You Are So Expensive!!

"4 words that every creative has heard countless times regardless of their actual pricing. This used to bother me, but once i reframed it to understand that expensive isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Here's the deal:

Creative work IS one of a kind. You can have 2 photographers with the exact same gear, same studio, same wardrobe and get 2 very different experiences. The cost of something doesn't JUST factor in the tangible assets of a business, but also the emotional assets.

Also, somewhere someone decided that if you actually like your job, you should be paid less?? Wut? Creatives have bills to pay, mouths to feed, businesses to run and dreams to fund just like those in more corporate professions.

But at the end of the day "expensive" is subjective.

Compared to many of my peers I am "affordable".

Compared to other colleagues I am

"Astronomical"

So, it's not really a comparison game.

You pay for what YOU value.

So, in the case of photography, people that come to see me probably value:

-safety & security

-comfort & accessibility

-consent & playfulness

-empowering experiences

-the opportunity to freely explore who they are without judgment

-quality imagery

-aligning with someone who strives for inclusivity in AND out of her business

-seeing bodies like theirs represented

-the ability to explore how their mindset impacts their reality

-someone who will treat them, their body, and their stories with respect

And if they DON'T value these things, that's totally fine - there are photographers out there who can cater to whatever their values are.

There is someone for everyone.

So, yeah

I might be "expensive"

But I am worth it

But more importantly,

So are you.