walk out with a product we have created together and one that YOU have decided is best for you.  

And then, 10 years from now, you can glance up at that space on the wall and you will remember "That was right before she lost her first tooth".  You'll remember, "He had the craziest hair"!  As vivid as the moment seems at the time, memories fade!". THAT is what I sell - reminders of childhood  Only you can decide how you want to be reminded.  

​To arrange for a complimentary consultation to go over products and pricing, contact me!

Every Picture does indeed have a story to tell... what's yours??