Why Are Digital Files So Expensive from a Professional Photographer?
Why do professional photographers charge so much for their digital files?
Why Are Digital Files So Expensive from a Professional Photographer?
One of the most common questions I get asked is why digital files cost so much. It is a fair question. In a world where we take hundreds of photos on our phones every week, it can feel strange to pay a significant amount for a set of digital images. But there is a good reason, and it comes down to one simple question: what are you actually going to do with those files?
The Honest Truth About Digital Files
I have been a family photographer for over 23 years, and I can tell you what happens with digital files in most families. They get downloaded onto a computer or a hard drive. They sit there. The parents mean to print them, but life gets in the way. Then a year passes, then two, then five. Sometimes the hard drive fails. Sometimes the files get lost in a phone upgrade. And those beautiful photos from that session you invested in? Gone.
I have seen it happen too many times. As a mum of three, I know exactly how it goes. You have the best intentions to print photos, put together albums, fill in baby books. But the reality is that life with kids is relentless, and printing photos always falls to the bottom of the list.
What You Are Really Paying For
When you purchase digital files from a professional photographer, you are paying for full print rights. That means you can print those images as many times as you like, wherever you like. In theory, that sounds like great value. But if you are honest with yourself about whether you will actually print them, the value changes.
Compare that to having your photographer handle the printing for you. I use archival-quality paper and archival framing materials, which means the prints and frames I produce will last your family a lifetime. The mat boards, the glues, the paper, everything is designed to stand the test of time. If you print at a retail lab or online service, you do not get that same quality or longevity.
Why Printed Photos Are Worth the Investment
There is something about a printed photo on your wall that a file on a hard drive will never give you. Your family sees it every single day. Your kids grow up walking past it. It becomes part of your home, part of your story. A digital file sitting in a folder does none of that.
I help my clients choose the right sizes and layouts for their walls. If you bring me photos of the rooms where you want to display your portraits, I can guide you on what will work best in the space. That is part of the service, and it is something you do not get when you walk away with a USB stick and figure it out on your own.
The Bottom Line
Digital files are not a bad option. But they are only valuable if you are genuinely going to do something with them. If you know in your heart that they will end up sitting on a hard drive untouched, then investing in beautifully printed and framed portraits is a far better use of your money. You will enjoy them every day, and they will last for generations.
If you are not sure which option is right for you, get in touch and I can walk you through what will work best for your family and your home.
Kate x
The 6 Most Important Times to Book a Family Photo Session
Life is full of busy schedules, never-ending to-do lists, and loads (so many loads!) of laundry. With all of that business, it can be hard to work in time for having professional family photos done and documenting all of the milestones. The years start slipping, and before you know it, you are holding your first grandkid and wondering where all the time went.
The 6 Most Important Times to Book a Family Photo Session
Life moves fast. Between the school runs, the activities and the endless pile of laundry, it can feel impossible to find time for professional family photos. But children change quickly, and one day you will look back and wish you had captured them at every stage along the way.
After 23 years of photographing families in my studio in Gordon on Sydney's North Shore, I can tell you the moments parents wish they had documented the most. These are the six key stages where a family portrait session makes the biggest difference.
When They Are a Newborn
The newborn phase is intense. You are running on almost no sleep, still figuring everything out and barely getting through each day. But those early weeks are also when your baby is at their tiniest, and they will never look quite like that again. I always recommend booking a newborn session within the first few weeks. You will be glad you did, because that blur of sleepless nights fades fast and having photos from that time brings it all back.
Before They Start School
Starting school changes everything. The child who once looked only to you for everything starts forming their own opinions, making their own friends and wanting to do things independently. It is a big shift in your family's rhythm, and having photos from just before that transition is something parents treasure. That wide-eyed, still-little version of your child deserves to be captured before the school years begin.
When They Hit the Tween Years
If you thought starting school was a big change, the tween and early teen years will surprise you. Your child starts growing into a completely different person, both physically and in personality. It happens so gradually that you barely notice until one day they look totally different from the child in your last family photos. This is a stage worth documenting, because it is a version of your child that does not last long.
When They Start High School
High school marks the beginning of the end of childhood. Your teenager is forming their own identity, becoming more independent and starting to pull away. That is completely normal, but it makes this stage even more important to capture. These are the last years before adulthood, and the way your child looks and carries themselves right now is worth holding onto.
During Their Final Year of School
Whether your child is heading to university, starting a trade or heading straight into work, their final year of school is a milestone for the whole family. It is often the last time your original family unit is all together under one roof before partners, new homes and eventually grandchildren come into the picture. A family session during this year captures that chapter before it closes.
Where Is Your Family Right Now?
It does not matter what stage your family is at. Whether your baby is brand new or your youngest is about to finish school, the time you are in right now is worth capturing. I photograph families at every stage, from newborns through to teenagers, and every session is relaxed, natural and designed to capture your family as you actually are.
If you have been meaning to book a family session but life keeps getting in the way, that is exactly why you should do it now. The stage you are in today will not last for ever.
I would love to photograph your family.
Kate x
Why get family photos?
Life goes by way too quickly and before we know if our kids are all grown up. We capture from newborns, to teenagers and grown up kids. So no matter what stage you are at in your families journey, we are there when you are ready to capture your familes photos.
Why you should get family photos done (and stop making excuses)
My mum always said she would get family photos done, but there were always the same excuses:
I need to lose 10 kilos first
We just don't have the time as life is so crazy busy
We'll get them done when you kids don't have gaps in your teeth, or when your brother's braces come off
When I can talk your father into it, as you know how much he hates having his photo taken
We'll need to save some money, as things are a little tight at the moment
But unfortunately, all those things got in the way and it just never happened.
