Family Photographer in Asheville, North Carolina, Carly Buntin Photography

Family Photography Session Cost

It goes without saying that a photographer will always hold true to capturing your memories with each chapter, milestone, and the raw moment you can!

Why hire a professional photographer when you have great phones that have cameras these days?

Well, selfies are not apples to apples. Neither are you, only some of the family because the other parent is taking the photo. 

Beyond all those obvious reasons . . . .

Here is the real one, my “Why.”

The Experience.

If I could narrate what we create during this time, I just wouldn’t find those poetic words to truly grasp the vibe. 1- Every family has its own feel, which is such a cool part of it. 2- That experience lives out there and in their gallery for them.

It’s pure, and it’s simply so surreal.  It is a real experience, with real emotions and real connections that make of their heart, and I get to step aside and document.

But, what does a professional family photo session really entail? How much should a family photography session cost?

To get to the answer, you first need to understand what an experience like this really entails. Let me walk you through the process with the photographer in the driver’s seat.

When people think about a photo session, they mostly imagine the “day off.” The day it all comes together at this amazing location – the experience in the moment.

It’s true: the day of your family session is MAGICAL, and you hopefully remember those moments and that feeling in those hardcore memories for a lifetime. 

Yet, session day is not everything. A family photo session starts first with an inquiry and builds into a relationship.

How much should you pay for a professional family photo session in Asheville in 2023?

Here’s the whole process ❤️

First Contact (Is that Really Where It Starts?)

Let me start by saying there is a TON of energy and time spent in finding each other to create this “First Contact.” 

This day and age require a high-level marketing strategy. YES, little ole me and my Brand has a pretty high-level force behind it. It’s equipped to not only create the artwork but also sustain for years to come.

We all need stability right?

My relationships matter, and attracting the ideal client in my world is a full-time job in itself. 

OK, so we found each other either from that attractive IG grid, Facebook posts or stories? That’s not all, it could be local marketing or an awesome referral from a recent client experience or the one that truly takes the most time (which is money) SEO. 

So now let’s get into it 😉

When an inquiry is received, we photographers follow up via e-mail, usually. I have some automation, but I am still the real deal and do communicate personally. This communication is a bit like dating am I right?  It takes a couple of back-and-forth replies to truly say, “I like you!” 

To be honest, I am not a great fit for everyone . . .

I take the time to pass along a fellow photographer’s contact info and hold their hand in the process. It’s important that we get the right fit to create this work. 

The Planning 

Creating the experience that is right for you is what makes this magic possible! 

We have to get our minds right; we need to collaborate on the ideal location that is suitable for all ages and your vision for how your family will engage with the elements and with nature to open up the tru personalities. 

Now we figure out that landscape truly needs to work on individual personalities shining with attire and furthermore how does each outfit come together to add texture, complimentary hues, interest and works with this landscape. Don’t forget the accessories that bring this feel to life! 

GOBBS, yes GOBBS of time can take place here. 

Between a zoom call, texting and creating a style board. 

Now with the location piece, photographers spend countless hours researching ideal locations to create a menu of offerings that support ideal locations for their sessions. This experience between one another starts at the inquiry and leads into the planning.

Offering up an efficient menu with visualization/logistics in these locations is super helpful and efficient. Thanks to our research and time in this we create this awesome planning experience for you as well.

Session Day

We work in inspiring locations to balance humanity and nature, bringing the highest dimension possible into the artwork that paints your family story. My belief and my goal is that your experience is as much a part of this process as your gallery.

This exclusive time is yours in a desired location, feeling your best and living your reality. This craft isn’t about escaping real life; it’s about embracing just that. To snuggle in close if it’s cold, to sing or nurse if your babe is fussy, and to stop and smell the wildflower. Expressing your emotions as you see fit while I find the storytelling in it all.

So, we meet “on location;” sometimes there is a drive, and the majority of the time, there is a hike there and back; let’s not forget the headlamps and flashlights for the twilight trek down 😉

THE EDIT

Culling/Color Processing

Now on a lucky day I may shoot a minimum of 1,000 images. I say lucky meaning maybe it was a couples session – HA!

As I start to review them and hand select a gallery that garners variety and reads as a story is an ART. This is called “culling.”

