And so to the big question...just how much does a session cost..
After months of calculator bashing and careful consideration, the answer is...nothing. Free. Da nada. Currently I take photos simply for the love of it. Meeting and interacting with people across all strands of life is reward enough in itself (for now at least!). Given how new I still am to Poland, it is also an opportunity to meet new people and experience the country in a different way. That has value in itself.
There is of course a few caveats:
+ I don't shoot weddings or other special, once-in-a-lifetime events. Am more than happy to help as a second shooter but I have neither the insurance,system redundancy or guaranteed timeslots to do so. From an ethical perspective, I'm also uncomfortable with being asked to cover events such as weddings which are bread and butter to the hundreds of professional photographers out there who rely on it to make a decent living. Photography can be relatively inexpensive to get into as a hobby but when it becomes your job, the costs mount. Your local photographers deserve your support!
+ I do gently retouch photos but don't believe in changing the nature of the photo until it no longer resembles reality. Removing a spot from your or your loved one's face is fine. Removing a birthmark is not - it's part of what makes someone unique. In a world where everyone seems to want to look, talk and act the same, being different is important.
+ Photography is a hobby for me...which means I need to keep my family fed, watered and clothed through a more traditional career. In other words, I will always try to work around your calendar while factoring in mine
+ The copyright for the photos I take remain with me. Personal usage is absolutely fine however any commercial usage needs written permission to be granted by my good self, otherwise it is forbidden. In a similar manner, I retain the right to add photos from a session to this website however given it is only common courtesy, any usage would be discussed and agreed after the shoot. I will always listen and factor in strong objections but please be reasonable - if you are getting a session for free, then allowing me to publish one or two photos to attract new projects is only fair.
+ A warm drink is always appreciated before and after!