Family portrait prices – how they work
I’m totally up front with my rates, and you view all of your family pictures online, so there are no hidden surprises.
Some photographers charge crazily low prices for the initial sitting fee – their year round promotional rates can be as low as £10 for an hour session with a big print to tempt you.
Then when you’re invited back to their studio to view your pictures, you’ll often find that the print and enlargement prices can be quite startling, and it’s highly unlikely that they’ll want to release any high resolution JPEGs for you to print from.
With discounted deals like this it’s very rare that you’ll be able to view your photographs online, as many studios know they can employ more assertive selling tactics in person. So do ask up front for their full price list, and read their online reviews. Please do your research so you’re not caught out with some of these ‘too good to be true offers’!
I don’t use these sales tactics. My diary is busy because my prices are reasonable, and it helps that my clients love my work too. Many return year after year!
A recent note from a portrait customer
Dear Mark, thank you once again for our stunningly beautiful family portraits, this is now our fourth session with you. After each sitting we are completely blown away with the amazing colours in your pictures, and the wonderful variety of backdrops, fun poses and expressions that you capture!
Everyone who visits our home says your pictures are the best family portraits they’ve ever seen. Also, we particularly love the fact that you release the high resolution files so we can print our own requirements.
Every two years we have a 12”x16” canvas wrap made of our favourite portrait pose to show our children growing up, previously we were paying an average of £500 – £750 for each enlargement plus the session fee with other local photographers, now we can have them printed for £75 each through your recommended online printing laboratory.
At first glance your fees may initially appear a little higher than other photographers, but for anyone wanting to produce enlargements or prints for family and friends, the savings we now make are staggering.
Thank you once again for all the wonderful pictures you’ve captured of our family. Warmest regards & see you again soon, Tom & Becky – Beaconsfield
My price options
Includes: no limit on number of poses/pictures – 35 mile travel radius from Amersham for bookings of 1 hour +
1 Hour Portrait Session – captured at Missenden Abbey or a location of your choice – £150 – JPEGs not included
1 Hour Portrait Session + 15 high resolution JPEGs – captured at Missenden Abbey or a location of your choice – £225 MOST POPULAR Gift Vouchers Available
2 Hour Portrait Session + 60 high resolution JPEGs – captured at Missenden Abbey or a location of your choice – £425 BEST VALUE Gift Vouchers Available
2 Hour Portrait Session + 60 high resolution JPEGs + 16-page A4 photobook – captured at Missenden Abbey or a location of your choice – £725
Optional extras:
- High resolution JPEGs – £10 each
- CDs available £6 each – USBs £35 each
- Travelling beyond 35 miles of Amersham – 50p per mile
- Photoshopping of images if requested – P.O.A.
Ordering prints and enlargements
After the session you’ll receive your favourite images as high resolution print ready JPEGs. These will be supplied online via DropBox or WeTransfer.
All the JPEGs supplied will be individually optimised to the very highest standard.
Instead of placing your order with me, I supply details of the professional printing laboratory I recommend.
No account is necessary, and the lab’s website is very easy to use. All orders are placed online, and they offer prints, enlargements, canvas wraps and a framing service, together with a very speedy turnaround, all at amazing pro trade prices.
The savings compared to the usual method of dealing direct through a photographer are significant. Typically 8″x10″ prints are 50p, and 12″ x 16″ prints are £1.50, all printed onto professional photographic paper.
One of my new clients told me they paid £750 for a 12″x 16″ canvas enlargement with another photographic studio two years ago! By placing this order yourselves once I’ve supplied your JPEGs, you should expect to pay no more than £75 for the same quality canvas, that’s quite a difference!
Gift vouchers
Gift vouchers make the perfect birthday, anniversary or Christmas present. Treating a loved one to a set of fabulous family photographs is a keepsake they will cherish forever.
Each of my one and two hour vouchers are personalised, and is presented with my 8-page A5 portrait brochure. Gift vouchers are available for either the one-hour session with 15 high resolution images or the two-hour version with 60 high resolution images. Additional images may be purchased after the session at £10 each.
The price of the gift voucher is not mentioned anywhere on it; it just details the session duration and the number of high resolution images included. Each voucher is valid for two years, and any number of people or pets can be included in the photo shoot.
To purchase a voucher securely online, click here. Alternatively, you’re welcome to call me to discuss your requirements and make your purchase over the phone.
Redeeming Gift Vouchers
When the session is redeemed, I will ask for the voucher number, plus where they’d like the session to take place.
Choose from the stunning gardens at Missenden Abbey, a home visit within a 35 mile radius of my premises, or from one of the many local beauty spots I regularly attend in the Chilterns.
A week after the session, the images will be available to view online. Once the favourites selection has been made, they will be optimised to the highest standard so they are print ready, and will be sent via Dropbox together with the details of the online printing lab I recommend.
Orders can be placed online directly through my recommended printing lab, they offer amazing trade prices and great quality. This approach gives you a cost-effective way to print your pictures, enlargements, canvas wraps, greeting cards and so on.
Business Portraits
Making the best impression with your corporate business portraits is as important as ever, and each month I have a steady flow of business people looking to update their online profile.
I can offer a 30-minute mini-shoot which includes your favourite five high resolution headshot images for £150. You’ll see the images on my camera as I take them, then you’ll select your favourites online. The images supplied will be copyright free, so you can use them as you please. A one hour session with your favourite 15 images is £225.
At your work premises I offer the opportunity for you to have a mixture of indoor and outdoor portraits. Your portraits could be simple headshots against a white backdrop, or in your work environment.
Alternatively, I regularly work at the 12th Century Missenden Abbey in Great Missenden, this stunning setting offers so many striking backdrop options. Extra charges apply, please contact me to discuss.
Corporate Location Portraits
I’m frequently called out to a preferred location that my client has requested. Often it’s their company headquarters, or sometimes it’s a corporate premises or destination they have close links with.
You can see examples of my business portraits on this link: Commercial Gallery.
I usually have last minute availability in my diary most midweek days.
If you’re local to my premises in the Chilterns, I’d love to hear from you.
Most of my business and corporate photography customers come from Amersham, Chesham, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, Wendover and the surrounding towns.