Why do photographers charge so much for packages you might ask...

If you don't read this entire page, at least read this first part involving my time.


In this digital age where everyone has digital cameras and easy access to upload their photos to a local drug store website and pick them up a few hours later............we hear this all the time - How in the world do some photographers charge $100's for a CD of images when they are much cheaper at the drug store or chain store?



Here's why.

When using a Photographer that values their work (Professional or Freelance), you're not just paying for the actual photograph(s) or CD. You are actually paying for the time and talent of that Photographer, along with the price of the items you are purchasing.



First, let's look at the actual time involved.

For a one-two hour portrait session:

- travel to and from the session

- one-two hours of shooting ( or more for weddings)

- 30 minutes of setup, preparation, talking to the client etc.

- 30 minutes to load the photos onto a computer (2 - 8Gb of data)

- 30 minutes to back up the files on an external drive (99% of the time the client wants the option to order additional prints at a later time - a much later time - requiring external storage usage.)

- approx 12-18 hours of editting to apply artistic formatting; including cropping, contrast, color, sharpening, saving a copy for print and a copy for the internet and backing up the edited photographs (if several hundred photos, then it would take much longer -for example, weddings)

- approx 4 hrs or more total of combined communication: talk to the client, answer questions, receive their order and payment, emails/messages, order their prints providing the best quality papers and options (some of the payment for the order is applied to the print order and does not go to the photographer), receive and verify prints, package the order/prints, schedule shipment and drop package off.

Approximately 19.5 - 33 hours for each client.

You can see how one session easily turns into many hours/days of work from start to finish.

At $30 an hour for a simple client (1 hour session with client; 19.5 hours total), I would have to charge $585, for just my time.

So when you see a photographer charging a large session fee for a photo shoot, or a large fee for a package, you are not paying them $100/hour.



Now for the expertise.

Shooting good quality photography is a skill, acquired through experience. Even though some quality cameras cost under $2,000 - taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.

Most professional photographers take years to go from buying their first decent camera to making money with their photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera itself, there is a mountain of other equipment involved, Such as software programs used to edit photographs, run a website, aquiring new skills/inspirations continually to stay fresh in the business, updating sites with current work and sometimes blogging, etc. And let's not forget that you actually have to have people skills, be able to communicate and help people get comfortable in front of the camera.

Think of it this way - the next time you pay $XX to get your hair done, a pair of scissors only costs $1.50. But you gladly pay a lot more to hire a professional.



What about the cheap studios at the mall?

Please don't compare us to the chain store studios. But if you must, consider all of the thought, time and work that we put into our photographs, compared to what they do. Good luck getting a relaxed one to two hour photo shoot at a chain store. Not to mention they won't come to your home or outdoors or special locations! And of course, look at our work compared to theirs. You usually get what you pay for.

The truth is, most of the mall and chain store studios lose money. In fact, in 2007 Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios --see link here: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/02/05/portrait_to_close_500_wal_mart_studios/ because of the financial drain they were putting on the company. What the chain stores bet on is that you'll come in for some quick and cheap photos, and while you're there, you'll also spend $200 on other things. They don't have to make money, they are just there to get you in the door.



Conclusion

We hope that those who have taken the time to read this page will have a better understanding of why professional photographs cost so much more than the ones that you get from your local drug store or the local girls with new cameras and no experience.



The time, expertise and thoughtful artistry involved need to be considered.

Fall Mini Sessions

Fall mini sessions are here, You will get 6 images on cd, 2 8x10 or 25 greeting cards for $60 dollars!

2011 Photo Contests

February -Cupids Love Contest ( Couples Contest)
Simply send me your favorite picture of you and your Significant Other in a message and I will post it to an album on my Facebook page. Once you have submitted your picture, get your friends and family to vote on your picture by clicking the LIKE button . The picture with the most votes wins a free digital package. This package covers a disc of all your edited portraits. The contest will run Feb 7Th -21st 2011. All applicants must be able to travel to the Tampa Bay area for their photo shoot and the winner must book their photo shoot by April 4th 2011 . Please note that the picture you enter does not need to be recent, but must be members of your family. All the top 3 photos will also receive a special offer for my photography services. Good luck and I look forward to seeing all your pictures!


April - Easter Bunny Cuties ( 2-4yrs and 5-7 yrs)
Simply send me your favorite picture of your Child/Children in a message and I will post it to an album on my Facebook page. Once you have submitted your picture, get your friends and family to vote on your picture by clicking the LIKE button . The picture with the most votes wins a free digital package. This package covers a disc of all your edited portraits. The contest will run April 4Th -18Th 2011. All applicants must be able to travel to the Tampa Bay area for their photo shoot and the winner must book their photo shoot by May 30Th 2011 . Please note that the picture you enter does not need to be recent, but must be members of your family. All the top 3 photos will also receive a special offer for my photography services. Good luck and I look forward to seeing all your pictures!


