What A Photographer Does

Do you ever wonder what day to day life looks like for a photographer? What happens when they're NOT shooting a session? How is this really a full time gig? I'm going to be honest here and say that I didn't even know all that went into being a photographer when I chose that for my career!!! I was surprised by what it takes to craft a really great experience for my clients!

Why does professional photography cost so much? If you're anything like me, you think that when you hire someone to take your family photos, you are paying them for the hour or two that they are with you. That was my mindset for a long time. The editing and any other little things they might have to do are just a part of the experience, right? Well, yes, but you're still paying for that experience :)

First off, I want to say that day to day life looks very different for me, a single gal, than it does for many of my friends who are married with kids. I have very little that distracts me from my work and it is a blessing that I don't take for granted!! That being said, we all have the same amount of work to do and the same basic structure. No matter what experience you offer, there is a minimum that has to be met and most of our client experience happens BEFORE and AFTER the session!!

Pre-Session
I have Trello boards for my pre and post session workflows. That's right, there are enough things that have to happen that I need lists to make sure I don't miss something crucial! There are emails to be sent, details to be ironed out, information to be communicated, and contracts to be signed. Each email sent and piece of information communicated is carefully and thoughtfully crafted to provide the smoothest, best experience possible.

Post-Session
Editing. This is the big thing that most people are aware of. Depending on the photographer's workflow, this step can be a many-hours process. Even when you have a good, quick workflow, this step is usually the longest after the actual session itself. Once everything is edited, we deliver the gallery and do any necessary follow-up with the client.

Many photographers have a sneak peek they share with the client before the full gallery is done and many also do a blog post. These things take time. If the client orders any prints or other products, that is another post-session item we do. While every part of the client experience is important, what we do to start the experience off and how we end it are possibly the most crucial things to get right and we put a lot of time, thought, and effort into getting that right!

Constant Tasks
There are the constant little things that all businesses have to do. The "office tasks" as it were. Updating our portfolios, writing blog posts, accounting, interacting and posting to Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and who knows what else to engage with our clients. Emails and newsletters and education are other things that we do to keep growing and making our business even better for our clients.


I don't say all this for any reason than to give you a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes. Most people don't know how much work goes into running a photography business. You see the exciting part, and the part that is the most fun for most of us, but we pour so much more into your experience than you'll ever fully know.

When you invest in photography, and yes, it is an investment, you are paying for so much more than the hour or two you are with your photographer. You're investing in a business and an experience that starts well before and ends well after the session itself occurs. You're investing in someone who has poured hours into educating themselves so they can give you the best experience and product possible. You're investing in an expert and that means something.