To think this is really expensive?

[FatBottomedGal]

I’m looking to get my DM a professional family photo shoot for her Christmas present. We had one done a few years back before my DF passed away, and my DB and I thought it would be a nice gesture to get an updated one with us and the dogs. Nothing too official, just about half an hour to an hour in the local park looking happy and jolly, and then a CD/USB of shots I can get printed.

When I first started looking I thought maybe it would set my DB and I back about £40 each - £80 seemed reasonable for such a short session with no printing, but the cheapest I’ve found is with an amateur looking to grow her portfolio for £140 - most charge around £250-300!

I’m absolutely willing to be told IABU but does this seem expensive? Perhaps I just don’t understand how much work goes into it...

Also any suggestions for alternative Christmas presents are very welcome!

It is expensive, but that's the going rate I'm afraid. For both of my daughters newborn photo sessions it was £75 for the session then £500 just for the photos on a USB!

Definitely have a look on groupon. Some dirt cheap deals on there and no doubt you'll be able to fine a local photographer x

Its about standard for photography. Its not just like they turn up and click a button a few times. There is skill in getting the correct raw images and then there is additional skill in editing those photos to look good. Whilst for you on my be 30 mins in the park, there is time back at the studio, consultation time with you before and after and then overheads to factor in as well as actual payment for time. Even a basic job will be about 3 hours min even if you only want one photo.

But see if you know someone who is ok with a camera and photoshop. Its fairly easy to get a decent photo that will work well. Its expensive to get an excellent photo with all elements just right.

As you are getting a copy of the images to print yourself, it is reasonable.

Yes, completely normal

I would hate this as a present, no offence

The photographer I use for my business is £75 an hour, and he is very reasonable.
But I'd imagine a family shoot would be 2 hours minimum, probably more, an hour for the actual shoot and then time on top for editing.

Oh, and tbh if you're looking at spending that kind of money on a gift, I'm not sure a nice photo is the best choice. I'm sure she'd appreciate it, but for £100 you could get her something she'd actually use? Then get a mate to take a picture of you and the dog and put it in a frame?

That's more than reasonable I'm afraid - there's a huge amount of time and skill involved in family photography and I'd expect to pay separately for the USB/printing rights.

I would say that's quite reasonable tbh

Jeez. I think it's a lovely idea!

Does she really like this kind of thing?

I’d also have been surprised if you could have got this for eighty quid. They have to liaise with you, get to the location, set up their equipment, take the shots. Travel back from the location, load them onto the computer, edit them, down/upload them, invoice you, I can’t imagine many proffesionals would be up for doing it for eighty quid.

Honestly, I’d save the money, get her something else, then just get someone to take the photos and edit them yourself.

I would hate this as a present, no offence

So would I, but we’re not the OP’s mum are we? I assume she knows the sort of thing her mum would like, just as my family know the sort of things I’d like.

I recently got photos of my kids done. I got the shoot itself on a special deal (free shoot and one small unframed print), but prints were then £165 upwards.... Had it not been for the deal, the shoot would have been £75.

BUT - expensive as it was - the photographer worked hard to get all three children looking good, facing the camera etc, and the editing was brilliant. The prints are stunning and I don't begrudge a penny. Fantastic!

The family photographer we've used a couple of times charges £25 per hour (minimum 2 hours), plus £100 for all the images (or £5 per image).

This is an absolute steal considering his skill and experience. He really ought to be charging more - he is practically a magician. I'd be surprised if there was anyone with comparable skills charging any less, although I guess you might get people without so much training and experience.

For us it makes total sense because we get brilliant photos for ourselves and can make them into photobooks as presents for the grandparents as well. So it works out really good value.

NB if you're within the M25 - or not too far beyond it - and you want his details, please let me know. I'm not totally sure whether I'm allowed to post stuff like that on Mumsnet? Does it count as advertising or something? (I don't have any connection with him except as a customer, by the way!)

Whereabouts are you? I think that's fairly expensive. We have annual photos of the children just before Christmas, and last year did a family shoot with all of us, in a studio and it's £60. A friend had outdoor shoot for a similar price. We then get a CD of the images.

That’s about right I’d say. I’m a keen amateur who does a few family/dog/horse photos to earn a bit of pin money. Even covering my costs and making a small amount on top, I charge £75.00 for a shoot. As others have said, there’s a huge amount of unseen work involved. Added to which I use camera gear which cost around £3 - 4 k (depending which lenses I uses), have a top end iMac computer (need the screen clarity to do a decent job) and other expensive stuff, all of which contribute to a good quality finished product.

Where are you OP? ..... I’ll pop over and do it for you if you like .

Thanks for the replies everyone. As I mentioned, we had a photo shoot before my DF passed away as a gift for his birthday and we all loved the photos. It seems fitting a few years later to have new memories for each of our houses and a nice way to spend time as a family. Appreciate it’s not for everyone!

Glad to see that it’s the going rate and I’m not just being ripped off, just could have sworn it was massively cheaper when we did it 5 years ago!

She’s based in Surrey by the way!

We paid £300 last Christmas for a USB with pics of the grandchildren for my DF, so sounds about right!

.... aw ... never mind. I’m a lot further north. Hope you get something sorted.

Photography as always been quite expensive. I think I'd expect it to be around £200 for what you want. I think it is a lot of money to spend but if I was going to spend I'd going to a good one even if it was a bit dearer.

Seems to be the fair rate.

You aren't paying for the hour, you're paying for all the hours that made them so employable plus the camera and flashes and umbrellas etc. Being given them via google drive or USB or CD is immaterial.

DD (at Uni studying something arty) gets over £100 for 90 minute shoots.

That is not expensive. Like Undefeat says, you are paying for what made them so good at their job, as well as their time. Equipment is incredibly expensive, if they went to University, a degree taking years and costing a fortune.

If you want happy snaps, go cheaper. Good photos are not cheap and cheap photos are not good. Laughing at those that think £60 is about right

You're falling into the old trap of hiring a professional, who took God knows how long to learn their skills and who requires more time and resources outside of your scheduled appointment to deliver the service, and basing your cost perceptions on the 30 minutes they spend with you.

If you think it's expensive you could always take a few selfies with your phone & get those printed out instead.

Thought not.