shane.young@comcast.net

I have tried several ways to craft a letter to explain how I have come to my prices.   All I can say is that they are what they are and I am always evaluating my business model.   When I get sponsored, I offer medium resolution images for free to people.   When I don’t, I either don’t shoot or I have to make up my cost.   Below is a list of the cost of event photography and by no means do I make enough to pay for it all.  

Tangible cost

Per event: Gas, Food, Time (scouting out location, two photographers taking photos, processing photos), Lodging, finishing touches on purchased photos.

Annual: Equipment (Camera bodies, lens, lighting, misc equipment, computer, and software) cost (average $2000), business insurance, websites, marketing, car payments (in Portland I could live without a car), car insurance, car maintenance and service providers.  

Intangible cost

Per event: Time (looking for sponsors, blogging, promoting), experience, event commitments, and customer service.

Annual: Promoting the business, learning more about photography.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc Fortier"
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 12:52:51 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Why are event photos so expensive ?

OK I will start by saying I'm ignorant of the whole event photography business model, but from a consumer standpoint, I don't see why a digital photo costs so much.  For example, to get a full resolution digital copy of the photo of myself from the Echo race will set me back $40 (for a photo that's not even exposed very well - although I will mention that many of the photos from the race look spectacular).  Now if these cost me say $5 apiece, I probably would have spent hundreds of dollars in the last few years, but as it is I've spent about zero dollars.  Couldn't there be a cheaper purchase option for downloading hi-res digital photos 'for personal use only' (no reselling, etc) ?

I always feel bad I'm not funneling $$ towards these photographers who spend their time running around the course taking cool shots of everybody, but I really can't justify the expense at the current rates. 
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