FAQs

frequently asked questions

“Why do you charge so much?”

This is a question I often get asked, and I feel it is because people don’t actually understand what goes into what we photographers/videographers/editors/artists do! Let me break it down for you.

  1. Travel Time – It takes time to commute to and from a session, and I also have to pay to travel.
  2. Shooting Time – I will be present and working for the specified times you have hired me for with minimal breaks.
  3. Number of Photos Taken – In order to deliver a high quality selection of photos, it means I have to take a lot. For example, I could take 1000 photos in a 1 hour session.
  4. Editing – I have to go through all the photos, select the best ones, then edit them, and this will take a few hours.
  5. Experience – I’ve been in the industry for a while now and I am good at what I do. So you’re also paying for my expertise and hours/days/months/years I’ve spent honing my craft. I have a proven track record of delivering high quality results.
  6. Gear – Camera gear is not cheap! It also depreciates over time (like all things do) and needs to be replaced every few years.
  7. Software & Hardware – I have to pay for my editing software, for a cloud software (e.g. Google Drive) to deliver media to clients, my hard drives to store & back up media, my computer, the list goes on!

So you see, if I charge $100 for a 1 hour shoot, I’m not really earning $100 an hour. It’s more like $20 an hour, because of all the overheads and “hidden work hours”.

“Why can’t I have the raw files?”

  1. The Final Product – Raw files are not the final product. It would be like if I gave you a sandwich without any filling. Every photographer/videographer has a unique way of editing and that specific style may be what defines them. The magic truly happens in the edit, so if someone else edits my work, and it doesn’t meet my specifications or standards, then it’s kind of not my work anymore.
  2. Reputation – Almost all videos/photos you see are edited or manipulated in some way. If I give away my raw files, it allows for the manipulation of my work by someone other than me, and the possibility for it to be altered into something that I would not have made or approved of. It could tarnish my reputation.
  3. Size and Compatibility – Raw files are BIG and can’t be transferred easily! They also need to be viewed by specific software.
  4. Ownership – Raws are proof that I took the footage/images, and that I am the owner of them and of the copyright.