The Breakdown

Hey ya'll! 
I wanted to make a quick little entry to breakdown what a lot of folks have questions about, or may have wondered when it comes to a professional, full time photographer and what they charge. 
So this is what goes into a session rate!
When setting an amount for a photography session as a business owner I must consider a lot of things. Of course I want my rates to be affordable for clients but I also have to look at my investment into that client and at the end of it all be able to make profit enough to support my family :)
I have to consider the cost of my gear and the quality I'm able to deliver. No, a good camera doesn't make a good photographer. It's the eye, editing, vision, and experience. On the other hand, a pricey camera, lenses, lighting, editing programs etc. is able in the right hands deliver crisper images that are able to be printed into awesome huge canvases, clear prints, more real life color and detail. It also helps me as your photographer be able to cut down my image processing time. Maintenance on cameras, insurance, website costs and so many other what seem like tiny things go into consideration too. 
I have to consider the time I take to reach all of you fine people, our conversations, the hours of updating social media accounts, consultations, fine tuning the perfect session for you wether that means buying materials for our session, or simply traveling to the spot and back home. The time we spent together during the session itself, the most time- hours of editing your session deserves. The communication we have after the session, and delivering the session. 
I know as a fact, because I wasn't always in this profession that it's easy for people to receive a quote and think, "Wow just for an hour?" But it is SO much more than that. There's a fine line between photographers in the industry that overcharge, and I mean truly overcharge for what they are delivering and their fine print. And then there's good honest, photographers who work tirelessly with their whole hearts, charging just enough to pay the bills and maintain their profession. 
Because of my clients I'm able to budget strictly and work for myself, enjoying what I do. I had no idea how much work it would take day in and day out to do this full time. But I'm thankful for the opportunity. I'm proud to say that I deliver the absolute best experience I can in the rate that I charge and that my clients find value in that. That people find me worth it.  It brings me to tears to think of the kind people I've had stick with me through my portfolio building here in the south, years ago that paid so much less and helped me work to where I am today. Who stuck with me through photographing with my $400 camera kit to what I work with now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart from this small business owner, who's just following her dream <3