• I take a minimum of 1,000 images and carefully select the 30/60/90 + images
• Then I sleep on it.
• I take it to the color process next
• I vet the color
• I take a break
• I re-vet the color
• I analyze skin tones
• I depict the sky
• I select the black and white images and debate a bit on if the B/W or Color tells a better story.
• Then I sleep on it.

Retouching & Final Gallery

Every Photographer has a workflow that works for them.

Every single image has a feeling, tells a part of the story and varies in lighting conditions, and emotions. 

I use Lightroom, Photoshop, and additional applications to create my personal Artwork in each one of your images. 

There isn’t a batched preset I throw onto each image and pass it back to you. My Brand isn’t a “certain look” My brand is a feeling. There isn’t one particular preset I use to create this. It comes from your heart and mine. 

Then I sleep on it. 

I take the series of images through another vet and finalize the images as a whole and deliver them with laughter, tears, and a whole lotta heart!

Wall Art

After the reveal, we partake in a process to vet what images/collages will wrap your walls in a warm hug. I support in every step and create this collage and/or series of images and send it along to print.

Follow-ups

Many sessions end with either the final gallery or print products, however, the relationship continues!  We stay in touch 😉

So, How Much Should Professional Photographers Charge for All This?

As you can see, a “photo session” entitles many days of hard work from the photographer. Session day is just a piece of the big puzzle 🙂

In the industry, there are multiple ways of pricing a photo session. I’ll go through the two most common models: all-inclusive vs. session fee.

Both of them have in common a retainer fee to book the photographer’s calendar. Either a % of the total or a fixed fee, you pay to secure your date and in most cases it is non-refundable. The reason for this nonrefundable fee is that as in any professional service business, time is the photographer’s biggest asset.

1. All-Inclusive Pricing:

This is my model; I believe in 100% transparency. What you see is what you’ll pay, no hidden fees, no surprises. It includes:

• Getting to know you and your family. This will help me capture your family’s essence.
• Styling assistance- you have access to over 100 dresses in my studio wardrobe worth over thousands of dollars in combination with me pulling looks virtually. I’ll create looks for every individual in the family and send along links (or look for similar items in your closet). I do the hard work for you: in combination with supplying you with pieces from my studio wardrobe. 
• Scouting! I have a variety of locations ready to serve up to you to choose from
• Photographers’ time during session day.
• Fine Art editing and post-processing time.
• An online gallery with a fixed number of Fine Art Photos
• Download and print rights of those the Fine Art photos included in your package

2. Session Fee:

You’re just paying for the session and behind the scenes. No digital files, no photos are included; those are all add-ons for later on. It usually includes:

• Styling and planning the session (I want to believe this is always complimentary!)
• Photographers’ time during session day.
• Basic editing and post-processing time.

It can get super tricky at booking, you have to ask the right questions and read the fine print. There are endless possibilities; some photographers then require a minimum purchase with a la carte pricing for physical prints and it might not include digital files at all.

This model can work, you just have to be aware of what’s in and what’s out of your package. So, you walk away with a big smile and hopefully the desire to book again with that photographer!

What’s the Key Difference Between Session Fee vs. All-Inclusive Pricing?

I am going to use the age-old saying. You get what you pay for.

A family photo session in Asheville, NC, in 2022 with an experienced professional family photographer should be upwards of $950-$1150. This includes a full gallery (download in high resolution), and the session is hosted locally. Sessions that require travel will be a bigger investment, yet it’s 100% worth it; these are epic experiences; I call them Adventure Sessions. 

The industry is formalizing as years go by and more photographers start to realize that it’s beyond worth studying, learning, and getting inspired. Photography IS a profession, not a hobby, with a lot of “behind the scenes costs” in addition to their own education and all that shiny equipment.

The investment in pan experience like this is truly unmatched. I believe with all my heart that the most valuable gift is to be seen. To be present and to show up in images for generations to come in your family. 

The investment is worth saving money for. As with anything in life, what we have to work for is valued much more.

What does photography mean to you? Where does it fit in your life? How much do you value it?

Early Fall poses more rainfall, however, the dreamiest of skies as the clouds clear occasionally for breathtaking sunsets across the ridge. This was definitely one of those dreamy evenings with the Kotecha family. Also, its is totally fine to take over the session, as parents, and capture great single and couple imagery together!