Retro Pin-Up
Soft & Romantic
Dark & Sultry
For Fantasy - For Art
Fine Art Nudes
About Pricing
I often get emails that read something like the following:
- “Hi. I came across your site and am interested in your photography. I am easy to work with and I only want about 5 prints, so can you offer me a lower price?”
While I appreciate kind words about my work and that someone has taken the time to read the information on my site, I am nonetheless reminded that most non-photographers are truly unaware of the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes in order to create beautiful images…and hence, unaware as to why we charge the fees we do…whether the client wants 1 print or 100.
So, I thought I’d provide a typical scenario.
Before the shoot
I receive an inquiry and follow up immediately. What generally ensues are several emails and telephone calls to get to know the client, what she’s looking for, what style she prefers, what types of images she’d most like, what style of dress, etc. etc. Discussion of all the logistics that go into a shoot.
Once the client decides to work with me, I put together and send a contract that summarizes the arrangement we have agreed upon. I then make myself available for more emails and calls to plan the session, coordinate makeup/hair artists and research and/or purchase items that may be required for the new client’s set.
On the day of the shoot
I spend between an hour/an hour-and-a-half setting up lighting and building the set or sets as applicable. I pull fabrics/pillows/props/clothing items that may complement the look or concept we’ve discussed and test to ensure all equipment is working/all batteries charged/all memory cards clean and ready to go.
Once the client arrives, we sign the contract and discuss the shoot, how it will go, order of outfits, etc. Then the shoot begins. Depending on what the client has arranged for, we will shoot anywhere between 1.5 hours and 3 or perhaps even 4 hours. On average, for a 1 hour shoot, I will end up with 300 or more images I will need to review.
During and after the shoot, I review images with the client to ensure we’ve captured what she’s looking for.
After the client is gone, I then spend another hour or so breaking down the set.
After the shoot
Although I’ve already spent hours on the client’s shoot, it is only NOW that the bulk of the work really begins. I convert each and every usable image from RAW (a format which captures the most information possible and enables for greater flexibility with creative processing of images) into JPG (the standard image format you will get to review). Once I’ve eliminated any unusable shots (e.g. eyes are closed, the expression isn’t right, the strobe didn’t fire for some odd reason) I will still end up editing, on average, between 100 and 250 images for color, contrast and composition. These will be the “final cut” images. Among these will usually be a few variations for the client to see. For example, I may provide an image in color, black and white, an antique finish, with a textured overlay, or another artistic effect which I feel complements the theme and feel of the image.
My preference is to show the client as many images as possible, so full retouching (aside from one or two examples) is left until after the client has reviewed the images and narrowed down the ones she would like to have printed or made into a book, calendar or art canvas.
Once the “final cut” images are edited, I will then resize each of these for the web so that the client can view them in a personal gallery, or, if she has chosen to come back for a presentation I will arrange them in a beautiful, well-thought out slideshow.
Once the client has decided
Once the client has chosen the images she’d like, I now spend a great amount of time carefully retouching each image or creating an artistic effect. Careful retouching (removal of pimples, cellulite, bruises, veins, discolorations, rough patches of skin, wrinkles, twisted straps, lint, clothing pills, etc.) can take up to 45 minutes PER image. Whether the client orders 1 print or 100 prints, I apply the same careful attention to make each image the best it can be.
Once retouching is done, I then do any or all of the following:
- Resize and submit images for printing
- Design a custom digital book or handcrafted album
- Design a custom calendar
- Design a custom art canvas or montage print
When the items arrive from the printers, I quality check each one to ensure it is up to my standards and showcases the images as best as they can.
Only then do I carefully package and deliver the items to the client.
Throughout this after-shoot process, I remain in contact with the client, updating her along the way on the status of her images.
The modern challenge for professional photographers
Many Professional photographers, such as myself, are finding it tough these days (when everyone has a camera and auto settings usually result in pretty ok pictures) to communicate just how much work we put into our images. We don’t shoot auto–our settings are carefully chosen to create a particular look, to create a certain effect. And for those of us who tend to view it as an art form, the work has only just begun once we’ve uploaded RAW files onto our computers – the effects we can achieve digitally constitutes the second half of the art creation process.
So, what does all this mean? It means that I’m not a snapshooter, I’m an art photographer. I spend a lot of time planning, preparing, and in post-production to create images you will appreciate for a long time to come.
On average, quality boudoir packages around the country cost between $700 – 1200! My fees are lower than that by design.
My wish is to make boudoir photography available to as many women as possible. But at the same time, it is my expectation that clients will respect my time and appreciate the value of what I offer.
Hopefully this insight will shed some light on the process and accordingly, my pricing.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
All the best,
Susan Eckert
