Iris Richardson Photography - Introduction: Earning a Living Wage
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Newcomers to the photography business make many errors and underestimate what they need to charge to earn a living. Photographers often start out by purchasing the required equipment to do photography work and then charge for work according the direct costs involved in doing a specific photography shoot. What eventually happens is that the indirect costs catch up with the photographer and eventually the photographer's business fails due to a lack of cash flow.
New photographers are also under great pressure to get noticed and to get work. Many photographers are willing to work very inexpensively to get their foot in the door. For a few, this will work. For many, this process leads to failure because the new photographer is unable to raise prices down the line without losing clients. One then must choose to either lose clients and make less or not raise prices and make less. Once one gets the reputation of being a cheap photographer, it might be impossible to ever get more than firesale prices for one's work.
The alternative is to not charge too little in the first place. One also must not be afraid of charging large sums of money. Ask other photographers what they would charge for a job. Do not be shy when trying to learn. If you charge enough from the beginning and raise prices slowly and surely with inflation, you will avoid the losing clients/raise prices scenario. You also avoid getting the reputation of being a cheap photographer.
Another argument you will hear is that one who loves photography should realize that they are doing photography for the love of photography not for money. Does your doctor dislike their work? Does everyone who gets paid well, hate their work? Does everyone who loves their work not get paid? These things are not mutually exclusive. Do not let anyone beat down your price for the "love" of photography.
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