MAY- Mothers Love Contest

We celebrate Mother's, Nothing says love more than a mother's love for her children. So, this month we are having a mommy/child photo contest. Simply send me your favorite mother/child(ren) picture I will post it to an album on my Facebook page. Once you have submitted your picture, get your friends and family to Click the like button on your picture. The picture with the most votes wins a free digital package. Includes a disc of all your edited portraits. The contest will run May 1st -15Th 2011 . All applicants must be able to travel to the Tampa Bay area for their photo shoot and the winner must book their photo shoot by June 26Th 2011 . Please note that the picture you enter does not need to be recent, but must be members of your family. All the top 3 photos will also receive a special offer for my photography services. Good luck and I look forward to seeing all your pictures


July ( Beach Bum Baby Contest ) 1-2 yrs and 3-5 yrs
Simply send me your favorite picture of your Child/Children in their beach attire in a message and I will post it to an album on my Facebook page. Once you have submitted your picture, get your friends and family to vote on your picture by clicking the LIKE button . The picture with the most votes wins a free digital package. This package covers a disc of all your edited portraits. The contest will run July 4th -18th 2011. All applicants must be able to travel to the Tampa Bay area for their photo shoot and the winner must book their photo shoot by Aug 29th 2011 . Please note that the picture you enter does not need to be recent, but must be members of your family. All the top 3 photos will also receive a special offer for my photography services. Good luck and I look forward to seeing all your pictures!

September ( Family is a Blessing Contest)
Simply send me your favorite family picture and I will post it to an album on my Facebook page. Once you have submitted your picture, get your friends and family to vote on your picture by clicking the LIKE button . The picture with the most votes wins a free digital package. This package covers a disc of all your edited portraits. The contest will run Sept 12Th-26Th. All applicants must be able to travel to the Tampa Bay area for their photo shoot and the winner must book their photo shoot by Nov 7Th 2011 . Please note that the picture you enter does not need to be recent, but must be members of your family. All the top 3 photos will also receive a special offer for my photography services. Good luck and I look forward to seeing all your pictures!

Operation Love

If you have ever been through a military deployment, there are no words to explain how hard it is to send the father or mother of your children off to some foreign, dangerous land, leaving you all behind…. Alone. It’s indescribable to watch their faces light up as their mother or father comes up the stairs of the airport after months, possibly a year or more, of not hugging each other. Emotions fly through the main lobby, it’s so very good to have them home. The last thing on your mind when your wife or husband arrives home after a 4 to 18 month tour, is capturing all this love– on film. Most people are so overwhelmed with emotions they forget to simply point and shoot the camera they are grasping of their child’s first hug, or that single tear of relief from a mother being able to hold her twenty year old son again. With the help of!

So I am excited to say i will be joining Oplove in capturing these moments for these soliders families!

Halloween Spooktacular

Halloween is just around the corner and like i said prior i am in love with fall! The Leaves changing the kids in cute little costumes and people gathering together for a lot of food and fun and games! The cooler weather makes being outside so pleasent and enjoyable..

For 2 days only 10/16 and 10/30 - You can get an 8x10 2 5x7's or 2 images on a cd for 30 dollars. 15 -20 mins slots
Location:Largo Central Park
Hurry and book your appointment today email me at Bellalifephotograph06@gmail.com or On Facebook which ever you decide. I cant wait to see so many pretty princesses, Scary monsters and everything in between

Baby Bump Contest Winner!

I would like to announce the winner of the Baby Bump Contest is the Beautiful Stephanie Rozoplos! She is expecting a baby boy and i must say it seems to me this child is going to have a wonderful mommy! Stephanie got a lot of votes and hopefully we can get this portraits before he decides to make his enterance into this crazy thing we call world!
I hope to be able to capture many more memories for this family and not just a maternity shoot!

I enjoy seeing many entries and would also like to Thank everyone
for participating in the contests. By either entering or voting, It means so much to me that i have the support of many and we are super close to hitting out 1000 fan mark! So look for details on 1000 fans blog which will include some pretty amazing information!

So congratulations Stephanie, You will need to contact me through email @ Bellalifephotography2006@gmail.com or through fb or phone to set up your appointment! Must be booked within 6 weeks of today!

Little Sweetheart!

To say this little girl is a cutie is an understatement, She is so cute and so much fun to photograph! She always has smile on her face, and when the camera is in front of her she lights up and shows her amazing personality. She is mommy's little princess, and i can see why!