One of the most common questions we get asked is...... "HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE?"
It's a fair and simple question.... with a not-so-simple answer (but hang in there.... you will still be pleased with the answer);
Each client is different. Each session is different. And every shoot will have a variety of factors that will play into an accurate quote for your session (such as mileage, size of wedding or amount of family members present for a portrait, set up time for architecture or product photography, etc.)
It is reasonable for personal, small family or beach portraits to expect a general session fee of $250/hour. This will include our time to GET TO YOU, set up, capture and produce your images; post-production processing is also in this fee (please read more about post-shoot editing here). We work as quickly as possible and will discuss our maximum rate for the assignment BEFORE we start shooting. There are never any surprises! We WILL cap-off your rate to a certain amount so there will be a set MINIMUM and MAXIMUM charge for your session... even if we run overtime!
Weddings or large events that require the use of assistants will generally start at $400/hour (assistants and travel do add to the costs) Prints are generally not included in this fee (with certain exceptions such as referred clients, local clients and repeat clients). However, our goal is to produce your prints at the lowest possible cost using any one of the hundreds of contracted labs we have access to through WPPI and PPA. All are capable of producing your art to professional standards. We've NEVER been told our print prices are too high... in fact, we've been told by the vast majority of our clients we should raise our prices! (Really?)
Some Examples:
Beach Portrait Session in Long Beach Island: 2-hour shooting session - Approximately $250-$400
Wedding in Cape May: 6 hours - Approximately $2400 - $3600
Large Wedding / All Day Shooting: 10 hours - Approximately $4000 - $6000
Personal Portrait Session: 1 - 1.5 hours: Approximately $250
Small Family Event (i.e. Anniversary Party, etc): 4 hours - Approximately $600-$1000 depending on event size
Corporate Headshots: Varies on client, but generally between $250 - $400 depending on set up, location, etc.
Model Portfolio: 3 hours - Approximately $200 - $500 (depending on location, stylist needed, wardrobe changes, etc.)
We take a very personalized approach to our photography, and part of that approach is ensuring that you pay only for what you want. We don't really care for the concept of "packages" because, in reality, you don't really need a "package."
What you do need, is a Professional Photographer that is capable of consistently providing you with the artwork for which you have contracted. So while $250/hour or $400/hour may seem initially high, you will most likely end up saving money in the long-run because I won't be charging you for items and prints you don't want.... only our time. ShoreShot Photography is set up to be flexible and provide only the highest quality images possible. That is our goal, and we have delivered as promised time after time.
After a shoot, be it a wedding, party, Bar/Bat-Mitzvah, or even a model portfolio, there are a multitude of options available to you that simply can't be "bundled" neatly into a "package." After all, if you are seeking a standard, one-size-fits-all type of photography, then you certainly don't want to hire us... you would want a National Department Store studio (not that they are bad..... just not the same standard of personalized attention) that produces decent, but average-looking work (if you look closely.... are those "cheesy" smiles all that great? We'd think the discretionary client wants something more....)
While we understand the need to "window shop" for a Photographer, we are in the business of dealing with clients who know what they want, understand quality, and who are flexible and free spirited. While we would love to be able to work with every caller, our scheduling simply doesn't allow for this. Therefore, we focus on the assignments and clients that are looking to have fun, not looking to find a "bargain" photographer and who understand that quality takes time.
Not only do we offer superior prints, but we provide our clients with video DVD's, Coffee-table books, as well as a host of other media in which your photographs can be placed onto.
For weddings, we have accounts with most of the leading album manufacturers in the US. This means we are able to procure a top-quality album for you, which is always hand-produced.
REMINDER: If price is the deciding factor alone, you might be disappointed with the end-results! We are comfortably in the mid-range of prices among all of our local and not-so-local peers. You should base your decision on the Photographer's ability to produce consistent work in demanding environments using non-automated techniques and one with a strong client base. We can work out payment arrangements if necessary....
That said.... we're confident you will choose us! And we'll simply "thank you" now, in advance, for doing so!
E-mail us with your request: info@shoreshotphoto.us / info@shoreshotphoto.com