19/06/2026
A little honesty from a photographer.
This year has been one of the hardest years I've experienced in business.
Bookings are slower. Inquiries are fewer. And the conversations I have most often seem to revolve around how much cheaper I can make something, how little I can reduce a package, how much more I can include, or whether I can "just squeeze in one extra setup." (on spot at the session, being put under pressure to politely answer "okay"...
What many people don't see is that photography is not just the hour we spend together during a session. Behind every session there is studio rent, taxes, insurance, equipment, software, maintenance, education, editing, administration, marketing, and countless hours of work that happen long after the camera is put away.
The reality is that many photographers are already charging less than what their work is truly worth simply to stay competitive. It's so tiring.
And every discount, every free extra, every "small favor" comes from somewhere:
• Sometimes it comes from money that should have been reinvested into the business.
• Sometimes it comes from time spent with family.
• Sometimes it comes from opportunities we would have liked to give our own children.
• Sometimes it comes from us simply accepting less and less until there is almost nothing left, because the state takes everything else away anyway.
So today I simply want to say this:
I love photography.
I love creating memories.
I love serving my clients.
But I am no longer willing to constantly negotiate my worth, give away more than I can afford, or apologize for having boundaries.
If an offer includes a certain number of setups, that is what it includes.
If a package has a price, that price reflects the reality of running a professional business.
Not because I am unwilling to help, but because this is my livelihood.
This is how I support my family and how I am trying to keep my studio open.
To those who value creative work, respect professional boundaries, recommend small businesses, and trust us with your memories: thank you. 🙏🏼
You are the reason many of us are still here.
❤️