The Cost of Photographic Art
Why does photography cost so much when it doesn’t cost that much to make a print or a wall hanging?
Photographer Equipment Expense + Depreciation
Cameras Lenses Photographic Paper Printers Filters
Lens Strobes Auto Expense Office Expense Backup drives
Tripods Telephone Advertising Hot Lights Backdrops
Website Lab Costs Memory chips Light Stands Posing stools
Computers Auto insurance Liability Insurance Equipment Insurance Printing paper
Vehicle Maintenance Gas Vehicle Insurance Lab costs
Software Computers Displays Projectors Art Show Cost
License Income Tax Sales Tax Repair Costs Art Displays
Art Tent Tent Banners Tent Weights Tent Carpet Tent walls
Mats Clear sleeves Art Trailer Software License Assistants
Website Management: many hours a week
Photographers Time, Travel
Vehicle: So far, I have logged 300,000 miles on photographic trips. My primary haunts are Moab (Arches National Park), Colorado (Little Bookcliffs Wild Horse Country), the Tetons, and Yellowstone. But like my business title, I spend a tremendous amount of time driving around the local Park City area looking for wildlife and landscape subjects because local scenes with our resident wildlife connect with local residents!
Food and Hotel expenses afield getting sellable images
Download images from the card
Backup image to separate hard drives
Import into Lightroom
Pick winners and losers
Correct Exposure - Correct Highlights, Shadows, Midtones, Clarity, Saturation, Lens corrections etc.
Color Correct
Cropping and Sizing for final output
Noise Reduction
Outputting resolution for print
Upload to the printing machine
Proof Print
Adjust
Print Final Print
Sign and Edition
Package
Travel to the post office or client
Submit fees to enter art shows
Pay booth fees (Standard is $200-$300)
Wrap up art, then load my trailer and travel to an art show
Unload, unpackage, arrange art, and set up for various art show
Spend the day (s) at the art show
Pack up art, go home, and unload art
Training: Seminars – Webinars – Competitions – Applying to Art shows
Experience: I have been in business for 20+ years.
I am licensed and insured.
I invest in continuous training, resulting in the latest techniques and the best image quality.
I compete against other professionals and have my work examined by Master Judges.
I maintain professional credentials with memberships as follows
Intermountain Professional Photographers Assn (IPPA)
Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
Park City Photography Club
I desire a customer who prioritizes quality and customer service over economy. I will make every effort to create a timeless memory that will last a lifetime. I guarantee your satisfaction.