06/02/2026
I've been a little quiet lately.
My oldest just turned 9, my youngest will be 3 this week, and we've finally had some sunshine—so life has been wonderfully busy!
But I'd like to take a moment to be a little transparent.
Sometimes photography pricing can seem expensive from the outside, and I completely understand why. I promise that most photographers aren't building mansions with their profits. In reality, many of us are simply trying to make a living doing something we're passionate about while providing beautiful memories for our clients.
Recently, a highly popular photography location announced that it would be increasing its reservation fees for commercial photographers to between $400 and $600 per hour. From what I've heard, the change came after an incident involving a prom group at the property. Regardless of the circumstances, the result is a significant increase in costs for photographers who wish to use George Eastman Museum
What many people don't realize is that these reservation fees are separate from the session fee you pay your photographer. We don't profit from venue or location fees. Whether it's a private estate, a botanical garden, a hotel property, or another popular photography destination, those costs are simply passed through to cover the expense of using the space.
As photographers, we're constantly balancing the desire to create beautiful experiences and images for our clients with the rising costs of doing business. So when you see pricing that may seem high, please know that it often reflects much more than just the hour spent taking photos.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support small businesses, artists, and photographers. Your investment allows us to keep doing what we love while preserving the moments that matter most to you and your family.
