Question: Why does professional photography cost so much?

Answer: You may think you’re paying for someone to just press a button, but there’s really much more to it than that. Take me for example: I have been a shutterbug since I was a child. I started with a Kodak Instamatic 110 camera. I upgraded to a 35mm camera when I took photography classes in high school. I then decided to study photography in college and took every class that was offered including B&W, Slide, Color, and Studio photography. I found my niche in Portrait photography as people were always my favorite subject. When my daughter came along, I refused to pay anyone to take photos of her when I knew I could do it myself. By then my film and darkroom equipment was “outdated” and digital was gaining popularity. I’ve probably invested over $60,000 in equipment over the years. 

When you hire a professional you're buying the whole person, their expertise, experience, & cost of doing business.