Is this normal...$400 for a photo session??

I think it's normal. Our engagement session is free with our photo package but our consultant says that it was valued at $450 and we're basically getting the same things as you

$400 for one hour is excessive. Our rates for engagement sessions start at $350 and this is up to three hours of coverage, multiple changing of clothes indoors. We also offer lifestyle packages which is outdoors, can range from 5 hours or all day. The pricing is a bit higher because we are travelling to multiple locations. Check out our website and share with your friends and contacts. Our basic wedding package starts at $1200 and we go up from there.

Have they shared how many photographs they normally provide in the online gallery for you to view? Any print prices disclosed?

We do all our sessions outdoors / on location so we work our sessions differently, but I would hope that you would at least get 40-50 unique shots from the hour session for that much of an investment. By "unique" I don't just mean cropped in closer or black and white, I mean 40-50 completely different poses / angles, etc.

It's normal.

It takes a LOT of work to edit images. Not only that, but the years of experience put into learning their craft. This photographer is working for you remember.

I do however offer a print credit with my portrait sessions.

I want to point something out. In the days of film, Nobody asked for the negatives from the photographer. They never said, I don't want to pay your prices, so I'm gonna print my own from the negatives. That just didn't happen.

So the "no rights" thing is not new. This is industry standard.

I personally don't care if you print my images elsewhere. Most people that do, still order from me. My print lab is catered to professionals, and the print quality is astounding.

At the end of the day, remember, you're hiring this photographer for their vision, and ability to create a compelling image. You're paying $400 for someone who has years of experience, and you are guaranteed great images.

Ok so I'm pretty torn now based on your responses. I think I'm going to ask them to throw in 5 (5x7) prints with the fee. We do love their work but geez that's $400 just to see IF we want to use them. What if we hate the photos? :-(

I think it's excessive- but it also depends on your area. You will quickly learn that photography is about much more than just snapping a camera lens. There is alot, if not more artistry that comes in to the editting.

That session fee is typically credited towards a wedgin package, should you choose to use them though- in general.

But $400 for one hour and not prints whatsoever... Yep- too much!

On a side note: I personally will not work with any photographer that will not give me rights to reprint my photos. I get that I don't own full rights, but their print prices are insane! I can get better quality prints at a specialized photo lab for 1/10 that price and it's less work for them.

If you are trying to decide to use them, why not meet them and look at WHOLE wedding albums. I would never spend 400 bucks on a 1 hour photo session just to decidde wether or not I want to use them. That's what meeting them and going over photos and asking questions are for. Now, if that was a boudiour shoot and longer alotted time and I wanted to use them, then yes. I would shell out the 400 bucks for it.

That is excessive at least in the area that I am from. I did a lot of research before choosing a photographer and becoming one myself. There is no one in my area that charges that kind of money without getting anything with it, yes you are getting there time and talent, but like you said it's kind of a "trial" to see if you like what they do they should at least be offering some prints. My family pics that I did with an awesome photog were $350 for multiple poses and areas for about 2 hrs and I received the disk with 60 edited photos on it!!

Thanks Unique!

Am I missing something here? I'm not seeing where they're doing this session to try out the photographer.

Meghan, I beg to differ that you'll be able to find a lab that will print better quality than your professional for 1/10th the price. Professional labs don't "cater" to the general public. And as far as it's more work, that's also not true. My lab fulfills all of my orders. That's what I pay them for. If it were up to me, they'd never get printed.

By the way, My 1 hour session is $300 and comes with a $70 print credit, and a disc of low-res images. If more than $500 is spent on prints(canvas, or an album,) I then give them the image disc.

This isn't necessarily standard practice, but It's what I do, and it works.

I'll back Brian here and say that professional labs are many levels above what the general public will have access to. I recently used the lab at my local camera shop as I was in a pinch for personal holiday pictures. They were horrible. If we met in person and I showed you the difference between the lab that I use and these photos, you'd think that I printed these from a 1990's color ink jet printer.

