Pricing / Investment Explained

Investing in Art

Professional photographers are artists. Even if they’re gifted with “that special eye”, they put countless hours into honing their craft. But the investment of their time pays off. Professional images stand out from the mass of pictures we have in our possession. Although I love many of the cellphone captures of my kids, heirlooms aren’t shot on an iPhone.

Talking about pricing is a subject most photographers despise. Ideally, our clients just see our worth as artists and the fact that creating beautiful images goes way beyond pressing a shutter.

Of course, that’s unrealistic. Unless you’re part of the industry, how would you know all the elements, which need to be considered when thinking about pricing.

Time – Where does it go?

What goes into a shoot:
  • Communication (before/during/after)
  • Preparation (gear, mood boards, etc.)
  • Photography session
  • Commuting
  • Post production hours (culling, basic corrections for all photos, picking favorites, gallery set-up, further/more detailed retouching of favorites, archiving.)
  • Gear reorganization/reset
  • If photo album: design hours, further image editing for print, proofing, etc.

Other factors of pricing are the cost of business, such as insurance, gear acquisition and maintenance, imaging software subscriptions, continuing education in the field, accounting and office upkeep, etc.

Could I cut corners with some of these? Sure. But, that’s not who I am, nor would I be producing the quality result people praise me for. I strive for excellence and 100% customer satisfaction. I want my families to be happy and to come back! And because I operate the way I do, my clients always return and most of my business is word-of-mouth.

Although (in my 20 years of shooting) this has never happened, if you’re really unhappy with the outcome, we can schedule a second shoot or you may request a refund instead.

In summary, staying in business as a professional photographer requires a lot more than just talent and technical expertise. So, it means a lot when someone recognizes the value of a family photograph.

Thank you for considering to invest in artwork, you and your following generations will cherish forever.

Included Services

Professional Photography Session (see info pages for time frames)
Family & Kids Portraits
Documentary/Lifestyle Images
Online Gallery (approx. 150 images for full-length family sessions)
Selection of Favorites (approx. 20-40 images for full-length family sessions)
Post Production Hours
Basic Correction of All Images
Detailed Retouching of Favorite Images
Digital Files (in High Resolution)
Unlimited, Royalty-free Print Release
Travel within NYC, Westchester, Northern NJ, Southern Connecticut
Show Me Some Numbers

To invest in your heirloom or ask further questions, please email office@sirinsamman.com or call me at 646-730-7303. I’m also on Facebook and Instagram with the screen-handle ‘sirinsammanphotography’.

Sirin Samman of Give Love Always Photography is a top-rated Family Photographer, serving New York City, Westchester (incl. New Rochelle, Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, Hastings- and Croton-on-Hudson, Pelham, White Plains, Mamaroneck, Purchase), southern Connecticut (incl. Greenwich, Stamford), and Northern New Jersey (incl. Englewood and Cliffs, Leonia, Ridgefield, Fort Lee, Bloomfield, West and South Orange).