Why is boudoir so expensive?

As a photographer who came from doing outdoor family sessions to fit every budget, I wanted to be able to break down exactly why boudoir (like wedding photography) is priced the way it is!

"United States, the average photographer makes only $31,000 per year? When you count everything we're going to discuss below, most photographers are actually only making between $12 and $15 an hour!"

1. There is a lot of time involved:

Some people think "oh you click a camera for an hour" , but from start to finish, hours upon hours are spent on consultations, planning, hair and makeup, wardrobe fitting, the session itself, editing, reveals, more editing, designing albums, ordering products, accounting, cleaning, etc. Each session I am with the client at the studio for 4-7 hours before even editing their images.

2. There is a lot of money involved:

Besides just the (extremely expensive) cameras and lenses used for your session, I also have to account for studio rent, lighting, furniture, decor, lingerie in the client closet, editing software, business software, internet, utilities, taxes to operate legally, quality prints and products...and even the website you are viewing right now!

3. You pay for quality,experience and privacy:

I have been doing photography for almost 8 years now and I have a ton of experience under my belt. I used to charge next to nothing when I started out (I am talking $100 for 50 images) but I quickly realized I was making hardly anything once everything was said and done. Remember, boudoir is the most intimate type of photography, so when booking a session like this, I think it is important to know who your photographer is and that they have a great reputation. I provide a secure environment for these kinds of photos to be taken. You do not want your photos online without your permission, you do not want a photographer who makes you uncomfortable, and you do not want to spend a day getting ready for a session that results in blurry pixelated photos. Boudoir can be an amazing, life changing experience, but you definitely get what you pay for. You want to be able to look back at these when you're in your 90s and still have quality products!