There are photographers and fauxtographers all over the price spectrum. Some will shoot your wedding for free to a couple hundred bucks (read fauxtographers), and some of the people I know routinely charge over $10k all said and done. You're paying for their skill, not a button pusher!

With that said, do they offer a package that includes your engagement photos? I actually include an engagement or boudoir shoot in some of my packages. And then like Brian said, will throw in either credits or some free prints.

(Love the new profile image btw Brian!!)

There is a noticeable difference between professional labs and public labs. Pro labs only work with businesses, while the public labs are in your drug store, target, shopping mall, etc. Try ordering just one 4x6 directly from your photographer and the same image as a 4x6 from anywhere else. A 4x6 can be a small investment to really see the differences. The color, vibrancy, contrast, texture--it's all different from a pro lab. Now that doesn't mean that the public labs are bad (but they are really ), just that the pro labs are better. That's why there's a huge cost difference--the paper, the ink, the printer is all better quality technology which means that your prints will last longer.

Our sessions are $389 and include up to 90 minutes with $150 of print credit, just for reference point with Brian's studio.

Let me say, I am in Washington, DC, so on average we expect to pay more for our vendors. We met this company at a wedding show and viewed numerous albums, talked for over 30 minutes and even went home to view their promotional video...Loved their work. While we do like their work, I know better than to assume that our photos will come out just as beautiful as others.

I do get that this is time spent with us not only photographing but also editing and its more than just snapping a camera. This fee may be included in a full package should we go with them, I really dont recall.

I believe in paying professionals for good service but I just wanted to know if I was crazy for expecting to pay $400 for roughly an hour or so of time with NOTHING to show for it besides viewing our photos and a "yes" or "no" for using them...

I think it's slightly high for one hour. But, if all photos are edited and retouched, then it's worth it because that costs a lot to do on the side. Check out my site at http://www.weddingphotographerinchicago.com for my prices for weddings, engagements sessions and trash the dress. I think an acceptable engagement session should last about 1.5 hours up to 2 hours at most in order to get all photos needed.

An engagement session is also a great time to get to know your photographer for your wedding and see how he/she works and you'll know what to expect during your wedding day.

Have you compared prices and packages with other photographers of similar caliber? I think the price is a little high for what you get, but not ridiculously out of line. It may be worth it to get some other quotes. But, if this company is really good, they may be an in-demand vendor who can command a high price.

I'm paying $400 for 3 hours and that includes a disc of all the pics she takes with basic editing and special editing on some that I pick.

I am not trying to sound like a brat when I say this, but our photographer is including our photo sessions in with the whole package. But we have friends with professional cameras who will do it for free. I couldn't imagine on top of your wedding photographer fees how much this will all be ouchie!

Well normally if you book a photographer they will give you a discount on your engagement session. If you aren't getting printing rights, I cannot see how it would be worth it.

To the photographers- I totally agree. Most of your commercial photo labs suck! There is a huge quality difference! If you take the pros pics to Walmart, you won't get the same quality by any stretch of the imagination that they can get.

I use the NASA photo lab on JSC. They are a professional, high quality photo lab. They are not open to the public, and they are super cheap. Their prices are comparable to the Walmart/Target/Walgreens lab- but their quality is above and beyond!

I've even had pro photog friends ask me to print stuff for them there!

Now having said that- just because the quality is lower using a place like Walmart doesn't mean I don't want to have that option. I still expect a CD with my order with rights to reprint. I also expect a disclaimer stating exactly what you've said- the quality will be well below what you can offer.

I think $400 for one hour which only includes their time and talent is a bit much. I charge $200 for my time and talent and then give the option to purchase CD or I inlcude it in one of my packages - and I usually spend at least two hours - usually about 2.5 hours shooting an engagement session.

I don't think it's really excessive. I charge $700 for an hour and a half, but it does include the dvd. I do include one session with their wedding package, however. If they add an additional session to their package, it's half price.