In 2011 my dad had a heart attack and suddenly he was gone forever. Now it was too late.
I would give anything to go back and take an hour out of our busy schedules to capture those photos with him.
I would love just one photo that captures the amazing friendship my dad and I had. The incredible granddad he was to my kids. How much my mum and dad still loved each other after 49 years of marriage.
Those memories are in my mind, but I would give anything to have that captured in a photo that I could look at every day.
My Dad and I
The purpose behind über photography
This is the purpose behind the über photography brand, to make sure every child has a photo with their parents to treasure as time goes on.
I understand it's hard to find the time to take that important photo of your family. I photograph families in a relaxed, natural way that tells the true story of your family, unlike those awkwardly posed family photos with false smiles.
I photograph everyone from newborns to teenagers to extended families, so no matter what stage your family is at, I can capture that time in your lives for you.
Imagine having beautiful family photos you will proudly hang on your wall, that capture real moments with your kids that you can share and treasure forever.
My own family photos
When I lost my dad I made a decision that I never wanted my kids to not have photos with me, so I've hired a photographer every year since.
I hate having my photo taken, and I used to make every excuse:
I'll lose some weight first. My kids have never once mentioned my weight in photos.
Running a business and having 3 kids doesn't leave much spare time. But I just block it on the calendar now and make it happen.
We've had kids with braces and missing teeth. But I think that is part of my family's story and they are actually some of my favourite photos.
As a photographer, I don't enjoy being on the other side of the camera. But I know in my heart that it's more important to capture those memories than to worry about an hour of feeling uncomfortable.
Like all parents, sometimes the bills all seem to come in spurts and money can be tight. But when you really understand how important it is, you always seem to find the money when you need it.
This is my family's journey.
How I make updating your photos as easy as possible:
My online booking system makes it easy to find a time to suit your family. I'll send you my online calendar which shows all my availability for the next 6 months, so you can sit down with your family and find a time that suits everyone. I know if you're a busy family there are sports and activities to work around, so I make it easy to find a time.
My beautifully designed studio means that no matter what the weather is, your session can go ahead. I have ducted air conditioning so that on a hot day everyone stays cool during your session. No one wants to be sweating away during their session. In winter and for newborn sessions, I can pump up the heating so the studio is cosy, warm and comfortable.
My information guide makes picking your outfits for your session easy. I understand every mum's first thought is "what on earth are we going to wear?" So I have a custom guide that makes it simple and easy to choose outfits for the whole family.
My simple pricing structure makes it easy to understand the costs. I'll give you every cost upfront. I believe in total transparency with pricing. I understand that every family is in a different place with their budget, so I have a range of options to suit every budget. I take the time to sit down with you and work out the option that suits your family best.
My in-person ordering session where I take the time to find the right size photos to suit your home. At the end of your session I'll make a time for you to come back into the studio to view and order your photos. I'll show you your photos on a large screen and help you pick your favourites.
My easy payment plan options so that if the budget is a bit tight, you can still order exactly what you'd like but have a way to pay it off easily over a period of time to suit you.
My in-house framing service. Once you've decided on your favourite images, I can help you choose which frames work best for your home and your photos. I arrange custom framing for you, so all you need to do is take your gorgeous framed print home and get it hung on the wall. I can even recommend someone to do that for you, if your husband isn't too handy with that.
Why I wish I had more photos with my dad
When my Dad died from a heart attack in 2011, it was sudden. He wasn’t sick, and him dying came with no warning whatsoever. I lost my best friend in an instant, and all that I had left where the memories and the random photos were taken over the years. Don’t let that happen to you.
Why I wish I had more photos with my dad
When a house burns down or is destroyed by some other sort of disaster, what do people most regret losing? Barring people and pets, the things that people tend to miss the most are the family photos and other precious keepsakes.
All of the furniture, clothes and electronics can be replaced, but those school photos of the kids or old pictures of grandma and grandpa are irreplaceable. Many people overlook the importance of family photos until it is too late.
My dad was my best friend
Growing up, my dad was my best friend. Whenever I had a problem or was upset about something, I knew that he would be there to help me talk it out. If it was something that couldn't be talked through, he was the shoulder I could cry on. He celebrated my wins with pride, and he helped pick me up again when I failed.
When he died from a heart attack in 2011, it was sudden. He wasn't sick, and him dying came with no warning whatsoever. I lost my best friend in an instant, and all that I had left were the memories and the random photos that were taken over the years.
One of my biggest regrets was not taking more pictures with my dad as I got older. Sure there are always plenty of pictures from the growing up years, but as we all get older, our family photos tend to switch to our new little created families. Most people start taking family photos with their spouses and their own kids once they reach adulthood.
Family photos are important
While it is definitely important to take family photos with your own kids, don't forget your parents too. Life changes quickly. Your parents won't always be around, and you will definitely appreciate having these reminders when they are gone. I wish that I had more pictures of me and my dad.
Tangible memories
Think about what you would miss if you lost all of your possessions in a fire as I mentioned at the beginning of this article. All those adorable photos of your child's first birthday? The pictures of your great aunt? These tangible memories are some of our most treasured keepsakes.
I wish I had more photos of me and my dad, but it is too late for that. Don't make the same mistake I did. Get in the photos with your kids now, while you can.
How I changed this for my family
When I lost my dad I made a decision that my children would never go through the same feelings of missing out. Like most women, I don't like having photos of myself taken. I know I should lose a few more kilos, my hair has a tendency to go frizzy on the dates I want it to be straight. I'm never sure what clothes suit me best.
But I realised that my kids will never look at photos of me and think any of those thoughts. They will be glad of the memories that I capture for them. So every time I get our family photos done, one of my must-have shots is me individually with my kids.
