Let’s begin with defining our terms. What is the difference between investment and price? A price tag is the cost of a goods or services paid in exchange for said goods or services. An investment, is putting energy, time, or resources into a future experience, financial gain, or emotional payoff.
What is the most expensive item you own? For most it’s probably their car or home. These are necessities, and yet you don’t see everyone driving the same car or living in the least expensive home. Why? Because there is a vast market of options from the most luxurious and beautiful cars and homes to simple, utilitarian, small vehicles and apartments. The same is true with photography.
Taking pictures is longer complicated, expensive, or even something that requires much thought, thanks to the invention of the smartphone. Most of us carry the ability to capture any moment at any time in our pockets or purses. What does this mean? Well, it means two things:
There is often very little skill, technique, or playfulness involved with most of the moments you are capturing.
Most moments will never make it to print.
Many people have recognized this problem and begun to hire “photographers”. Why the quotes? Well, the reality is, it doesn’t take a whole lot to start up a shoot and burn photography business with a cheap digital camera, and most people can’t tell the difference at first glance between a seasoned artist, who captures natural, beautiful, well curated portraits, and someone who shoots on manual and occasionally gets a good shot of their subject.