The Value of Great Photography

We've been having an off again/on again conversation regarding the levels and value of photography and this is the next topic. We started this topic with a discussion of the different levels of photographer available to you. You’ll understand why I'm saying this in a moment but first a disclaimer. I’m normally at the proper level of humility but this is a discussion about why I, or a seasoned professional like me, might be the better choice. So this discussion, and an interview situation, are the appropriate places to blow your own horn.

Now why we started off talking about levels of photographer is simple. When you call me and say that your cousin, aunt, brother, next door neighbor, etc can shoot your wedding for $60 and a meal or that you found a photographer on Craigslist that will shoot your wedding for a years worth of your toe nail clippings I don’t even know how to respond to that.

Don’t get me wrong maybe they are fantastic photographers. They may be the next Einstein in regards to photography. But they could also hand you an entire disc full of blurry, out of focus photographs while an established, proven professional photographer (like myself) will provide you with memories that will last a lifetime and thats the true value of photography. 

Let’s take a wedding for example. You are asking yourself “Is a picture of me in my wedding gown worth $2,000.” without applying the proper context.

People think about their wedding day with the clothing, food, alcohol, dj, flowers, reception hall and photography typically falls a little lower on their list. Which is odd to me personally but I think of these things differently. In my head I say the day after the wedding everyone will have had a great time. They will love everything about that day, and rave about the food and marvel over the cake. But in three or four years people won’t remember if they had the beef or the chicken. In ten years they won’t even remember if you served beef or chicken, and they surely won’t recall your signature cocktails.

The three things from your wedding day that can stand up to time’s withering march are your marriage, your wedding rings and photography, and only your marriage and photography become more valuable with time. Whats a beautiful picture of a bride on her wedding day worth even as little as 3 years after the wedding? What’s it worth 8 years after the wedding when you show your two year daughter an actual picture of a real life princess? Whats it worth 35 years after the wedding when it’s your daughter in laws “something old” in a locket around her neck on her own wedding day.

What you are buying is the documentation of your family, the documentation of your history as a family from its very beginning. I think when you put it in that context the value of what you are paying for is pretty self explanatory. And when you think about it like that who do you want recording that moment? And what do you want to serve as your reminder. Is just a picture good enough or do you want heirloom quality work?

OK off my soapbox, onward and upward. Have a great week.